MY EVS life :)

Hello, I am Maria and I am a German volunteer working in WTZ with disabled people which is located in Bydgoszcz-Fordon. Coming to Poland to work with disabled people was very unexpected and threw me off a little bit since I did not know what to expect. Also I have never worked with disabled people before. However, it turns out to be one of the best experiences I have had so far. The people are so generous and giving- and they do not expect so much in return. This work really opens eyes – it makes you realize that nothing is as bad as you have ever thought in your life. Your problems do not look bigger than they seem anymore.

The same can be said about the polish colleagues, the other international volunteers as well as our coordinates- they are all very kind and a great support!

Another newly task assigned to me was to teach German as well as Russian which came by surprise since I was born in Russia but have never used that language outside my comfort zone (excluding friends ans family members). Anyway, it turned out to be lots of fun to be a teacher. You can finally improve all mistakes your teachers every made and be a great/fun teacher instead.

Being a EVS volunteer also makes it possible to get in contact with other volunteers in Poland for example through our training sessions that you have with many volunteers from other organizations. These take place in another city and you basically discuss your EVS experience and your development in general which gives you the opportunity to network.

This month was a speacial one since our fellow volunteers in Wroclaw invited us to a special workcamp they had going on in their organization called TRATWA. This was a great opportunity for us to help them in restoring an old building but also to see again and discover another city. TRATWA is also a nongovermental organization, however, focusing on kids with difficult family backgrounds. Due to their expansion into another building the volunteers of TRATWA created a project to restore parts of that old building – and this is where we came in – my roommate/fellow Spainsh volunteer from Wiatrak, Sandra. We were basically responsible for restoring windows, window frames, creating a vertical garden  and repainting an outside wall. Although it was tough work as you can see from the pictures- we also had lots of fun. Wroclaw is a great city especially forl all youngsters since it is a student city and therefore has a huge nightlife. But also TRATWA, the staff, kids and volunteers were very welcoming. It was a week to remember and I can only suggest to engage in such projects since it does show you and give you more insight into how other NGO`s operate. A big THANKS to them but also our hosting organization WIATRAK to be such a good support about it and allow us to go.

In order to get a glimpse of our work there take a look at our exclusive pictures! Enjoy 🙂

Cześć to our new volunteers!!!!

On the second of April we all were ready to say big welcome to our new volunteers. Yes our short term EVS volunteers are already here. Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy and Portugal the list of the countries  from where they are. The day when we met first time really nice one. Ok let`s start from the weather, it was sunny, warm, beautiful and bright spring day and we could feel the spirit of spring. The mood was actually great. We, long term volunteers were waiting for that meeting and why not we were somehow excited. So the day started in Wiatrak, in our hosting organization, we met and after introducing ourselves and playing name game we were  kindly invited to the city center. And then we “discovered” that the city game organized by Vicky, one of our long term volunteers were waiting for us. So we separated in groups and the city game in Bydgoszcz  started. It was really interesting and useful. We were walking trying to follow the rules of the game and also we were communicating and getting to know each other better. Then the dinner was waiting so we had opportunity to enjoy dinner, to talk, to share our experience, to tell something about our countries and so on so on. It was just one day but full of influential moments, beautiful smiles and beginning of something new and unforgettable. Our volunteers will stay in Bydgoszcz, Poland only one and half month, yes it seems very short , but even in this short time they can do their best to make this time one of the most importatnt period in their life. So guys wish you unforgettable days, full of energy, joy, smiles and take only useful and important stuff for your future life. And from all of us from long term volunteers and our coordinators we are wishing you only the best. Let your EVS starts.

Volunteers are …

Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another.
– Erma Brombeck

Another friday :)

On friday: the last day of February  was a bit different day for our volunteers beacause it was not just a simple working day. We were in a school << Gimnazjum 35>>. We were invited there by Ewlina Lewicka, who is an english teacher. The day was started but we didn`t even know what is expected us. All of us prepared presentations, games, some small speeches  about our countries so we were ready and a little nervous. But everything was forgotten when we entered the school and the first thing we saw it was our flags and greeting with our languages. Then we were kindly invited to the classroom where many pupils were waiting for us. We started our presentation and it was just perfect to see how the pupils were watching and how interested they were. Georgian dance, spanish food, german beer, armenian culture and french: language of love. After this small <<trip>> we took photos, got chocolates from them, gave an interview  and had a conversation at a tea table prepared for us.Fresh atmosphere, nice people, interesting conversations and good memories that`s all that we took from that day.

New life and unforgattable moments !!!!

   Hi everyone, I am Tinatin from Gerogia. For now I am doing my EVS in Bydgoszcz,Poland so I am living in Bydgoszcz. EVS is a new world and a new lifestyle. Before coming I heard about EVS but I could not even imagine that it can be so nice. It`s really change my life. Everything was and is new for me: people, culture,weather, language……. For the first weeks I was very excited and confused, but now I am enjoying my every moment here.Now about my EVS. I am working in the kindergareden and I like my work, because I like children. Polish children for me are very clever, polite, responsible and cute.During working days I spend my time in kindergarden after I come back my lovely home and have rest, but during week-ends I spend my time with my friends and we are going city center,going some parties or doing shopping. So I feel lucky for taking participation in such a project. It gives me extraordinary opportunity to use all my resources,knowledge,ideas and give them the right direction.

Tinatin Jgarkava
EVS volunteer in “Wiatrak”

To bid you farewell (c)

I named this my last post in blog with the name of the song, because I wanted to share with all of you, that really this year for me was one wonderful song. As every real composition it had its culminations and character (everyone, who ever taught solfegio will understand me =))).

I can’t still believe that it is over and now I have to leave a big peace of my life on the back. I know that I got another home here where I have a big family. No, it is not just volunteers of Wiatrak and organisation by itself. I am talking about my mentor’s family, sweety children in my working place, teachers, people that I had chance to work or hang out with.

I am considering myself as a cheerful and happy person. I have a lot of reasons to cry and as I recognised on my farewell in the kindergarten also I have reasons to cry from happiness) I don’t think that you will understand, but I think it is good result and I can sum up my EVS as very good one after I saw 25 children singing me “I love you” and running for hugs, crying, asking not to go. It is my Youthpass, the best one. Emotions, feelings in my heart are my EVS-raport.

I think it is very nice to think that you put yourself into someone’s life. With children it is very important. You took part in the modeling process of new personality. And I hope I did it well.

It’s totally not my style, what I am writing now. If you read something below  – you would agree. I think it is because of mixture of my feelings. I am happy to come back home to my family, my mom. Also I was happy to hear from some people that they are considering me as a daughter. Good news, I got few moms more and I am really happy about that. But also I am sad to leave my life here. It will never be again like this. But I think that I have a power to make it even better.

So I am leaving Poland for now, I am leaving very important people for me, but also I am leaving piece of my heart here for Poland and taking with me a lot of warmth instead.

Buuut…don’t think that it was too easy to make me go. I will come back, and sooner than you think..

SO

BUZIAKI i Uściski kochani. Do zobaczenia wkrótce

Presentation about Wiatrak)

http://prezi.com/mnewzp1yo37i/present/?follow=975rxmuoiplp&auth_key=egldwwd#25_20166879

Summertime for us is…

“How is going your vacation?” and after “Dont you have vacation like everyone?” – last month I received messages from some teachers from my working place like this.

No, we are volunteers who are working for community and bring in this world piece and love. So in summertime, even if our job place is close, still we have to do a lot of tasks on the way to save this world from damaging.

For today we have few task which are we doing. Almost all the artillery of our volunteers are working with children on summercamp and make them know different cultures, traditions, languages… just another alternative life from abroad. For sure they behave good, polite and always smile ( I mean volunteers =) ).

Some of us are working in office: promoting International photography cometition (by the way check page of WIatgrak, it is worth to take part there), writing promoting articles, making presentations, preparing for arriving of new volunteers and of course drinking coffee and tea…a lot, a lot, a lot)))))))

That’s what we are doing during summer in our working hours. What we are doing after? Who knows…;))