Being an EVS volunteer

Article by Elena Friso - EVS volunteer

The first step before applying for a volunteer service is asking ourselves which are the reasons for doing it. Spending short or long time helping the others need strong motivations for sustaining you during all the period. Being an European volunteer means staying far from his own house, running activities for an organization abroad and being involved in many different themes and areas. All the essential coasts are covered by the programme and this is an aspect that have undoubtedly being taken in consideration but the motivations for leaving have to be stronger than the economical one.
The first reason for which I decided to be involved in this program was having an experience abroad for sharing time, abilities and improving foreign languages with people from other countries. My first long-term abroad was 4 years ago by the Erasmus student programme and I can definitely say that it was one of the best personal developing adventure formation I have ever run. My wonderful Erasmus’ souvenirs were the good starting point for leaving another program abroad. At the same time I was searching opportunities to practice working skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management and organization. I think that volunteering could help me building upon skills that I already have and use them to help and benefit the community. Taking part in an Evs was the right way also for connecting me with a country that I’ve never visited before, with its community and social problems. Helping the others make a real difference for me and for the lives of other people, and at the same time letting me know new people who decided to move abroad too whom sharing the experience with. Living the adventure with other volunteers can help you to discover yourself from other point of views and at the same time creating a new family, where everybody defer from the others on the ages, the cultures, the motivations, the experiences and the goals. Everybody is part of the other volunteer’s path and sometime I think this is a missed point.
Definitely I can say that an Evs is an experience that can give you a strong personal development and it’s incredible how the benefits for helping the others can be even great for you. You work on what it’s really important for you and your life changing your prospective for living in more simple, relaxed and authentic way. One of the best achievements of volunteering is understanding how we are fortunate in our life and starting to value a little bit more every single thing of our days.
 Isn't it enough?!!