Today is International Volunteer Day, an opportunity to show appreciation and gratitude to the volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to voluntary services. Among these individuals is Furkan Kayali, a blind man from Turkey who has embarked on a volunteering journey with Inspire Malta, an organisation that provides services for people with disabilities. His story reflects sheer determination and the impact volunteering can have on one’s life.
Furkan is 23 years old. A nervous disconnection between his eyes and brain means he sees nothing—not even darkness.
His story in Malta started around two years ago, when he initially planned to visit the country for a short language course to improve his English. However, he faced challenges even before arriving. His first application to Malta was rejected, and so was his request to join an English school due to his blindness. Nonetheless, Furkan’s persistence led him to the right English school, from which he successfully completed his course.
Furkan fell in love with the country and its culture, deciding to extend his stay. That is when he started his volunteering experience with Inspire through the European Solidarity Corps programme. The process started with an interview, and volunteering with the marketing team emerged as the best option. This role matched his aspirations and skills while ensuring the working environment could accommodate his needs throughout his time with the organisation.
Navigating the offices with his white cane and a smile on his face, Furkan assisted with administrative tasks, calling suppliers and donors, and managing other office-related jobs. But his contributions didn’t stop there. Thanks to his enthusiasm for work and exploring new opportunities, he was also entrusted with other initiatives.
“Inspire made me more realistic on my potential, and that everything is achievable with the right support” Furkan reflects. “This was my first experience of voluntary work in an NGO, and here I was given the opportunity to work on many things, including creating a podcast from scratch. I also learned about the processes involved in organising events.”
The volunteer admits that he always had high expectations of himself, which at times held him back from trying new things for fear of failure. He believes accessibility is key to leading an independent life, though he acknowledges it’s not always straightforward.
‘’[Through volunteering at Inspire] I understood that we do not need to be perfect from the beginning. We cannot be completely accessible all the time… accessibility is a process. I learned that it is important to start off with what you have. If you want to make everything perfect, you may never start at all’’
Adelaide Sammut, a public relations specialist at Inspire, worked closely with Furkan. “There is no inclusion unless both parties benefit from the situation, and that’s exactly what happened with Furkan in our team. His contribution enriched us in ways far beyond the tasks he completed.”
Furkan deserves recognition not because he is blind, but because he didn’t let his condition stop him from pursuing his ambitions. He can serve as a source of motivation for other people with disabilities who want to contribute to society through volunteering
