TO celebrate the Year of Young People, every week in 2018 we’re giving a platform to young Scots. This week, nine-year-old Emma Stephenson
MY name is Little Vader, and I have been volunteering for the past two years with Capital Sci-Fi Con to raise money for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
Capital Sci-Fi Con is a pop culture, comic and movie convention in Edinburgh, which donates all profits to CHAS. I am a massive Star Wars fan, so I went to the midnight showing of the Force Awakens, as Darth Vader. I met a lovely man in stormtrooper armour (now known as “my stormtrooper”), he told us all about Capital Sci-Fi Con and that’s how I got involved.
READ MORE: Year of Young People: How my passion turned into a campaign
We turned up at one of the shopping centres where the team do appearances to promote the event and raise money for CHAS, to volunteer as a family. I am the only one who cosplays in my family so far, because I need my mum to spot for me as I normally wear a helmet. My parents also collect money and hand out leaflets about the event. All my cosplays are Star Wars characters mainly because I just love Star Wars and the costumes. When I am at the collection, I hand out the leaflets for the event and get pictures taken with members of the public. It’s great fun to see all the smiles on peoples’ faces, and obviously I get to wear awesome costumes and just have a laugh with my new friends, old and young. I feel truly proud when the amount of money we have raised is announced after each weekend that I have been involved in.
I love the finale of the Capital Sci-Fi Con event; all the celebrities and props are absolutely amazing. It’s a family-friendly con and I love to be with all the people I have met during the experience.
READ MORE: The Year of Young People: What it’s like to be in P6 in 2018
I have been to Rachel House, one of CHAS’ hospices, twice. I was concerned it would be a sad place because of how unwell some of the children are, but when I walked into the building my first thought was: “What a happy, colourful place.” I met the children and the parents and I was able to see where the money we have raised is being used. I was so glad I took part in everything. I feel we are doing something that will make other peoples’ lives better, and that makes me so happy.
I am quite a shy person and find it socially difficult to make friends or talk to people, but when I am in my costume and trooping it has given me confidence to do things I would have never even thought about doing. For example this year at Capital Sci-Fi Con, I went up on stage as Poe Dameron for the cosplay competition and spoke in front of hundreds of people. I have made true friends through volunteering that I will keep forever.
Everybody should volunteer, it makes such a difference.
Visit www.chas.org.uk to find out more about CHAS and how you can get involved, or www.capitalscificon.co.uk to find out more about Capital Sci-Fi Con.
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