This is Jenny, a EVS Volunteer from Sweden to Greece and that’s what she wrote about her volunteering experience:
“A little less than two months have passed by since I arrived in Serres and my EVS is soon coming to an end. As the old saying goes: time flies when you’re having fun, which I find particularly relevant here. Although my stay hasn’t been long, I’ve tried to be as productive as possible in order to make the best out of it. The compulsory tasks involved in the project have been to promote one international day of UNESCO per month and to work in the radio. The international days are promoted with one article on Praxis’s blog, a radio spot and a video uploaded on Youtube. As for the radio I have managed other people’s radio programmes as well as broadcasted alone and with others. The later has been my absolute favourite task of all the mentioned, as it allows more freedom which I’ve utilized to talk about topics important to me: mindfulness, the consumer society and romantic relationships to name a few. Although I wouldn’t assume that the average level of English is very high among our listeners, I like to think that if me and my fellow volunteers succeed in giving the slightest insight to one single person, then all our work is worth it.
Apart from the obligatory elements I’ve started some small projects myself. As one who has been blessed by Buddhism and mindfulness of course I had to introduce meditation classes, and so very soon after my arrival I started to hold classes every Tuesday for both refugees and the public. You can see me together with some practitioners in the picture above! Combined with this I’ve also been co-responsible for another project called Coffee talks & tea stories, which is an hour for both interactive games and chatting for the refugees to practice English. Since time has always been a restraint, I found these activities both suitable and meaningful. Suitable because they are easy to start and easy to end as I leave. Meaningful because mindfulness helps one to relax and focus on what is important, while the games and chats have strengthened some sort of friendly atmosphere.
Finally, the last few weeks of my EVS I’ve also started to give English lessons for the refugees. This has by far been the most meaningful experience in my service. To see, by the look of the student’s eyes when they understand and learn something new I realize that I’m an actor in this world that influences others, all the time. We all are, but personally I seldom contemplate this fact. Also this has given me perspective on my privileges to a quality and secure welfare, as I listen to the misfortunes of people fleeing from war and not being entitled to a home. All of this is just a matter of bad luck in a lottery of where you are born. So in the middle of other people’s mayhem, I can at least give a little something, and that feels good. In fact, this experience has only made me hungry for more and now I’m curious to jump on a long term EVS (or ESC, which it now is called). My stay in Serres will end soon, but the journey of my volunteering service has only begun. Who knows where I’ll end up next?”