When Sarah moved to London from South Africa two years ago she didn’t immediately find a job and had some extra time on her hands. Her career as a teacher meant Sarah had an interest in volunteering at a youth center in her free time. However, with varying times for job interviews, it was challenging for her to find something that could fit into her schedule. One day, Sarah met an elderly woman who was blind. The woman asked Sarah for some help finding her bus. Helping the woman felt so gratifying for Sarah, it got her thinking about volunteering within the blind and low vision community. When she learned about Be My Eyes a couple of weeks later, she was amazed with the idea and eager to try it. Sarah vividly remembers the first time she received a Be My Eyes call. She was on her way to a job interview when she heard the ringtone and was thrilled to answer.
That call literally changed my life. From that day forward, I could help someone from anywhere at any time, just as long as I had my phone with me.
For Sarah, volunteering on the app felt like she found a way to make a difference for other people, without compromising her schedule or time.
Since then, Sarah has taken several calls, helping with everything from checking the expiry date on food items to identifying brand names. But one particular call stands out to her in her experience, because she was able to relate to the person on the other side of the world. A man in Thailand called her; he had a job interview and needed to find a shirt to go with his trousers - a situation that was very familiar for Sarah. The man hung up all his shirts on display, so it was easy for Sarah to see them properly and find a good one. Sarah was amazed with the amount of trust this man had in her, and he seemed so excited to have Sarah's help putting together an outfit.
Being able to help other people through Be My Eyes has had a great impact on Sarah personally.
After I’ve helped someone, I feel very cheery, and it also reminds me that I need to be thankful for everything in my life, everyday. I’m always happier, when I use Be My Eyes and can help someone.
