“Before joining Habitat for Humanity ReStore, I was aware of how crucial houses are, but was blind to the impacts furniture can have on turning a house into a home and, in turn, on someone’s opportunities, well-being, and future.”

Author: Yasmin Taraporevala

I am Yasmin Taraporevala, a student in London who had the incredible opportunity to gain work experience at Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Romford over two weeks. I came into this experience with little knowledge of the work I would be tackling, but with a heart beyond compassionate for the non-profit’s work. As someone who has always been passionate about social justice, this placement immediately seemed right for me. 

My Role
ReStore, located in Romford, is a home improvement charity store that sells new and gently used furniture, therefore supporting vulnerable people in need of safe and decent housing. They also run upcycling workshops for businesses to come and volunteer. In these workshops, volunteers learn to refurbish furniture by painting and other activities, giving the items new life. 

During my time at ReStore, I helped with a variety of tasks, from administrative work to hands-on activities. Firstly, I dove into social media, spotlighting ReStore on Instagram to bring it to light and showcase the incredible items they are housing. Additionally, I was fortunate to join Habitat for Humanity calls in Malawi, Africa, to learn about the issues they are tackling through their projects. This was extremely eye-opening, as I learned how they have tackled water contamination and helped provide housing after Cyclone Freddy in 2023. 

My Highlights
Despite the fantastic opportunities I received, my favorite experience during my time at Habitat for Humanity ReStore was their upcycling workshops. These workshops truly made me feel as though I was bettering someone’s life by turning these pieces of furniture into something that would improve someone else’s life. During these workshops, I collaborated with the amazing team that runs the upcycling workshops, Kate and Keith, who taught me how to sand furniture, paint various items, drill, and hang shelves. Furthermore, I got to watch firsthand how this volunteering experience brought coworkers from various companies closer together. 

Finally, the team at ReStore made my experience beyond brilliant. I can confidently say I learned something from every member of staff, from my mentor Mr. Morgan, the Retail Director, teaching me how to set up the shop floor, Ms. Day, the Store Manager and Houses to Homes Volunteer Manager, who educated me on Houses to Homes as well as how to price items in the store, Keith, the upcycling supervisor, who kindly taugh me how to drill and build shelves, and Kate, the upcycling manager, who taught me how to paint various items of furniture and bring them back to life. 

I hope to come back to ReStore in the near future, as these past two weeks have been beyond informative and exciting!