Window shop in Berlin

Some impressions
of volunteering abroad

Volunteering in Belgium

First week, July 2009

I have arrived to SCI international secretariat one week ago, so these are the words of a ‘freshman/woman’ in the new organization and in the new city. Before I came here I was looking for some nice opportunities to get more work experience abroad – and perhaps to stay abroad? I was thinking of becoming an EVS volunteer and I was subscribed to SCI Slovenia newsletter. And there it was: open call for a project EVS LTV at SCI IS in Antwerp.

I immediately liked the setting – Antwerp – since I already visited this city some time ago. At that time I was very fascinated by it, by the whole venue, but mostly by its multicultural face and the fact that here lives the biggest orthodox Jewish community in Diaspora (I studied Anthropology). And seeing that call for applications, I immediately liked the idea to get experience in such a big international organization such as SCI – to learn more on the functioning of international projects and to sharpen my ‘hard skills’. Most of all, I liked the ideology of this organization – being a peace organization. This idea represents many sides of SCI work about which I am passionate about, but also for me it represents certain values, such as freedom and feeling being able to contribute to a better world (when it comes to values they can sound quite cranky…).

For the moment, I was nicely introduced to the work of SCI as movement and to IS office work and I already started to work on preparing myself for the meeting of preparatory team for North-South Platform Meeting in Barcelona (where I will be travelling end of July). And of course, I was also introduced to my new colleagues with whom we already played together a party of mini-golf which was very relaxing. Looking forward to the experience. I will tell you latter how it was!