Impresiile voluntarilor din cadrul proiectului Building Solidarity - Anna Schmidt

Experiențele noi ne provoacă, ne aduc multe bucurii, prietenii și lecții de viață. În perioada septembrie 2019 - iulie 2020, 7 tineri entuziaști din țară și străinătate au făcut parte din echipa Green School, în cadrul proiectului Building Solidarity, un proiect finanțat de Corpul European de Solidaritate și implementat de Green School și Centrul de Voluntariat Cluj-Napoca.

Deși Anna a fost alături de noi o perioadă mai scurtă de timp, copiii au îndrăgit-o și au participat cu drag la activitățile propuse de ea.

1. What did you do in your ESC project?
I was working in Green School Romania with 4 other international volunteers. Our task was to prepare daily activities for elementary school children on the topics: Human Rights, Sustainable Development, Peace- and Global Education. Besides that I participated in a Team Building, an On Arrival Training and weekly Romanian lessons, such as weekly evaluation circles. Furthermore, I organized together with 2 other volunteers a “Self-Care Info-point” in the central park of Cluj-Napoca.

2. What motivated you to do an ESC project?
My motivation was to participate in a social project, to live independently and to learn about different cultures.

3. Why did you choose this specific project?
This project appeared right to me, since I love to work with children and to live and work together in a group of people my age. I try to practice a sustainable lifestyle, so I wanted to work in Green School, since it’s an environmental friendly school.

4. What did you learn?
During my stage I learned how to take responsibility for children and to take the initiative to schedule activities on my own.  Undoubtedly I learned a lot through living in an international shared flat and through exchanging a lot with other volunteers. My service taught me how to be more independent, how to take action more often and how to work better in a team and to be more tolerant. By now I also know basic Romanian and I learned a lot about the Romanian culture. Additionally I learned about different forms of learning, educating children and non-violent communication at my workplace.

5. What was your biggest challenge and what did you enjoy most during your project?
My biggest challenge was to teach children about complex topics without being able to talk to them, while I was often sick and having a low energy and not used to living in a city. I enjoyed it most to grow together with the other flat members, volunteers and the people from our hosting organisation.

6. What would you tell someone who is about to do an ESC project,   wherever that is?
Look for a project where you feel qualified for, and for tasks you already have some experiences with. Don’t have too high expectations of yourself and take it slow, but mention directly if you feel uncomfortable with something. Think about the environment you want to live in. Maybe look for a project with a lot of other volunteers, that makes finding friends easier and work more interesting. I think ESC stages often provide you an amazing learning experience. But be aware, that for none of us 16 volunteers it was always easy going. But I think each one of us has developed a lot and turned more independent through this experience.