Tom tells us, in his own words, about his experience of working at Pridelands for eight months.
From the get-go, I was welcomed with open arms to an extremely warm community of staff and children. Coming from a completely different career background from childcare made me quite nervous naturally, but those nerves were put to rest almost immediately seeing how things operated at Pride Lands.
The lessons I have learnt at Pride Lands have not only taught me to be confident in myself but understand how to empathise for others unlike me and be effective at leading young people. I’ve had experiences that I will most likely never forget in my life working with Moses and the Pride Lands cubs and I believe that Pride Lands mission does really make a change to these young people’s lives.
I think that one of the most important lessons I’ve learnt in my time here was hearing Moses say the saying:
“The person who does nothing, achieves nothing”
For some reason this has stuck with me. I think that in hearing these words it has motivated me but also sparked ambition in myself to pursue whatever I feel like in the past, I could not. This is just one valuable lesson taught at Pride Lands, and I’m a staff member so imagine how much the children learn!
As well as working with a wide group of children, I got the chance to be a mentor and work 1 on 1 with certain children. Not only has this allowed me to build a deeper connection with some of the Pride Lands cubs but get to share my insights as a young person to another, in hopes of guiding them through this stage in their life.
All in all, to anyone considering working at or with Pride Lands, I could not recommend it, enough. All facets of it at the core are to provide for young people. Something I really admire. I wish nothing but the best for Pride Lands and all its endeavours, it has truly been a home away from home for me. To think I have worked with Pride Lands for nearly 8 months is crazy. Time does truly fly by when you’re having fun.
– Tom
