Welcome on the site dedicated to the international network of social street workers. This site will allow you, amongst others, to gain information on all the activities and results obtained within the frame of the network; to participate to the process of exchanges of good practices; to constitute a local workshop of street workers and to become a member of the work.
Dynamo international is at the initiative and coordinates this actual platform of international solidarity for street educators.
Enjoy your browsing and do not hesitate to contact us...
Newsletter
Interview of Marta, Spanish volunteer at Dynamo International
Marta Jimenez, volunteer at Dynamo International - 18 May 2010Can you introduce yourself ?
My name is Marta Jimenez, I'm 27 and I come from La Rioja in Spain. There, I studied business and administration. After my studies, I was animator in a cyber library where I taught elderly people and children computer sciences during the holidays.
Why did you choose to come to Belgium ?
By chance! At first I was looking for projects in English-speaking countries. I did not particularly wanted to learn French, but when I saw the Dynamo project, it went pretty well straight away and now I like this language! I wanted to take part in an EVS because I wanted to change my life and do something for myself.
What are the activities you took part in during the European Voluntary Service ?
I did social street work and thus many different things. For example, neighborhood tours. At the beginning, I was surprised, I did not known such work in Spain. I only knew the job of social worker in offices. But I understood the importance to go out and meet young people in the street. I also played an active leader role in the Merlo district. My job was to organize activities and workshops so that neighbors can meet each other. We made a lot of workshops (knitting, computers, cooking, etc…) with the elderly, but also other creative workshops with children. I also worked with students coming from a special education school.
What did you prefer to do ?
Everything ! I don't like doing always the same thing. With these different activities, I really felt useful. I had to work with a various public, and had to adapt to them and work differently with each of them.
Was there a link between your studies and this Dynamo project ?
No. But I used to do workshops with disabled people. When you begin your studies, you do not always know what you want to do. Today I still do not know what I really want to do, but I know I would like to work in the social sector and with children. Even if I did not graduate in this field, Dynamo brought me many experiences that I can use.
What are your plans now ?
I want to stay in Belgium, improve my French, looking for a job, and also travelling !
What did your learn during your stay in Belgium ?
I learned to live by myself! I come from a small town and I arrived here in Brussels. I didn't speak French, I didn't know anybody and when I arrived, I had to live all alone in a house for 3 months because I was the only volunteer! But it wasn't hard and I learned to cope very fast.
Is there a strong moment that you remember?
Nothing in particular, everything in general. I spent 10 months completely different with a large variety of things and activities. I have no regrets
What would you advice to young people willing to leave ?
Don't be afraid, take the plunge, fear is necessary to move forward and go further.
How did you imagine Belgians before, and how do you see them now?
Everybody told me that they were very cold and that Brussels was boring with all those European commissioners everywhere ! But this is not true at all. There are many things to do every day, it's a multicultural city and I love it ! And people are not cold at all.
Did the project meet your expectations ?
Completely. I didn't know what I was going to find, but I knew I was going to love it.
Back to the newsletterPicture gallery
More news
- 17 May 2012
Dynamo International’s take on theActive inclusion of people excluded from the labour market - 13 March 2012
Newsletter #21 (FR/EN) - 13 March 2012
Miri - A child story from Greece - 13 March 2012
Criminality or Social Exclusion? Justice for Children in a Divided World, 5 – 7 November 2012 - 13 March 2012
Drugs: in the shadow of prison policy, 29 March 2012 - 13 March 2012
EU snapshots of your life! Upload your photo, express yourself and win a Tablet from the Danish EU Presidency - 13 March 2012
Never too old ... for active ageing! Contribute to the 2012 European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations! - 13 March 2012
Dynamo International and CATSR, Congolese NGO: how it all began - 13 March 2012
The State of the World’s Children 2012: Children in an Urban World - 12 March 2012
Make safe love on the Saint Valentine’s Day (and all the other days of the year)!