Volunteering as a Digital Champion is about more than fixing devices or offering help, it’s about building confidence, connection and community. Qiushi, one of our Digital Champions is moving on to study at university, but told us about his experiences at Starting Point as part of our National Lottery funded programme, and what motivated him to volunteer. 

With a background in electronics engineering and a strong sense of community, he saw the role as

“an excellent opportunity to use my skills… while building meaningful connections with people around me. I always enjoy helping people, and the Digital Champion role offers me an excellent opportunity.”

Qiushi told us about a memorable moment for him. A woman came in frustrated that her smartwatch screen wouldn’t turn off. After reassuring her that technology can be tricky for anyone, Qiushi asked her to walk through the steps. Once she opened the settings, she spotted the solution herself. Qiushi said

” I was surprised that the person I was helping managed to sort the issue herself, but also realised how important it is to acknowledge people’s emotions; sometimes, our emotions get in the way of resolving the issue.

Even though I did not help her solve the problem, I still felt great because I assisted her in finding the right direction and taught her how to solve similar problems in the future.”

So what’s next for Qiushi? Looking ahead, he plans to go into teaching and the experience gained here will travel with him.

“This will greatly help me understand the diverse needs of different people, and how to communicate with genuine help and respect.”

And when we always ask if we could make any improvement to make his volunteering experience better, he couldn’t think of anything additional. A simple answer — and one we’re always happy to hear. Thanks so much for your support Qiushi and good luck for the future.