Restart: forging emotions through volunteering

Something about us - Volunteers Life

How a volunteering program can lead your emotional journey

by Christos Leivaditis

Volunteering is a multi-level concept that can lead a person into unique paths in life. The virtue of selfless contribution for a cause that can help others, is the essential basis to pave the ground for an inclusive society with solidarity at its core, from everyone and for everyone. This road inevitably creates and fosters new emotions for the volunteer, which stay and shape the volunteer’s personality for good.

Taking these values into account, the European Solidarity Corps program provides youngsters with a special opportunity to get involved in volunteering missions around Europe and promote these values, in a well-structured framework ensured by the European Union. In this frame, a total 46 of youngsters had the chance to engage in volunteering and contribute their work in Thessaloniki and Northern Greece, as participants of “RESTART”, an ESC volunteering teams project implemented by United Societies of Balkans, in cooperation with local partners Lighthouse of the World and Argo.

Volunteers and the children of the Roma community join hands on the last day of the project

© Christos Leivaditis

The experience provided participants with a unique chance to explore their inner self, understanding of others and get accustomed to the culture, traits and beauty of Greece, while promoting solidarity and European values.

In specific, volunteers in Thessaloniki, supported the local marginalized Roma community of Dendropotamos area, with focus on its youth and children, by the implementation of educational and recreational actions in the local activity center. This opportunity to engage and connect effectively with the little ones was inevitably strong and perhaps life changing for participants. The deep connection they created with the kids, forged by their almost daily interaction and sincere interest and affection shown to them, is a gift that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

The children of the center welcomed and embraced volunteers from different countries with love and trust that only children can show. Even the language barrier did not prove to be a problem in their connection path. First the body language helped, then some basic English paved the way and by the end of the two months, volunteers and the kids had created a communication bridge overcoming all barriers, strong enough to carve good memories in the hearts of everyone, as well as to say a proper goodbye to each other on the last day.

Another team of volunteers also supported the important social work of Argo, that helps in the social reintegration of former mental institution patients and drug addicts. The work involved volunteers in direct work with these people, in therapeutic and recreational activities especially targeted in this objective, such as sport events, daily discussion as well as gardening work. Meeting with the people and engaging in common activities, helped volunteers in exploring their emotional intelligence and understanding.

Snap of the volunteering team in Halkidiki, after an event organised for children and the local community in the village’s park snap of the volunteering team in Halkidiki, after an event organised for children and the local community in the village’s park

© Christos Leivaditis

The volunteers joining the project in the rural area of Halkidiki engaged in different activities, which triggered for them other aspects of emotional awareness and connection with the local society. For two months, the team located in the village of Stratoni, of the Aristotelis region in Halkidiki, supported the local community with actions promoting local life as well as with the creation of structures to boost knowledge and local activation, such as a new local library made up by book donations.

The community of around 1.000 inhabitants, greeted volunteers and involved them in the local life as if they were themselves from Stratoni. Providing them with traditional Greek food, goodies and support when they needed it throughout their stay, they made volunteers feel welcomed and appreciated in this new environment. The hard work volunteers put in their tasks, the open activities they organized, their engagement with the area’s youth as well as the opening of the new public library, will remain as strong reminders of this special bond.

Volunteering is a choice that can change one’s life. It’s a learning journey, a unique cultural experience and without a doubt, a special pathway in exploring your inner self and emotions, which appear and are enforced as part of this trip into the (un)known.