Emily Moss traveled almost 10,000 miles / 16,000 km all the way from Melbourne, Australia to volunteer at the Special Olympics World Game 2023 in Berlin.
To Moss, volunteering means a mixture of giving back to and getting involved with the wider community. It gives her the opportunity to take a small moment of time away from the realities of her own life to make a small difference in someone else’s.
To be here today to volunteer for spectator services, Moss took a week of unpaid vacation from work. When asked why she is volunteering at the World Games in particular, she said, “I always had passion for the rights of disadvantaged population groups, as well as for sport, so volunteering at the Special Olympics just seemed like a perfect fit.”
Moss has also been volunteers with the Ageless Friendships program in Australia since the beginning of Covid in 2020. The program aims to reduce social isolation among elderly people and provide companionship. Moss says she and 91-year-old friend Mary have become great friends. She exclaims, “It’s a win-win situation!”
Moss feels volunteering has affected her ways she never imagined. “It just opens my eyes to the rest of the world and shows me how lucky I am to be in a position to be able to help. Special Olympics in particular has reinforced to me how strong and powerful people with disabilities are, and how much more we can achieve if we all work together. We really are #UnbeatableTogether!”
When asked for her advice to people who have thought about volunteering in the past, Moss said to “just start today, you won’t regret it! It will change your life for the better” she said, “and it doesn’t have to be a big thing. Small things make a difference too. An hour or two per month will make an significant impact.” Moss suggests thinking about what you are passionate about and find something that is meaningful to you, “and just get into it!”
To learn more about volunteering at Special Olympics.
