Meet our Volunteers: Anisong Somchid

Please meet Anisong, one of our newest volunteers!

Name: Anisong Somchid

I am an American from Southern California who, since 2019, has found new roots in Switzerland. Before moving to Switzerland, I was working and studying in New York as a fashion assistant for editorial work, and after graduation I packed my suitcases and traveled for 8 months across South East Asia. Currently, I am working on my masters at the University of Zurich, with a focus on internet use and society.

What personal experiences drew you to charity work?

I worked a lot of odd jobs whilst in New York, but my favorite was working in retail at Patagonia. In our community there, we saw how much change we can bring if we just asked the right questions and started to listen. So, I carried these notions with me. After leaving my retail and styling jobs, and feeling stuck, I wrote a list of what I wanted to do and change in my life. I felt like I needed to do more to have a voice and give agency to those who do not have the privilege to do so. I took it upon myself to set a mission to advocate for a cleaner and in no doubt fashionable world. For now, this means one clothing swap at a time, and promoting the volunteer work at Zharity on social media.

How did you get involved in Zharity?

An expat friend who has previously volunteered for Zharity during their Flohmarkt event asked if I had any extra free time, as Zharity was looking for someone to help out on their Instagram. She knew very well the amount of time daily I spent on Instagram, in addition to my communications degree that I have not yet used. Couple emails later, I met up with Amanda and it turns out we were in the same department at UZH which only consisted of 12 people or so. Conversation and ideas flowed instantly and since I have been on board.

What projects are you working on right now?

Currently I am working with the other ladies on promoting virtual advice/guidance for small business owners and entrepreneurs in collaborations with our partners. You can find these updates on our Instagram, Facebook group, and soon public Facebook Page! On that note if you have anything to share with the group or some lunchtime reading material to contribute, do not hesitate to get in touch. I will be sure to share the news!