I always try to experience and learn new things in life. The moment something starts to become monotonous, I begin searching for something new. This is precisely why I am here as a volunteer. I am currently doing my one-year-long volunteering project at a wonderful kindergarten called "Karuke." You can think of it as assisting the teachers. Sometimes, even if briefly, I get to be a teacher myself. Another reason I chose kindergarten is that I had never worked with children before, and I was excited about the idea of teaching something to them. In the past, I used to take care of my two little cousins, so I was expecting a similar experience. However, teaching is a completely different adventure on its own. And lastly, the memories. I want to live on in the memories of these children. I want them to remember me in the future as "the kind young man who tried to teach us English." I want a piece of me to stay with them as they grow and shape their own identities. I believe that is something priceless.
I have been here for about three months now. Although three months might seem like a short period, I have learned a lot. And I will continue to learn. The first thing I realized was how important love and communication are. Of course, I could have said this before, but being surrounded by children has allowed me to see the value of love and effective communication from a completely different perspective. Another thing I learned is that when teaching children, it's crucial to make sure they are having fun. In a kindergarten, you can’t just sit them in rows and start lecturing. You have to incorporate the lessons into games. While doing this, I also learned the importance of patience. Sometimes, the activities or topics might not capture the attention of every child. Including everyone can be challenging at times. That’s when you need to be creative and quick-thinking. But in the end, everything is worth it just to see their joy and hear their laughter.
Every day at the kindergarten is a new adventure. It feels like watching a new episode of a comedy show daily. That’s why it’s hard to pick one specific moment. But if I had to choose, one of the funniest moments was when a little boy kept trying to hug me and ended up getting scolded by the teacher. I felt bad for him, but at the same time, it was incredibly amusing. The children love affection and kindness, and you can feel it when they hug you. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to hug them back, but the way they run to hug you shows how much they like you. Knowing that I have made a place in their hearts makes me very happy.
My expectations from volunteering were not only about the kindergarten but also about life in Narva. My first expectation was to make friends with other volunteers, and I achieved this incredibly fast. In fact, they exceeded my expectations, we became like a family. Every month spent here feels like a year, and I feel like I’ve known them for ages. I hope everyone gets to experience friendships like these. Once you make friends, the rest of your expectations fulfill themselves naturally. For example, you want to travel during holidays. Before you even start planning, one of your friends includes you in their plans, and you travel together. You try new foods together, explore different countries. In short, don’t worry about making your expectations happen, they will happen on their own. The same applies to the kindergarten. Instead of friends, you are surrounded by children. You don’t have to wonder if they will like you; a bond forms naturally. If you can connect with them, everything becomes incredibly enjoyable and easy. Sometimes, I don’t even feel like I’m working. I’m just teaching while having fun.
One thing that surprised me the most was how affectionate the children were toward a male teacher. In my country, male kindergarten teachers are almost nonexistent, so I had my doubts. But the children completely erased all my doubts. The second thing that surprised me was the incredible facilities in the kindergarten. The school is enormous. There’s even a gym for the children. At one point, I even thought to myself, “I wish I had studied here when I was a kid.”
I recommend the ESC project to anyone who wants to learn about life, become more disciplined, gain a family from different countries, have an unforgettable experience, discover themselves, and take a big step out of their comfort zone. You will learn and experience all of these things without even realizing it. And they will all be useful in your life. If you’re even slightly considering it, you have already made your decision.
I have been here for about three months now. Although three months might seem like a short period, I have learned a lot. And I will continue to learn. The first thing I realized was how important love and communication are. Of course, I could have said this before, but being surrounded by children has allowed me to see the value of love and effective communication from a completely different perspective. Another thing I learned is that when teaching children, it's crucial to make sure they are having fun. In a kindergarten, you can’t just sit them in rows and start lecturing. You have to incorporate the lessons into games. While doing this, I also learned the importance of patience. Sometimes, the activities or topics might not capture the attention of every child. Including everyone can be challenging at times. That’s when you need to be creative and quick-thinking. But in the end, everything is worth it just to see their joy and hear their laughter.
Every day at the kindergarten is a new adventure. It feels like watching a new episode of a comedy show daily. That’s why it’s hard to pick one specific moment. But if I had to choose, one of the funniest moments was when a little boy kept trying to hug me and ended up getting scolded by the teacher. I felt bad for him, but at the same time, it was incredibly amusing. The children love affection and kindness, and you can feel it when they hug you. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to hug them back, but the way they run to hug you shows how much they like you. Knowing that I have made a place in their hearts makes me very happy.
My expectations from volunteering were not only about the kindergarten but also about life in Narva. My first expectation was to make friends with other volunteers, and I achieved this incredibly fast. In fact, they exceeded my expectations, we became like a family. Every month spent here feels like a year, and I feel like I’ve known them for ages. I hope everyone gets to experience friendships like these. Once you make friends, the rest of your expectations fulfill themselves naturally. For example, you want to travel during holidays. Before you even start planning, one of your friends includes you in their plans, and you travel together. You try new foods together, explore different countries. In short, don’t worry about making your expectations happen, they will happen on their own. The same applies to the kindergarten. Instead of friends, you are surrounded by children. You don’t have to wonder if they will like you; a bond forms naturally. If you can connect with them, everything becomes incredibly enjoyable and easy. Sometimes, I don’t even feel like I’m working. I’m just teaching while having fun.
One thing that surprised me the most was how affectionate the children were toward a male teacher. In my country, male kindergarten teachers are almost nonexistent, so I had my doubts. But the children completely erased all my doubts. The second thing that surprised me was the incredible facilities in the kindergarten. The school is enormous. There’s even a gym for the children. At one point, I even thought to myself, “I wish I had studied here when I was a kid.”
I recommend the ESC project to anyone who wants to learn about life, become more disciplined, gain a family from different countries, have an unforgettable experience, discover themselves, and take a big step out of their comfort zone. You will learn and experience all of these things without even realizing it. And they will all be useful in your life. If you’re even slightly considering it, you have already made your decision.
Project number: 2023-1-EE01-ESC51-VTJ-000134063
Project title: „Community Spirit”
Project title: „Community Spirit”
