MYVOLUNTEEREXPERIENCEWITHPARKISTRA

WrittenbyKatjaZgoznik

In general I ask myself why do I do the things I am doing? Sometimes it's a pull in the unknown, fired by my pure curio- in the unknown, fired my pure curio sity and anticipation of the experience. and of the It can also be led by my hope to escape It can also be led my to escape a current state that I don't like and to a finally discover what to do. To find my discover what to do. To find my place in the world, a profession I would in the world, a I would love love.

Years ago I was introduced to the Years ago I was introduced to the Erasmus+ volunteering projects, which Erasmus+ which opened up many beautiful experiences. up many beautiful I've accumulated knowledge in various I've accumulated in various fields, but in my eyes it was always the fields, but in my eyes it was the human connection that has the most priceless meaning.

So far I have been in multiple Erasmus+ So far I have been in Erasmus+ youth exchanges and meeting people youth exchanges and people from other countries and cultures is not other and cultures not an unusual thing for me, but it continues an unusual for me, but it continues to be something I appreciate a lot. And to be I appreciate a lot. And now in my ESC project in Park Istra I am now in my ESC in Park Istra I am part of a group of 12-15 volunteers that of a group of 12-15 volunteers that helps the local community and environ- the local and environ ment which gives me a meaning, a pur- ment which me a a pur pose, and a sense of contribution that pose, and a sense of contribution that I like very much Because of coworking I like very much. Because of with people from different backgrounds with people from different backgrounds and cultures or even my own culture in and cultures or even my own culture in such a community way It's inevitable such a way It's inevitable not to gain different perspectives, learn not to different perspectives, learn different approaches and dissolve ste- different and dissolve ste reotypes and prejudices I wasn't even and I wasn't even aware of having. aware of welcoming mentors Petra and Janez mentors Petra and Janez Matos They have created something Matos. They have created that doesn't only give back, and pro- that doesn't back, and pro vides help in the local community, but vides in the local but it also empowers every volunteer that it also empowers every volunteer that comes to Park Istra. comes

I've never felt that we are only there I've never felt that we are there to accomplish tasks, but we are also to tasks, but we are also provided with a safe and open space with a safe and open space to communicate our needs, back- to communicate our needs, back grounds, fears, worries, We are even grounds, fears, worries, ... We are even motivated to express what we want to motivated to express what we want to learn and develop in our volunteering learn and in our experience. We volunteers live in a big experience. We volunteers live in a house, and we share the responsibilities house, and we share the of cooking and cleaning for ourselves, of and for ourselves, but if we need help we can always but if we need we can ask our mentors, who live nearby, for ask our mentors, who live for assistance We are also provided with assistance. We are also with free days on a weekly basis, optional free days on a weekly basis, workshops such as personal develop- such as ment, handwork, and many more. ment, handwork, and many more.

What I like is that our working weeks

What I like is that our weeks change based on the needs of the re- change based on the needs of the re gional habitants, so it creates a dyna- habitants, so it creates a dyna mic workflow, which is also very easy mic workflow, which is also very easy to follow based on the great structure to follow based on the structure of our weekly meetings about the work of our weekly about the work assignments provided by our warm and provided by our warm and

My personal favourite are the cultural favourite are the cultural evenings. Each week people from a Each week from a certain country are cooking their na- certain are their na tional/traditional cuisine, which is fol- which is fol lowed by a Quiz or a Powerpoint pre- lowed a Quiz or a pre sentation about their countries Usually sentation about their countries. Usually also every nationality presents and also every presents and teaches a traditional dance or song. teaches a traditional dance or song. For me it's a day that is colored with a For me it's a that is colored with a specific love of each individual towar- love of each individual towar ds something they connect with their ds they connect with their homes. And it's an absolute beauty to homes. And it's an absolute to witness the presentation of some parts witness the of some parts of their culture and their lives in them.