8 o’ clock in the morning.
My Italian coffee is ready, the bag on the table with thousands of small papers and notes with appointments, ideas, things learned, useful information, telephone numbers.
Glasses, my lunch, pens, telephone…Where are the keys? Found them!
I take my bicycle and I go across the Cypriot car drivers who look at me as the weird foreigner who doesn’t have a car. In traffic, I feel attacked every day and I wonder why I still love this country.
I’m late (like always) and the cold is not helping. “The weather in this island is always good”, they said!
I ring the bell of the shelter; my day is starting.
Every time I ring that bell I go through different feelings: sometimes I’m tired before starting, sometimes excited for something I’ll do, sometimes curious. Sometimes, I am wondering – in the seconds between the ringing and the gate opening- guessing what weird thing will happen with 42 adolescents around.
However now, most of the times, I just feel home.
My EVS started 11 months ago, and I didn’t expect all the things happened when I crossed that gate for the first time. When I crossed that gate for the first time I felt an alien, I met so many different people and I saw so many different things that I was confused, worried and disoriented.
During the first days in the shelter, I was overwhelmed by the information flow, I was going around trying to remember names, codes, numbers, I was speaking with the boys and the colleagues with my basic English, trying my best not to look too stupid.
42 minors, more than 30 colleagues, 5 offices, 20 telephones, 3 other volunteers and last but not least too many Greek names which change according to the conjugation. I thought I would never survive.
11 months passed and yes, I survived.
I survived and now the same faces, the same places, the same gate, the same weird Greek names make me feel home.
I learned, grew up personally and professionally. I created, I failed, I exchanged, I found my equilibrium and my place, I’ve been supported and I supported, I gave and received trust, I gave and received energy.
My project is almost at the end, but I decided to stay in Cyprus and work for the organization.
My studies, the previous work experiences and this year volunteering at the shelter, are giving me the opportunity to be part of a professional and qualified staff, in an international humanitarian organization.
For sure I’m not the same person who crossed that gate for the first time, thanks to the 42 adolescents, to the 30 colleagues, to the 5 offices, to the 20 telephones and to the 3 other volunteers. But also thanks to me and my ambition and my dreams.
And so I was wondering, why do people choose to volunteer?
Maybe just enough “to cross their special gate” and to realize, then, thanks to the journey, that they are not the same person anymore.
Clara (Italy), EVS volunteer at “Home For Hope”, a shelter for unaccompanied minors.
Hosting Organization “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center, Nicosia Cyprus
