- 1 August 2019
- Posted by: Team for Youth Association
- Category: Volunteering Stories
Hello there! Before I speak about my adventure as a volunteer, let me introduce myself. My name is Benjamin. I am 25 years old and I’m in Baia Mare for 4 months. I’m already here for two months and a half and I work in a project called SEV4x4.
After this beautiful introduction, let me speak about my first time in Romania and the first steps in my project.
Finding out that I was accepted into the project completely changed my life. Indeed, because I worked with an indefinite contract in France. So, I left my job to prepare for the project, I waited several months before leaving (4 months). During this time, I was very excited about discovering a new country, a new culture and getting out of my comfort zone. It was one of my goals and I think it was the best moment in my life to do this.
Being a volunteer is an experience that can only make you evolve.
My first moments in Romania were a very nice surprise for me.Indeed, we have many stereotypes in France about Romania and when we talk about the country it is often badly seen. Coming here I realized it is not the case, the city of Baia mare is really beautiful, close to nature and with a lot of resemblance to European cities. We must not listen to what it is said and come to discover this beautiful country that is Romania.
The expectation of the arrival did nothing but develop this by discovering the T4UTH team, the locals and the new volunteers. The first days are really important since it allow us to put in good condition before starting our project. It was then when I realized that all the volunteers were on the same page and that we are going to be as a family for the next few months we will live together.
Discovering so many new people from all over Europe in such a short time it was a first for me. I consider this a chance for me to be able to exchange ideas and discover other cultures. Exchange and sharing are essential elements to take full advantage of your EVS.
The 4×4 project is dedicated to children, which was particularly important to me. In France, I volunteer for an association that helps hospitalized children, so I am particularly sensitive to the topic.
We work as a team to help the children and people with disabilities. It’s very interesting and for me it’s very new. Working as a team on this project helps us a lot. Indeed, each member of the team brings his/her experience and ideas for the different tasks that we have. This allows the team to evolve together and develop skills that some did not have before. For me, evolving in a team is really important because I think it suits me well, I evolve quicker.
I want to use the occasion and say thanks to the whole team and people from the association, I feel now really comfortable working with children and people with disabilities.
So I’ve upgraded my skills thanks to EVS
If you came to read so far, it means that you consider volunteering interesting. And you’re right, do not hesitate, it’s a unique experience that must be done before time passes. You will be able to develop a lot of things in you that you do not know, to discover a new country, a new culture, to exchange ideas and learn from many different nationalities.
So hurry ! Romania is waiting for you ! Noroc and Multumesc for reading.
Zotch’ Ben
Benjamin is a French volunteer and he takes part in the “SEV 4×4” project which is an European Voluntary Service financed by the European Commission through Erasmus Plus program. The content of this article does not reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in the article lies entirely with the author.
