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Agata, European voluntary for Dynamo

1) Agata, could you introduce yourself and tell us why and how you came to Belgium ?

My name is Agata, I am 23 years old, I live in Czestochowa in Poland. I study to become teacher in English, but I still have to finish my master degree.
My arrival in Belgium is a long story, I knew I wanted to go abroad for a European Voluntary Service, but Belgium was not at first my goal. In fact, I was first of all looking for a project I would be keen on, rather than a specific city. I consequently sent requests in France, England, Belgium … I also wished to improve my French. Once in possession of the answers, I was thinking of going to France but I had to stay a full year and this seemed too long. Since I had also received a positive reply from Brussels, I said to myself, why not, since they also speak French. And here I am, I arrived rue de l’Etoile end September.

2) You are here within the frame of the European Voluntary Service, what part do you play and what are your activities within the teams of Dynamo and Dynamo International ?

Now, with Dynamo International I mainly take part in the team meetings and at the beginning I was also involved in certain events with Ara (former EVS) such as 11.11.11, Flash 2008. I also do some translations English-French/French-English.
Whereas with local Dynamo work is more concrete. I prepare activities for the youngsters, for instance in Matongé with Braz (Ed. Social street worker at Dynamo) we do percussions, a creative workshop, I organise visits to museums, … At first I also did some rounds in the neighbourhood but I did not like this too much, I felt I was wasting my time, I could not fully grasp the purpose of walking for hours in the cold (it was winter) when there was no one about. But after 2/3 months it got much better !

3) What are your future plans ? In what way does a voluntary sojourn have an influence on them ?

I would like to continue my studies and finish my master. Now I am certain I want to work with young people, on arriving in Belgium I was not yet very sure of this. I also wish to take up another volunteer task, on another continent and I intend to continue to improve my French. My stay as a voluntary has won me a lot of experience.

4) What coherence do you see between your choice to take part in this program in the social field and your chosen studies ?

The coherence between this program and my studies lies in the contact with youngsters. I used to do trainings in schools and therefore I always had these contacts. But here, I learn to get in touch with youngsters from different cultures. My studies have also allowed me to get much more quickly in contact. This trip has really broadened my mind !

5) What did you learn whilst in Brussels ?

I learned a great number of things and even if the first 2/3 months did not go too well , now I am involved in several activities, I put a lot into them. I quickly became friends with the other volunteers. And I learned all sorts of practical things : one helps people, the workers, one takes part in the activities and one is free to organise a project of one’s own. One really gets satisfaction of helping the others, to do this on a voluntary basis and our motivation is completely strange to money.

6) You took part in activities with very different kinds of publics, what has this diversity brought you ?

This has broadened my mind. I worked a lot with the Moroccan and the Congolese culture. Whilst in Poland I did not really know these cultures. I found we had a lot in common. I also lived with some Congolese, I therefore had a direct contact with this culture, since we lived under the same roof.
In Poland, more precisely in Cracow, There are a lot of foreign students but not like in Belgium, there are not really any foreign communities.

7) During the whole of your project, what were the important moments ? What memories remain from your experience ?

I think that when one travels one always has the good experience side and the bad experience side, but it is only at the end one keeps in mind the positive sides. At first I found it difficult but I am ever so pleased I came here even if there are not a lot of links with my studies. Now I have a much more open mind and I have some knowledge of the social field. I don’t really have a memory or special moments to speak of , there have been so many, but what I remember is how many friends I made, the discovery of cultures and social work and also I have definitely improved my French. I also think that even the bad memories are often positive as thanks to them one learns to draw conclusions and one improves oneself.

8) What kind of advice can you give to the youngsters wishing to launch out into a same adventure ?

I think it is well to take part in this kind of projects as this brings change in one’s life. After that you don’t even feel like going home (laughter). It is a very good experience. Also, if you are timid, this allows you to become more open, to discover your talents and to build your personality. I find it is important to become involved in a project, it allows you to blossom. The good side of the EVS frame is that you don’t need to have been trained in the field you find yourself in, you go there to learn. Most of all you must not have fear and always stay open to everything. Moreover, to be alone in a country allows one to be more independent, more responsible of yourself and of the others and this forces one to speak to other people, to discover the city and the country you are staying in. Afterwards, when you go to another country, the shock is reduced, things seem more normal.
 

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