Erica Luna
Imagine a world where sustainability challenges are met with innovative solutions that drive real change. This vision is becoming a reality through organizations like EB Impact and dedicated volunteers from TheOneHourProject, such as Nurulain Kamal.
With her background in strategic marketing and experience with global brands, Nurulain saw an opportunity to make a difference. Through TheOneHourProject (TOHP), she has inspired the next generation to tackle sustainability challenges with confidence.
With a focus on driving sustainable development, Singapore-based non-profit, EB Impact, provides targeted training and programs to the youth of the Asia-Pacific region. Nurulain’s background in marketing and advertising offered crucial support to these aspiring innovators.
Aside from resonating with the cause of EB Impact, Nurulain was inspired by TheOneHourProject and its founder, Madelene Ortega. She said, “Madelene was one of the biggest motivators — largely because she knew I enjoyed volunteering whenever possible.”
“Supporting the youth through mentorship spoke very closely to my heart. It’s heartening to be a sounding board for advice to the new generation,” Nurulain added.
Nurulain’s volunteer experience centered on advising young minds on pitch and presentation. In one instance, she guided a team in refining their go-to-market strategy for a competition.
“Drawing on my experience with brands like Dyson and Apple,” Nurulain explained, “I helped them frame their idea as a scalable solution. We revamped their presentation deck to tell a compelling story backed by data and actionable steps.”
The impact went far beyond the event. For Nurulain, seeing the team’s newfound confidence and understanding of how to scale their project was truly inspiring. “The ripple effect of watching changemakers believe in their ideas is immeasurable and deeply rewarding,” she said.
Nurulain’s experience has shown how accessible ad-hoc volunteering can be. She explains, “The OneHourProject is exactly what it says — it’s as little as one hour per day, per week, or whatever time that you can offer. Just like the other things that we juggle in our lives, consistency is key as this builds the permanence of the volunteering muscle.”
Volunteering is more than just giving back; for Nurulain, it sparked positive change within herself.
“The most rewarding experience was having a behind-the-scenes view of the amazing ideas and prototypes from the youth teams,” she shared. “When probed, each of them skillfully shared personal stories of how a moment of their lives sparked the ‘Could I do something to solve this problem?’ question.”
Nurulain remembered, “Hearing their raw proposals evolve into sustainable solutions was truly moving. It compelled me to rethink what I could do from the position and privilege that I have.”
If you’re hesitant to volunteer because of lack of experience, Nurulain encourages you to embrace that feeling. “We’ve all been new. The best part? Other volunteers are likely feeling the same way.”
Nurulain’s story is just one example of how TheOneHourProject connects passionate individuals like you with organizations across Asia. One hour can refine a presentation, spark a conversation, and ultimately, improve the lives of many.
Follow Nurulain’s lead and volunteer with TheOneHourProject today! For instance, organizations like BINHI English Literacy Foundation in the Philippines are currently seeking Onsite Volunteer Testers to support public school students. This is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these children this January 13 to 22!
Just like Nurulain Kamal, you have the power to create meaningful change—even with a single hour of your time. Join us and consider sharing this opportunity with friends who might also want to make an impact this year!
Sincerely,
Erica Luna of TheOneHourProject