My name is Omar, I'm originally from Gambia, but I've been living in Palermo, Italy for many years now, and this summer I did an EVS in Estonia.
I decided to go to Estonia because it seemed like a great opportunity to improve and apply my skills and abilities, and it seemed like the perfect place for it all.
I have always wanted to do a volunteer experience abroad, but I have never had the opportunity to leave for a long period. This summer, however, thanks to the association InformaGiovani I was presented with the opportunity to participate in a European Voluntary Service project to help with animation and accompaniment activities for children and young people in four volunteer camps of one week each in Estonia, and I immediately seized the opportunity.
I arrived in Tartu full of expectations, desire to work, to learn and very excited. The fields were located outside the settlements, on the edge of the Estonian nature park.
An experience! The greatest and most unforgettable satisfaction of my life.
I, together with other volunteers from different European countries, assisted children with behavior problems, taking them to different places in the Estonian nature to discover the beauty and importance of other cultures.
I met people from all over the world, of all ages and cultures. We talked about travel, dreams, work, passions, food, music, life, struggles, projects and much more.
After a month, my first experience of volunteering abroad ended and if I think back to everything I experienced in that month, it seems unbelievable.
The only thing I regret is not being able to stay longer, but there's always time to catch up.
I think that this type of experience should be done by everyone at least once in their life.
If the idea of leaving scares you, don't be afraid to take that "leap into the void" because it's always worth it when you have the opportunity to come into contact with a new culture and meet many different people, since all this that we receive from a trip constitutes our true wealth.
Hoping to one day meet all the people I met in this adventure, I just have to say…Aitha! (Viva!)
Omar