I am doing my volunteering in the small town called Náchod, Czechia, to gain experience working with children of different ages and to better understand whether I want to pursue a career in this field. I volunteer in different kindergartens and schools as either an English or Russian language teacher’s assistant, as additional support for children, and during art club classes as well. Déčko, my receiving organisation, made sure that I could gain experience with various age groups, so I work with children from 2 to 18 years old. I had always wanted to try volunteering because it is both a great contribution to society and a chance to challenge yourself. Czechia is also one of my favourite countries to visit, so it has been interesting to learn more about the lifestyle and people here as well.
2.What did I learn from the experience?
I learnt that you gain more than you give. I have met wonderful people among both the volunteers and locals who are open-minded and curious about life. During my stay, several former volunteers came back to Náchod and shared their stories with us. The community of participants and organisers is friendly and supportive, and everyone is interested in exchanging skills and help each other throughout the volunteering experience. It is fascinating to see the differences we all have while still finding many similarities between us.
3.Did anything funny happen? Any great things?
The volunteering community is welcoming and kind; people make you feel at home and included from the very beginning. Other volunteers might seem distant at first, but that is only because they don’t know you yet.
4.What were your expectations for the volunteering and did they meet them? How did they change?
I expected the volunteering to feel more like regular work, but it turned out to be quite different. The people I work with during my volunteering hours offer a variety of activities and options to choose from, so we can cooperate together and enjoy the time we spend with the children.
5.What surprised you?
Náchod is quite a small and rural area of Czechia, so I was surprised when I couldn’t speak English with a young cashier in Lidl during my first week. Although it was a cultural shock for me at first, it later became very useful because it encouraged me to start learning a new language in order to communicate with the community I became a part of.
6.Who would you recommend European Solidarity Corps project to? Why?
I would recommend European Solidarity Corps to anyone regardless of age. There are many reasons to choose to participate in an ESC project, starting with language learning. I have already met several volunteers who could not speak English well at first, but after only a month here, they improved drastically. Besides English, it is also a great opportunity to learn a completely new language because you are immersed in an environment where you naturally need to practice it every day. Another reason is the opportunity to explore a profession. Many volunteers chose this particular project, because they wanted to learn more about the educational sector to become confident in their decision to pursue it later at university. The ESC project is also a great way to meet people from around the world, make friends, and travel. Personally, volunteering helped me to look at my life from a different perspective and change myself for the better as a person.