"Working with the children was the
highlight of the whole project.
It was just amazing to be a part of their lives
for the duration of the year."
After university I was unsure of what
I wanted to do, but I knew I was not ready to start full-time employment. I was
hungry for more new experiences and eager to do something that felt worthwhile.
Through my flatmate I was introduced to the possibility of participating in a
European Voluntary Service project, something I had never heard of before. I
applied to the programme and to my joy, was accepted. I couldn’t have been
happier with the project that came my way. I was more than excited to be a part
of Decko Rychnov. So, after finalising everything, I finally hopped on a plane
and landed in the Czech
Republic. It was to be an
experience I would never forget and one that I would learn a lot from.
The first few weeks were all
introductory and plenty of advice, support and training was given during this
time. A smooth transition was made into the Rychnov community. Having the
opportunity to live with a Czech family was also something I did not expect. It
was the most incredible experience being in daily contact with such a wonderful
family and I felt that it was such an important one. It allowed us to adjust
and integrate more easily into the community and get a more impressionable feeling
for the real Czech
Republic.
The language lessons that were
provided were also fantastic. They were such a great help and really encouraged
communication and understanding. Plus it’s always good being able to
communicate with locals and show your interest in their country. It’s a fun
thing to try to learn a new language and I would say everyone was very
successful in picking up at least some basics. The classes themselves were very
interactive, great fun and beginner-friendly. The teacher is extremely patient
and really helps you to excel if you put in the effort. I found having
knowledge of the language made a real difference to the experience and gave
more purpose to the nature and goal of the project.
The project itself within Decko was a
wonderful one. It is a unique situation being given the opportunity to interact
and work with people from all different backgrounds, of a different culture, of
different ages and in a completely different country. Working with the children
who attend Decko activities and clubs was superb. There was so much fun to be
had, as well as there being many possibilities to gain new skills and learn
something new. The environment also provided many ways to make new friends and
enabled everyone to create friendships, which was a large part of the project.
Working with the children was the
highlight of the whole project. It was just amazing to be a part of their lives
for the duration of the year. Teaching at a number of local schools, throughout
the Kralovehradecky kraj, was another highlight. Visiting those lessons,
presenting about ourselves in Czech and then hosting English and occasionally
German lessons, was a once in a lifetime experience. Something like that does
not happen everyday. It was incredible the passion the Decko Director had for
the project and it was great of him to implement such a project as this. It
allowed both volunteers to test themselves in a completely new environment and
allowed them to stretch their comfort zone while also introducing them to new and
valuable situations and giving them the strength to speak in front of others
and also work with them. This experience is invaluable to me and has been an
influencing factor in directing my future.
The clubs that Decko offers really
enabled the volunteers to expand their skills and increase their knowledge of
certain subjects. Being involved in nearly all aspects of the organisation was
exciting. Helping out at public events, dressing up and representing the
organisation was also a great experience.
There were definitely times during
the project where I did not find Decko a pleasant place to work. This was due
to poor communication and a lack in comradeship. It was something I did not
expect in such an environment, however, this did not affect my overall opinion
of the project and the benefits of it.
I feel that the organisation itself
is fabulous with providing a wide variety of activities for children, teenagers
and adults alike. It is a unique place being made available to the Rychnov
community and hosts a huge number of local events. I can say that it was great
to be a part of such an organisation and I highly appreciate everything I
learned from the experience. Like I said, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity
and I will never forget it. I hope that the community and the project saw the
same results from us and appreciated having us. Everything gained and learned
will be treasured and carried on into our future lives. Thank you!
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