My experience as a youth work volunteer in Estonia

June 17, 2020

Mahatma Gandhi said, ”The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” It has been a true pleasure to work for Estonian youth as a volunteer for the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) at the Tartu Youth Work Center.

I have always wanted to be a prosecutor. However, since the beginning of my volunteer service, I have dreamed of having my own organization dedicated to the rights of children and young people. Who knows, maybe one day I'll even work globally, like UNICEF. This article is not about my plans, of course. Instead, I'm writing about the biggest lessons I learned while in Estonia. So, let's go!

I have always enjoyed observing people. I learn the most from the people around me. I want to tell some stories that are very inspiring to me, and I hope they will touch you too.

As you know, I volunteer at the Tartu Youth Work Center. Youth work is not my learned profession. Despite this, my colleagues have treated me as an equal. From the beginning of my journey, this has deeply touched me and made me fond of the entire team. This is not the place to single out two or three people I've collaborated with – I have twenty wonderful colleagues who give their best every day as youth workers!

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Through these people, I learned that:
– You can be a respected leader of an organization. And not by being an overbearing boss, but by being human and gentle!
– No matter how different your new colleagues are, you can still find a peaceful way to cooperate with them!
– No matter how much you think you know, wisdom and knowledge don't have to be shared condescendingly; it can be done kindly and friendly!
– No matter how much less experienced you are compared to others, you can confidently learn from them!

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This is what I call professionalism. These individuals know how to work on themselves, which enables them to build a dedicated and effective team.

Working at a youth center is not just about who you work with, but also who you work for. Nelson Mandela has said: “Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth, those who care for and protect our people.”

Yes, we work for the benefit of young people! I am so proud of this. During my volunteer service, I learned that ONE caring adult can make a big difference in children's lives. I decided that I would be that ONE adult: I encourage them to dream, listen to them, and spend time with them.
Honestly, what I love most about my job is loving my colleagues and the young people! The most important part of the ESC experience wasn't just working; I also immensely enjoyed building new international relationships and learning about other cultures. I realized that another thing I love about my volunteer service is being able to learn new things to teach my young people. It's a wonderful feeling!

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In conclusion, it can be said that we indeed have two hands – one for helping ourselves and the other for helping others. But with the hand I use to help others, I have received more.

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Ana Dvalashvili

Volunteer at the European Solidarity Corps at Tartu Youth Work Center

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