Being a volunteer in the shelter can be as hard as surviving in the jungle, but also fascinating and empowering as it contributes to something big and worthwhile. The first month has been one of the most intense experiences of my life.
The shelter is challenging the social dynamics to which I am used to. Dealing with people that don’t speak my language, believe in other religions and have different daily habits is not always an easy task. It requires a constant effort to put under discussion what I call normality. I’m learning not to take anything for granted because something that can be normal for me, could be interpreted in a totally different way by a person with a different cultural background.
Being continuously exposed to such unusual inputs is teaching me a lot. I’m discovering so many interesting stories about countries, religions and people. For example – as a non-religious person – talking with Muslim and Catholic boys about faith is showing me how the world can be experienced from different perspectives.
Spending time in the shelter is often self-reflective. Lately, when thinking about my values, I recognise that some of them are essential for me. Others might be questioned instead. I’m discovering new traits of my personality, especially when I find myself handling new situations. Sometimes I put into practice what my past experiences taught me. Other times, I realize that I still have a lot of work to do. For this reason, some days are more challenging than others. For example, when I manage to have beautiful conversations with the boys or, even better, when I feel I gained their trust, I always come back home with a big smile on my face. On the contrary, when I feel useless or unable to react to certain situations, the day turns out to be a sad and demoralizing one.
Finally, I can say that curiosity, patience and an open-mind are the three fundamental ingredients that I will need along this journey. I’m looking forward to seeing what else I will learn in the next months.