An insight from volunteer stylist Lauren
What is it like being a volunteer stylist at Suited to Success? Volunteer stylist Lauren shares a recent experience from her styling day:
"Today’s volunteering session ended in tears…
Anna is a Ukrainian refugee. She left her home and came to Australia for safety and to build a new life. She left most of her personal belongings behind.
Anna came into Suited to Success to access our free “restore a wardrobe” service. A service where the client walks out with everything from casual and work clothing, shoes, sanitary items, accessories, toiletries, jewellery, undergarments, beauty items… everything they need to rebuild their wardrobe.
As a stylist at STS, our clients are often welcoming us into the most vulnerable time of their life. Our job is to make them feel comfortable and walk out feeling supported by a community, ready to take the next step in work and life.
I am grateful to meet every single one of my clients and connect with them. Here’s what I now know about Anna in our short time together…
👚 Anna loves clothes, bright colours and nice fabrics. She’s absolutely captivated by the Zara shop!
🤗 Anna is loving the Australian lifestyle, she said “all the people are so friendly”.
😎 Anna is struggling with our QLD heat and so she loves wearing shorts and t-shirts!
📖 Anna is studying, she has been learning English for six weeks now.
💬 Anna enjoys conversing in English and confirming/asking about different words and their pronunciation and meaning (skirt, jewellery, and comforting just to name a few today). She does find it confusing that one word can have many meanings (don’t we all!).
🙂 Anna smiles all the time, she is bright, bubbly, and soaking up life.
👏 Anna is looking forward to finishing her study and then looking for employment.
Anna and I spent time together talking about her life here. She shared her hopes and aspirations. As we wrapped up the session together, Anna started to tear up and expressed her gratitude for the service and support. In her words “words can’t describe how much I need and appreciate all this”.
It was a real honour to be a part of Anna’s journey."
*Name changed for privacy.