Americorps VISTA volunteer helps people live life uncensored
Nkenna Onwuzuruoha, 25, is an AmeriCorps VISTA serving at the Salt Lake Community College Community Writing Center (SLCC CWC). With a bachelor’s degree in French Literature and Comparative Literature and a master’s in European Literature, Onwuzuruoha knows the importance that literacy can play in a person’s life.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to express themselves and live a life that is uncensored,” says Onwuzuruoha. Literature teaches about people, cultures and history.
She says that serving in AmeriCorps gives her the opportunity to work for a non-profit and provide services for those who may not otherwise be able to receive such services. Her work at the SLCC CWC allows her to do something that is related to her passions that also helps the community.
“We [AmeriCorps volunteers] do have to live at poverty level. Half my paycheck goes to rent,” says Onwuzuruoha. “I don’t have a car; I don’t have people to support. I can only imagine people who do have those things, what they’re living on.”
She has been able to work with various organizations through different programs. She has helped men and women in jail learn about the writing process, worked with youth at the Homeless Youth Resource Center and worked with people at Calvary Baptist Church.
“I get a nice view of different organizations of the city,” says Onwuzuruoha.
She chose the AmeriCorps VISTA program through the Utah Campus Compact and says that it has been a ton of fun.
“I’ve gained more than I have given up for my AmeriCorps year,” says Onwuzuruoha.
Her first experience volunteering was as an International Baccalaureate student in high school where she volunteered for Girl’s Incorporated during the summer. Recently, she has volunteered at the Bicycle Collective as a bicycle valet and with Free School to create their calendar of free learning events.
Onwuzuruoha’s parents are from Nigeria. She has studied at the University of Chicago and the University of Bristol in England.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. Link updated September 2016.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to express themselves and live a life that is uncensored,” says Onwuzuruoha. Literature teaches about people, cultures and history.
She says that serving in AmeriCorps gives her the opportunity to work for a non-profit and provide services for those who may not otherwise be able to receive such services. Her work at the SLCC CWC allows her to do something that is related to her passions that also helps the community.
“We [AmeriCorps volunteers] do have to live at poverty level. Half my paycheck goes to rent,” says Onwuzuruoha. “I don’t have a car; I don’t have people to support. I can only imagine people who do have those things, what they’re living on.”
She has been able to work with various organizations through different programs. She has helped men and women in jail learn about the writing process, worked with youth at the Homeless Youth Resource Center and worked with people at Calvary Baptist Church.
“I get a nice view of different organizations of the city,” says Onwuzuruoha.
She chose the AmeriCorps VISTA program through the Utah Campus Compact and says that it has been a ton of fun.
“I’ve gained more than I have given up for my AmeriCorps year,” says Onwuzuruoha.
Her first experience volunteering was as an International Baccalaureate student in high school where she volunteered for Girl’s Incorporated during the summer. Recently, she has volunteered at the Bicycle Collective as a bicycle valet and with Free School to create their calendar of free learning events.
Onwuzuruoha’s parents are from Nigeria. She has studied at the University of Chicago and the University of Bristol in England.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. Link updated September 2016.