Hello everyone, I am Ana Nemsadze from Saqartvelo. In this small article I will share my views about why we should apply for the European Solidarity Corps volunteering programs, what is generally volunteering and what experience I have so far.

I would like to begin with why we should apply for ESC projects. Well, for me it is a great opportunity to meet new people, get to know with new cultures. As long as you are never alone, in your organization there always will be a group of volunteers from different countries. During this period, volunteers are becoming more independent individuals, we learn how to control our budget for living, we learn how to be more compationate, forgiving, tolerant, increasing creativity and motivation for new life challenges. This is a time when we will learn how to cope with new culture and new traditions.

If you are already interested to participate, here are some tips how you can do it.
First , you need to register on the portal (https://europa.eu/youth/go-abroad/volunteering/opportunities_en). Be careful while uploading your CV, because it’s very important and don’t forget to fill out all charts given.
When you find suitable projects for you and feel passionate about them, you need to start applying process. You will need motivation letters for each of them and send CV of course. But I would like to give some small tip from my point of view, as long as there are different types of projects, you can start from short term project, so you would be able to apply again for long term projects, if you decide in your future life and your volunteering career will be extended. The advantage of these program is that there is no language barrier, you need to be able to communicate and express yourself. But read carefully description of the project, well for me knowledge of English was important as long as I am doing my volunteering work at school, and I am also very lucky because in our Gimnazium there is a high level of English knowledge among students. After applying you need to find a sending organization, a local from your country. They will help you to prepare all kinds of documents you need.

I would like to say some words about the projects itself. It is a time all about yourself and your creativity. You are fully provided with the services from the beginning all transportation fees ending with your accommodation, communal, food money and pocket money. You are ensured as well, so you will feel safe and secured.

During volunteering you are never alone. You have a huge support system built around you. All volunteers have coordinator, mentor and tutor. They are people who will always be there for you. At your work place you will have mentor and tutor, you will communicate every day and they will help you to integrate easily in new culture. If you are participant of short term project, you will have training, provided from you sending organization, before going to another country about what kind of differences you may face and give you advices how you can cope easily with new culture. If you are participating in long term project, you as a volunteer will have arrival and mid-term training from the national organization. Where all kinds of activities are planned and provided for you.

The last part of your activity is evaluation of your work. It is a conclusion of your volunteering service. You are given a chance to have very valuable document Youth Path, which describes all kind of activities you have implemented in your project, all the competences you have improved or gained. This Document is official form which will be helpful in your future life, while applying for exchange programs, or even in hiring. You are creating a web of communication as well and don’t lose them, because they are a big part of your memory and experience.

Volunteering itself is a perfect way of staying motivated. When you are focused more on giving rather than getting, your motivation grows. Together we make a difference in this world. Our attitudes, believes and ideas creating stronger community together are priceless. Some people only focus on what they can get out of life and relationships. If we come from the position of serving and helping and being more consciously awake to world around us, our mindset can shift from merely receiving to giving. It’s true that “You make a living by what you get. You make a life what you give.”-Winston Churchhill.

These times are challenging for all of us but still we should try to make best out of it.

I would like to welcome all of you in our big family of volunteers.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Ana