Suraj

Suraj Vadgama is 23 years old, and in 2007 volunteered on an Operation Raleigh expedition which changed his life.  “After I came back, I heard about a Changemakers opportunity for Raleigh alumni. At that time I had graduated and was working part time in a supermarket.  So I applied for Changemakers to get out of the supermarket! “   

Suraj wanted to work with Raleigh as he felt a bond with them as an organisation. “I wanted to make a real impact on in the workplace, to create a project and have something lasting after my time there.”

After the completion of the programme, an opening arose in the London office of Changemakers, which Suraj took, and is now working in the Birmingham office for nine months. “I work as a youth volunteer advisor as well as co-managing another programme.  It’s a nice circle, starting off as a changemaker and now leading a Changemakers programme myself.”

Despite Suraj’s background being in digital animation, he would really like to get into human rights, working for UNICEF or an international NGO.

“Changemakers got me out of a rut.  To have it on my CV helped me get a job, and it has improved my personal and professional development no end. It’s improved my future prospects by giving me loads of practical and useful skills and experience. How can you get that experience unless you do something like Changemakers?”