My name is Marem and since September, I have been volunteering in Ireland, in a service supporting people experiencing homelessness!
As a volunteer, my main tasks are leading social activities and helping with implementation of the bigger events taking place in the organisation, having a chat with the service users and doing some workshops :) For example, these could be weekly events such as a breakfast club, as well as one-off activities (sometimes related to certain holidays). For instance, before Halloween, we held an Arts & Crafts activity to decorate the room for this special day (and when I say “special”, I mean it as Ireland is the birthplace of Halloween, so it is a huge thing here!).
Even though it’s only been 2 months, I can say wholeheartedly that I am enjoying this experience a lot! I applied for this volunteering position because I have always wanted to gain this type of international experience - living abroad, meeting people from different countries and doing something useful for the community. Furthermore, I do believe in the values and goals of the host organisation. I am fully aware of how privileged I am in some aspects, so participating in a programme aimed at improving the well-being of others is, in my opinion, an excellent opportunity to help those who face certain challenges. Although the path is not linear - I have already experienced some homesickness and doubts about whether I did the right thing by deciding to go abroad for a year to volunteer - I still think that this is a golden opportunity that cannot be missed. Of course, there will be moments when you feel down, but it is worth it, that's what I can say for sure! I have met amazing people (including my wonderful housemates!), made great memories and, honestly, if I could go back in time, I would 100% go for this journey again. Plus, you are always being supported by both the hosting and sending organisation, so you do not feel like you have to face the hurdles alone!
I do believe that the ESC volunteering is perfect for anyone who would like to give back to the community but also it is a perfect way to find and understand yourself better. You are facing certain challenges, being taken away from your comfort zone and adapting to a new place. In my opinion, this kind of environment helps you grow and develop life-long skills the most. Of course, it is also a lot of fun delving into a new culture and always trying something new :) I feel like the ESC volunteering programme is a perfect middle ground for a person to have a great time as well as learn something new by living through it (learning through experience!).
Furthermore, I think it would be important to note - I went volunteering after graduating high school and everything that I am doing now does help me to understand what I would like to study (and what not to) and which working field seems preferable and interesting to me! Of course, it does not mean that for someone who already holds a university degree the experience would not be beneficial but I still decided to share it to help those who are a bit lost or unsure about which path to take after school.
I still have a lot of time ahead of me (although it will fly by unnoticed), and I am super excited about what this experience will bring to my life! :) Special thanks to VitaTiim for the support and this opportunity!