Reasons why volunteering is important.
In this article german volunteer Vanessa Steinke will share her experience about volunteering in Estonia. She will tell about her work, about her fears and also about finding herself on this adventure. She will share how she ended up in Estonia and what she likes about it.
Q: Hello. Could you introduce yourself?
A: Yes. Hello, my name is Vanessa, I am 20 years old and I am a german volunteer. I finished school last summer and I arrived in Estonia at the beginning of September 2020. I live in its
capital, Tallinn, near Stroomi Beach and ten minutes away from my work place.
Q: In which organization are you volunteering and what are your main tasks there?
A: I am from a german organisation called ICE (Christen für Europa) and at the moment I am working at the Peeteli Social Centre in Tallinn. I am working together with other male and female teachers and together we care for children and teenagers from poor and disadvantaged families. We do homework together, we go on little trips with the kids, we play games and we are always there for them if they need someone to talk.
Q: Why have you choose to become a volunteer?
A: My biggest wish is to become a teacher one day and I always thought that it would be a good preparation if I volunteer before starting my studies. Before I come to Estonia I used to work as a kickboxing teacher in my hometown to learn the dealing with children. I could improve my skills here in Estonia and learn more about the behaviour of children and how to act in different situations. Besides that I am a very helpful and caring person and I really like my work in Peeteli and that I am able to help others.
Q: Have you faced with certain challenges?
A: For me personally it was a challenge to work with the children at the beginning because of two main reasons. First of all I am a person who always needs her time to open up and who is always pretty shy at the beginning. Secondly I am a perfectionist and always afraid of making mistakes. But all those fears were taken away by the time and after some weeks at Peeteli everything changed.
Q: Is there anything you regret or are disappointed about? Did something surprise you in a good way?
A: Well I think the only thing I regret is that I was very shy at the beginning and that I had problems to get in touch with the others at the beginning. Luckily, these things changed really quick! And I was surprised in a good way when I found out how easy it is to get in touch with the children who visit Peeteli every day. After some time the children really get used to you and the other way around and you start cooperating more and more with each other aswell.
Q: So, is there anything you would have wanted to know before becoming a volunteer?
A: To be honest, no. I think I already had enough experience trough my job in germany and because I am always motivated to work together with other people.
Q: Do you need anything specific to become a volunteer, do you have anything to recommend from your own experiences?
A: I think the most important thing is that you should always be open minded and ready to gain new experiences because you never know what can happen when you start volunteering. And it is also never wrong to read through some articles about the country you are going to and your new working place. And you should also make sure which languages are spoken in the country and to learn the language. And you should always stay motivated and not being afraid of making mistakes because thats why you are volunteering – to make mistakes and to learn from them!
Q: Why Estonia and how do you like it here?
A: Well, I have two really good friends who are from Estonia and they both recommended me to come here because of Estonias nature, the beautiful towns and because Estonia is one of the most advanced countries in the world – and since I love nature and sightseeing I decided to come here. I already like Estonia a lot because I already got the chance to see so many different places and because of the people I met here. I am very happy that I took the chance last year and decided to come here!
Q: Do you recommend voluntary work to others? Why?
A: Yes, I definitetly do! I recommend everyone to take a year for themselves and to do something like volunteering. You will learn so many things about yourself and you will change a lot in that time but in a good way. You will grow beyond yourself and you will get „better“ in every way!
Q: Do you want to add anything?
A: Yes – Take the risk or lose the chance. Always keep that in mind!
EST:
The importance and meaningfulness of volunteer work
In the following article, German volunteer Vanessa Steinke discusses the importance of volunteer work and shares her experience working in Estonia. The article covers self-discovery, work tasks, the workplace itself, and the fears that have accompanied her on this journey. Vanessa shares her story of how she came to Estonia and what she loves most about Estonia!
Q: Please introduce yourself.
My name is Vanessa, I am a 20-year-old volunteer from Germany. I finished high school last summer and came to Estonia in September 2020. I currently live in Tallinn, near Stroomi beach, which is 10 minutes from my workplace.
Q: Which organization do you work for and what are your main tasks?
My sending organization is ICE Germany, and I currently work at the Peeteli Church Social Center. I collaborate with two other social workers, and our focus is on young people and children from challenging family backgrounds. For example, we study with them, go on various outings, play games, and are always available if they need someone to talk to.
Q: Why did you become a volunteer?
My greatest aspiration is to become a teacher one day, and I've always believed it's beneficial to start by volunteering before pursuing studies. Before coming to Estonia, I worked as a kickboxing coach, which gave me the opportunity to learn how to work with children. Here in Estonia, I have the chance to further my learning and develop my skills. I am a very caring person and I am happy to have the opportunity to help young people and children at Peeteli.
Q: Have you encountered any difficulties?
At first, it was difficult for me to work with the young people of Peeteli because I am someone who needs time to blend in. I am also a bit shy at first. Secondly, I am a perfectionist who is afraid of making mistakes. Fortunately, all these fears have disappeared with time, and a few weeks at Peeteli have changed everything.
Q: Are you disappointed in anything or do you regret anything? Did anything positively surprise you?
I think the only thing I regret is that I was so shy at first and had trouble fitting in and making friends. Fortunately, things changed quickly! I was surprised at how quickly I made friends with the children and young people at Peeteli. Some time after I started working at Peeteli, the young people became more and more accustomed to me and communication with them became more active.
Q: Was there anything you wish you had known before you started volunteering in Estonia?
Honestly, no, I think I already have enough experience from my previous job in Germany, and I am also always motivated to work with others.
Q: Can you recommend anything to someone who wants to start volunteering? Do they need any specific skills?
I think the most important quality is that a person should be open to everything and ready to gain new experiences, because you never know what life will bring when you are a volunteer.
You can always read various articles about the country where you are going to volunteer, and it is also a good idea to research the organization where you will be working.
It is important to find out what languages are spoken in that country, and it is also good to learn them. You should also always be motivated and not be afraid of making mistakes, because that's why you are a volunteer – to make mistakes and learn from them!
Q: Why did you choose Estonia? How do you like it here?
I have two very good friends who are Estonians, and they recommended that I come to Estonia, mainly because of its nature, beautiful cities, and the fact that Estonia is one of the most advanced countries in the world! I love nature and sights very much, and that's why I decided to come to Estonia. I already love Estonia because I have been able to visit many places and met wonderful people. I am very happy that I made the decision to come here last year!
Q: Do you recommend volunteering to others? Why?
Yes! I definitely recommend it! I suggest everyone take a gap year for themselves and do volunteer work. You learn so much about yourself during volunteer work, and you change and develop positively. You grow in a good sense and get better every day!
Q: Do you want to add anything else?
Take a risk or you will lose the opportunity! Always remind yourself of this!
Klaudijus Daugela
Volunteer at the European Solidarity Corps at Tartu Youth Work Center
