Development is not a field widely known. It was of common happening that people would even ask me to what exactly this is. In addition to this, some people asked me why I choose to be a volunteer, why I am abroad for volunteering and so on. On the web I found this meme that funnily summarizes what people think working in developments looks like. I will go in detail of it by using my experience in Hope for Children as a testimony.
What my parents think I do
The name of the organization, Hope for Children, clearly says who the beneficiaries are. Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society, and fortunately many NGOs are committed in helping them. Children are also cute and adorable, so what my parents thought of me is that I would be working with them all the time. They are like most of the parents, they like seeing their daughter as an angel. Probably, when their colleagues and friends ask about my life their answer depicting myself carrying with one hand a 3 year-old child and with the other hand feeding another child.
What my friends think I do
My friends know that I got involved in development because I have strong beliefs and I want to improve our society by changing what needs to be changed or at least by try to. So, I won’t be surprised if they depict me as a revolutionary protester fighting for this or that right on the streets. Basically, for them I am a kind of Che Guevara but more hippie.
What the government thinks I do
NGOs receive funds from governments, political entities such as European Union and also from the private sector. My volunteering project, for example, is funded by the European Union. The accommodation is provided, and I also receive monthly pocket money. To their perspective I am a receiver of funds, so probably they depict myself swimming in a pool full of their money. Or more realistically, they know well that volunteers have to be creative in order to frugally deal with all their expenses.
What other people think I do
Nowadays, everyone uses social networks because it is the best way to keep in touch with people specially having distance as an obstacle. Many people like sharing what they do in their lives like where they go for dinner or holidays. On the other hand, most of the people like peeking at what other people do in their lives. It’s how our society works. I mostly use Instagram to share about my travel photos. That’s why I won’t be surprised if people think I came to Cyprus to have a holiday and travel in nearby countries. For sure there is someone who depicts me having a sunbath in Ayia Napa all the time and holding a coconut.
What I think I do
Without doubts, supporting an organization that helps children is fulfilling. Especially because I know first-hand what being a migrant child in Europe means, thereby supporting the Migration and Integration Unit made me definitely feel as I achieved a personal goal. Working in development for me means also sharing and I felt that I could support the team to achieve something bigger than what a single person can achieve.
What it is really like
Throughout the last year volunteering at Hope for Children, I had the chance to work with children (I would say adolescent) during workshops at schools, I played with them, as they occasionally came to my workplace to meet psychologists, I fought for environmental rights by trying to persuade my colleagues to recycle, I chilled out by the beach and had fun with friend and I supported the whole organization in protecting children rights. In other words, working in development has a bit of all the perceptions mentioned above. But to be completely honest, it also means hard work, pressure because of deadlines, reading endless reports, boring administrative tasks that need to be done, adaptation and flexibility to multiple situation, dealing with colleagues in stressful situations, everyday routine, waking up early, sitting in front of a computer 7 hours per day and so on.
Working or volunteering in development has many shadows, as any other job, it has positive and less positive sides. But if you love what you do and if you focus on the main purposes you will accept these difficulties as part of the learning path. Because to love what you do is more important than people’s opinion.