Volunteer's Day in Viana

How many of you knows that first record of the verb volunteer comes from 1755? Pretty long time ago, don't you think? It has roots in French, is a derivation from the world voluntaire - one who offers himself for military service. Hasn't it change a bit since then?

As so Wikipedia says Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial gain. Volunteering is also renowned for skill development, and is often intended to promote goodness or to improve human quality of life. Volunteering may have positive benefits for the volunteer as well as for the person or community served. It is also intended to make contacts for possible employment.

Forgive me reaching to Wiki, but 'volunteering' is one of those words everyone knows the meaning and nobody thinks about them deeper unless necessary.

In some places Volunteer's Day went by unnoticed, but it doesn't mean your help is any less important. And, above all, should you contribute and share with others to be noticed or just from simple need of your heart? Think about it for a moment. But then, when you give, you also get something. For me it's an exchange working both ways. In and out, however with no expectations attached.

We were lucky  to be taken for volunteers' meeting in Viana do Castelo, where there are three other database and apply!). We all have different stories to tell. Jorge for example started his adventure in college working his former high school and in summer camps. For me it's been over 10 years (in high school) and I've been through various adventures such as therapist of autistic children (with horses!), tutor or having workshops during art festivals.
EVS: Gretel, Melaine and Natalia. We had coffee, cookies, laughter and an opportunity to share our experiences, talk what volunteering means for us, and well... it is pretty amazing to be in another country (if you want to try yourself -> check out the

I'm not going to bore you to death how the meeting go: it was short and pleasant. We got some gadgets (pens and notebooks!), got too sign a message for future volunteers in a book, talked and after the formal part was over, Diana and Helder took us to try bolas de berlin (heaven in your mouth!), walked around, had dinner and see the church on the top of the hill. A beautiful day for which we are absolutely grateful.

It's not fair to tell for everyone, but I feel here like a part of big family. It couldn't be more perfect. Thank you, to all of you!

And say hi to fabulous Diana, one of our coordinators (Helder is in the background ^^)! Love you! 

My volunteering experience in Estonia

Last spring, I got to go in a Youth in Action project in Estonia. I'm still wondering how could it happened, but it did. An email arrived to my inbox, asking if I was interested -silly question- and in a minute I sent my CV and motivation letter. One day later I was in the project, and two weeks after that I was in a plane going into the North.

My project was called PAPER, which stands for "Planning, Analysing, Preparing, Evaluating and Repeating (for life). It lasted one month (this means it was a short term project) and took place in Tartu, the second most populated city in Estonia, supposedly well known for its famous University.

There I joined with the people who was going to do the project with me. We formed a pack of five: Adriana and Sara, from Portugal; Grega and Ziga, from Slovenia; and me, from Spain. We lived all together in a small village -Vana Kuuste- in the countryside near Tartu.

All of us were going to work in some of the projects that our Hosting Organisation, Öökull (which means owl in Estonian) was developing in Tartu and its district. More or less, we would working two weeks in the Lastekeskus -children centre- they have in Annelinn neighbourhood, one of the most troubled in Tartu, and another 2 weeks in a Work and Rest camp that was taking place in Kambja, a small town near our house.

But just before arrive, our HO asked us if we would like to volunteering too in an international festival that was going to take place in Viljandi (for some and my mentor Agniezska, the most beautiful city in Estonia). None of us said no to this different "meta" experience: a volunteer been a volunteer. So we all worked there too.

Our work in the child centre was pretty nice. We had to prepare the decoration and the food for their Spring Festival, which was the official closure of the year. Also, we prepared a little presentation about ourselves and what was we doing so far away from our home. As the centre was going to close for summer holidays, we did some repairing and cleaning works too.

But that wasn't all our work there. We played with the children too, even without speak a word of Estonian or Russian. Here we got some help from the workers of the centre and from our mentor Agneszka, who translated almost everything they were saying. Before we go, some of us worked in prepare a peddy paper or treasure game for them, to play during Children's Day.

Then, we moved to Viljandi for a long weekend (4 days). There took place the 35th International Hanseatic Days, where we volunteered by cleaning the main stages and streets of the festival. It was a bit difficult, for the task to do (we even hadn't the proper equipment) and for the lack of information about what we had to do. Every paper, every contract, every timetable was in Estonian, so we were "lost in translation", literally.

After that we went back to Tartu. Our new workplace was going to be the Youth Centre of Kambja, where the Work and Rest camp was. We had to prepare some activities and games for teenagers who were working in the morning in the local factory or cleaning the local graveyard. Although we had to face some communication problems and misunderstandings with the management, we got to do everything nicely and solve the problems.

I don't have the feeling we worked that much, maybe because it was only for 30 days. But the thing is that we did. Actually, I think we spend more time knowing Estonia and its culture than working. And that's good!

Thanks to our mentors, Jane, Agnieszka and Ragnar, we travelled along the country (and even abroad!) and we had the chance to live an authentic Estonian experience. They introduced us to the ritual of Estonian sauna, which I miss so much. With them we got lost into the wilderness of Estonian nature, sleeping in the forest with only the moonlight and sailing the rivers with our canoes.

I can't forget all the beers, wines, ciders and Vana Tallinn hot shots we drunk, and which introduced us to a lot of nice talks between us. They gave us almost everything we needed, translated every single word (because Estonian is one of the hardest languages to understand and learn) and tried to introduced us into the local community.

Sadly, it lasted only one month. When we wanted to realise we were there, we were already evaluating our days there. As soon as we arrived, we had to go back home. But we did it with our backpacks full of memories and teachings.

Happy Volunteer's Day!!

Tomorrow is United Nations International Volunteer's Day. A day to celebrate the spirit of people who gives altruistically its time, work and love to help becoming the World a better place. Like us, working here in Portugal in something that fascinate us: photography, entertainment, arts & crafts, culture, education and communication.

Congratulations if you are a volunteer!! Thank you very much for your amazing work, wherever you are and whatever you do. We all are changing everything, by doing little works everywhere we are.

Congratulations too if you are thinking you become a volunteer. Come on, don't be shy; just take the step. You can volunteer almost in any field you want. For example, this year the UN International Volunteer's Day is dedicated to those who promote sustainable development between citizens and governments. That's my case: in Spain (and I guess everywhere too) I'm a volunteer promoting the use and the improve of public transit systems.

Your help is very welcome in everything to decide to do. If you know something, share your knowledge. If you are talkative, share your conversation. Or simply, if you are a happy person, just share your smile. 

I'm not going to lie: it can be difficult sometimes. You may have to stand there during good situations and also during the bad ones. You may have to support people which may have lost everything and they need to rebuild their entire life. You may find very hard stories.

Anyway, that's nothing to be scared about! Being a volunteer is, above all, very satisfying. You will learn a lot, sometimes will be for your career, but most of the times for your life. Also, you will meet inspiring and interesting people, who will open your head and heart. Don't forget all the good memories you will get: volunteering is also about have fun doing a thing you love.

And the most important: you will be part of an amazing experience which is going to change your life. Maybe you won't realise at the beginning, but anything is going to be the same after you start volunteering.

Never forget: a little effort can do a big change.