Relacja z wolontariatu w Hiszpanii

1. My ESC My ESC experiences experiences with with project project „Step to the to the future future” ” Igor Gruszczyński „Step

2. The The beginning beginning I think it all started in technical school, when I became a school volunteer for the first time. As part of this activity, we organized various collections at school and helped local shelters. Together with the end of school and the beginning of the pandemic, I decided to continue to be a volunteer and help people locked up during isolation. But even that wasn't enough for me... My girlfriend encouraged me to participate in the EKS project. At first I was afraid to take part because I had never been on a similar volunteering activity. However, after thinking, I decided to try, because it was a great opportunity for me to gain a completely new experience and meet new people from different countries, sharing the same interests.

3. Verde Sur Verde Sur organization organization Asociación Socio-Cultural VerdeSur Alcalá is created by a group of people who would like to create a social change in Alcala’s town while focusing on the young people and involving the young people to the mobility activities as well as the local socio-cultural activities.Later on, it grown up to a something bigger to provide capacity building trainings for teachers, adult educators and adult people. The association is supported by the local municipality, and it is based on the youth building of Alcala la Real where has a very diverse environment with a great historical trajectory where it can bring too many opportunities for events and social activities for young people and adults.

4. Step to the Step to the future future in in Alcala Alcala la Real la Real The aim of the project in which I participated was to help the local community and institutions related to it. The second goal was to spread your own culture and get to know the cultures of others. The most important activity was to help children from the local school and day care center by organizing various development games for them and overcoming language and age barriers. An equally important factor was the ecology learning and the use of this knowledge in practice by working on ecological farms and gardens.

5. Iniciative Iniciative during during the the project project • Hoja Seca – eco-friendly garden • Urban Garden • Kids Activity • Caritas • Cruz Roja • Cafe de Idiomas

6. Hoja Seca Hoja Seca – – eco garden garden eco- -friendly friendly As volunteers, we went to the garden, where, thanks to the cultivated Spanish climate, it is possible to grow vines, as well as the subsequent production of wine and all kinds of products. Over the years, the garden has been neglected, so it needs minor repair or maintenance work as well as improvements. At present, a plan is to open the area to the community, where knowledge about modern methods of caring for the environment will be passed on along with its practical use.

7. Hoja Seca Hoja Seca – – eco garden garden eco- -friendly friendly One of the first tasks was to create a workstation where the main workshops with children and adults would take place. We also built a composter and a water filtration system. In our work, we try to use the ideas of recycling and reusing items. As a result, the workstation was created from unused wooden pallets, and parts for the water filtration system from various pipes and meshes.

8. Urban Garden Urban Garden In Alcala la Real there is a local garden dedicated to volunteers, which we have to take care of by frequent watering and weeding. Due to the fact that the project is based on ecology and the idea of ​​recycling, we have created an automatic irrigation system from empty plastic bottles and ropes. Vegetables planted in the garden can be harvested and used by us later.

9. Kids Activity Kids Activity Our tasks as volunteers were also organizing activities for children from the local daycare. The children were of different ages, so we had to organize activities and games that suit everyone. The biggest obstacle was the language barrier, because we did not know Spanish and the children did not know English. Fortunately, one of the volunteers who can speak in Spanish came with help. In addition to playing games with children, we also took care of the garden together and decorated it with decorations made on activity.

10. Caritas Caritas Caritas is an organization operating all over the world. Working there as volunteers, we helped people in need or immigrants by providing them with clothes or food rations. Our tasks also included the segregation of supplies and maintaining order. Despite the language barrier between volunteers and employees, we managed to communicate and work together.

11. Red Cross Red Cross The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of war and other situations of violence. As volunteers, we helped open a new facility in Alcala la Real. For this purpose, we organized the furniture space and painted the walls. We were also the originators of the mural decorating the main room of the organization. I personally designed and created graphics that decorate the lable on the doors of individual rooms.

12. Cafe Cafe de de Idiomas Idiomas In order to establish contact with the local community, once a week we attended meetings with representatives of the residents of Alcala, where together we tried to communicate in both English and Spanish languages. It was a great opportunity to establish a better contact with the inhabitants of Spain, learn about their culture and customs.To lighten things up, we also played various board and card games.

13. In my In my spare spare time time I have always loved to travel and explore the world, so in my free time I not only visited many wonderful cities in Spain, but also went to visit the capitals of Portugal and Gibraltar. Thanks to this trip, not only did I get to know Spain and its culture better, but I also had contact with a lot of amazing people. This is one part of the experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

14. During my stay in Spain I met amazing people from different parts of the world. We worked, traveled and had fun together. It was an amazing moment for me.

15. Summary Summary If you’re thinking of taking part in EVS Erasmus Plus, don’t afraid or hesitate. Do it right now! It’s great opportunity to meet amazing people and new way to challange yourself. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain Thanks for your attention!