Thanking our alumni volunteers

We are incredibly proud of our alumni who shape the world through volunteering with LSE. This week in the UK we are celebrating Volunteers’ Week 2025 and thanking our volunteers for their contributions, from our alumni group leaders who provide advice and guidance, through to our Ask an Alum and Gift one Hour programmes. Over the last year alone, 17,643 hours have been volunteered by 3,189 alumni across the globe. No matter how small, you have all made a difference.

We spoke to three of our alumni to find out about their experiences contributing to the LSE community and what motivates them to volunteer.

Nikhil Dhokia
LLB Law 2006

“I’ve always been passionate about giving back, sharing knowledge and experience where it might help future generations. I did this when I was a student myself, and so when I was asked a few years ago if I would volunteer on the LSE Students' Union BAME Mentoring scheme, I didn’t hesitate. Being able to have a potentially life-changing impact on a young person’s life and prospects is why I continue to volunteer.

I’ve really enjoyed being a mentor on the scheme. I’ve mentored students from the UK, US, Asia and Africa, each with unique personalities, backgrounds and cultural identities, which has made for a very enriching experience. As much as I’m imparting the benefits and lessons learned from my own experiences, I’ve also learned a great deal from my mentees. Whether celebrating their triumphs or dealing with setbacks, I feel privileged to help them as they chart their future life course.

There are many rewards to being a mentor. Alongside the joy from helping to secure highly competitive internships and transformative graduate roles, the journey of personal growth and confidence-building I get to nurture is very gratifying. Additionally, seeing previous mentees ‘pay it forward’ by helping more junior students has been very heartening.”

Susana Camacho Vivar
MSc Development Studies 2003

“I decided to get reconnected with LSE in 2023 after moving to northern Spain. Around this time, I attended a fantastic 20-year reunion in London with fellow development studies graduates from the class of 2003. It was inspiring to see how much the School was doing to keep alumni engaged. Volunteering felt like a natural next step, since mentoring and leadership have become central to my work with UNHCR and the Latin American Leadership Academy over the years.

Volunteering through Ask an Alum was surprisingly simple. I received an email introducing me to my match, with a clear summary of her background and what she was hoping to get out of the exchange.  There were also suggestions on how I could get involved, which made it easy to say yes. From there, the two of us coordinated directly and our conversation felt like a casual chat over coffee. We both work in international development, but in different corners of the field, so it turned into an enriching experience for both of us.

I find a lot of meaning in sharing what I’ve learned and also in being able to learn from others in return – it’s a big part of what keeps me going. In this case, it was especially rewarding to offer insights such as what it’s really to work inside the UN system – things you don’t usually hear in formal settings. Interestingly, my match had followed the kind of path I once imagined for myself after LSE. Hearing about her journey gave me a fresh perspective and it ended up being a two-way connection that expanded both of our networks!”

Felipe Tabilo
MSc International Political Economy 2020

"I am a volunteer with the LSE Alumni Association in Chile. My decision to volunteer with my local group stemmed from a strong belief in the value of maintaining an active, connected, and forward-looking LSE alumni community.

One of my highlights of my time volunteering was from last year, when we held our Welcome to the City event. This event was the 40th Anniversary of our Association and was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where we were honoured by the presence of Minister Alberto Van Klaveren and British Ambassador, Louise de Sousa. The event showcased the influence and recognition that our LSE Alumni network has in Chile, while also reflecting LSE’s international character and its commitment to public service. This year we also hosted an event for Global Networking Night. This successfully brought together alumni from different generations, creating a space for professional exchange as well as friendship. These kinds of gatherings are essential to keeping our community vibrant and interconnected.

The most rewarding thing about volunteering has been getting to know our alumni and strengthening the bonds that make our community so unique. Personally, I feel deeply honoured to represent this remarkable network and I am grateful for the trust placed in me to do so. Looking ahead, I hope to further expand our network and develop partnerships with other associations across the country. My aim is to continue positioning the LSE alumni community as a space for excellence, leadership, and collaboration within Chile’s professional and academic landscape."