Learning, fun and party in Zabrodzie

on 29.11 we were invited to a school in Zabrodzie to play games but also to teach the students. This was not easy, as we had to adapt to different age groups and English levels. This worked very well. While Sergio was allowed to teach the students basketball for the first two hours, Tobias has improved the English skills of the young students through games. then both worked together. We found a mix of learning and playing. afterwards there were at the children Andrzejki party. Tired but also happy we made ourselves finally on the way home.

Independence day at Serock with mentally diverse people!

On the 8th of November our team of volunteers was kindly invited to Serock to collaborate in the activities the center had prepared for its users in commemoration of the 100 years of Polish independence. After a short presentation about the function of the institution and a comforting lunch the activities started. To run the workshops the participants and we were divided into three groups, so that they would have 45 minutes of each activity. Travis showed how to make origami, Ann-Katrin went outside to play some sport games, and Marine and I chose to help with the cooking part.
We were going to make some snacks, sandwiches and brochettes, for the party afterwards. The table was filled with different kinds of vegetables, cheese and cold meat, as well as butter and bread. The participants were all into it. They created really interesting combinations of flavors and the result was very colorful and tasty. Our main task was to help cut the vegetables and to hand them the food that were further on the other side of the table, but we also enjoyed a lot making our own sandwiches and brochettes. Listening to the participants asking us about some particular product was actually a great way to learn the Polish words for this kind of food!
Once the workshops were over it was time for the bonfire. All the group gathered around it to warm us up a bit. We could also bake some sausages and potatoes, and all of the time there were two men singing and playing the guitar, so the atmosphere could not have been more friendly!
But the day was not even close to finish yet. When it was too cold to stay outside we went indoors again to a room in which they had prepared a discotheche, it even had the classic silver shinny ball! The main music played was the already so familiar to us “discopolo,” and everyone was so happy dancing to its rhythm. The night was just getting better because there were also tables with the sandwiches and brochettes we had prepared at the workshop, as well as drinks, fruit, cakes and other sweets.
After a while of free time there, the workers made a quiz about Poland for the participants –in which we could not participate due to language barriers, but later we took part in the games. First we decided to teach them the English song “head, shoulders, knees and toes,” and it was very funny since every time we went faster and faster. Then they wanted to dance the “Macarena” song, for which I was very excited since I did not know it was also popular beyond the Spanish borders, but everyone knew the steps! We also played the chairs game and some other ones about dancing in pairs with balloons. We did have a good time and lots of laughs.
The night had come to an end, so everyone went back to their rooms. However, we still were up for a while talking to our neighbors, two nice workers of the center who spoke English, and they told us more about their experience there, and it was great to get to know them a bit. Finally, we left the next morning after breakfast. We were exhausted but very happy to have participated in the event, and I really hope we get to go there in more occasions!

Toby's Work-Camp expierience

My Work Camp was from 6.10-27.10.2018, the place was a small village called Castelnaud-de Chapelle. We had a total of 11 people, the following nations were represented: French, Tunisian, Turkey, Welsh, Cambodian and me from Germany. Our main task in the first two weeks was to renovate a walkway section, where we remove the stones there, level the floor, clean the stones, and renew with cement. In the third week we were then divided into two groups. One group cleaned more sections of the sidewalk while I was in the painting team and the technical guide promoted me to the painting manager. I felt very well in the role, as someone has finally recognized my leadership qualities.

In the free time we mostly did something together, drove to the next bigger city to Sarlat and visited many castles, as they are common in the region.

The time was very nice, I learned in the three weeks, many new people and know me better, I also speak a few words of French, which is really limited to only the basics, but I can answer the French "how are you" and even ask how my spouse partner is.

Still, I have to say that three weeks is the perfect time for a work camp because, even if you really get along, living together after a while will be exhausting,  especially if the food is not enough for you, of course I have understandings there It is extremely difficult to respond to the personal wishes of the individual and then for nine people. The good thing is that I've lost 6 Kg since my EVS, even though a successful day starts with a kebap for me.

Finally the squad is complete!

The plan to have all new volunteers here by the beginning of September didn't really work out.. (What a suprise, hahaha!)

But finally since the beginning of October everyone is here! And Pułtusk is hosting a record number of volunteers - Christina and Sergio are still finishing their projects, we presented Toby and Ann-Katrin in September and there are two more new faces:

Begüm

Cześć ! My name is Begüm I came from Turkey I'm 23 years old I'll stay in pułtusk for 11 months I work in kindergarden with children I chose this project because I have a lot experiences this subject I love discovering new things and communicate with new people I believe that I'll get new experiences, new friendships and perfect adventures in here It's really exciting

Trevas

I come from a little island, where most of the people get confused with Thailand. I’ll be in Pułtusk for almost a year, apart from voluntary service there are two things I’d like to do. 1. Look for mind-alike friends to play music, sports as well as sharing other hobbies. Perhaps one of the least common but might attract you the most at the same time is „origami“. 2. Look for inspirations and get inspired, Like to have conversations in depth, brainstorm and make discoveries. And last and also the least, my name is Chia-Hao (or Trevas…yes I spell it this way)

Trevas has his origami page which you can follow here: https://www.facebook.com/decadentorigamist


Also new EVS volunteers came to Pomiechówek and Helenów (they are still waiting for one ICYE volunteer, most likely from Uganda) so the whole squad is ready to start their year full of adventures!

Wish you the best :)

Toby's On-arrival Training ( 24.09-29.09.2018)

The on-arrival training was a very new and great experience for me, I made contacts with other volunteers from all over poland, so I know where I can spend the night, if I want to go to Wroclaw, or would like to visit Krakow. the training was consistently balanced. In addition to some Polish lessons, we played games and got to know each other better. I really liked the Polish lessons, because now I know how the unique Polish letters are pronounced. Also, the food in the hostel was excellent, the chef went on every personal needs, it was lactose-free milk or a vegan lifestyle, for every lifestyle the kitchen had a suitable dish. On the negative side it is only that some organizations prefer 5-8 people on the same training, then in my opinion individuality of group strongly lost, as people from the same organization prefered to stay together to do things.
Nevertheless, we spent nice evenings together. All in all, it was a successful week and next to a new haircut, I also take new contacts with to Pultusk.

Pułtusk days 2018

Last Saturday, as every year, we participated in Dni Patrona Pułtuska Św. Mateusza. We presented some games related to other countries and promoted volunteering as always. 

The weather wasn't very kind to us, temperatures dropped down and especially the wind was complicating our situation. We got a new ten, very nice, very light, easy to set up but also easy to fly away. So mostly we ended up changing in holding the tent 😂

There weren't many visitors to our tent but we had fun on our own and with our friends!

See you next year!

Japanese workcamp

Between 9th and 19th of September we had the chance to host in Pułtusk three motivated Japanese students who came here to share their culture with Polish students. Meet Ryotaro, Genki and Haruka!

Haruka

Ryo

Genki

Our three Japanese participants and their Polish group leader Daniel stayed in Hostel Polon and another Polish participant Zuzia who joined the project at last moment stayed at her home in Pułtusk and participated during the day.

The main part of the project were visits to schools and presenting Japanese culture to the students. We visited school nr. 1 on Wednesday and Thursdays with presentation, workshops and quizes for 4 groups.

Then on Friday we made a lot of origami with the younger kids, cleaned a pavement and planted trees in the schools garden.

In the afternoon we played Japanese games in the culture center and after celebrated in Kamienica :)

On Monday we presented Japan in Prus and on Tuesday we cooked there with the students.

During their free time, we prepared a bbq and a campfire, the volunteers tried to make their own pierogi, went canoeing, drank wodka, picked mushrooms, played football and more.. ;)

Thank you so much dear friends!!!

Europe changes Warsaw

On Saturday, 08.09.2018 the project "Europe changes Warsaw" took place in Warsaw. Of course we were also represented and prepared three games. In one of the three games we have printed a number of typical culinary specialties of our different countries. The participants then had the task of assigning the specialties to the right country - that was often not that easy. As a reward, there were typical Polish sweets. That was worth every effort, right?

In a next game the participants were allowed to turn to a wheel, which was equipped with different countries from Europe. After the wheel stopped, they got a question about the respective country. With the right answer, they were then allowed to continue on a board with their character until they reached the goal - and once again there were sweets as a reward.

In the last game, we picked out pictures of many European capitals. and divided them into three different difficulty levels. In my opinion, this was the hardest game. Who knows what Podgorica (the capital of Montenegro) looks like?

The event was in our view, despite a few language barriers, a great success, we had fun, the participanten had fun and at the same time we were advertising for the EVS.

Meet the new volunteers

Dzień dobry,

Our new volunteering season started. We are welcoming our four new volunteers in Pułtusk. The volunteers want to introduce themselves.

Tobias

 Cześć, My Name is Tobias I am 18 years old and one of the two new Volunteers in Pułtusk since 01.09.2018 . Before I start to live in Pultusk, I lived in Düsseldorf, the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia. My parents are from Poland so I was sure that I want to take an EVS in Poland for skilling up my language skills and to experience the polish culture – now I have 11 Months left. In Germany I am a member of the Youth Council Düsseldorf and in Pułtusk I will work in our Office. For me, the EVS is the best option for a gap year after 12 years of school.   


Ann-Katrin

         

Hallo! My name is Ann-Katrin. I am 18 years old and since 2. September in Pultusk. Normally I live in Germany in a city that called Ludwigshafen am Rhein. I had finished school in July and after that I want to make a gap year, now I am here for 11 months. I am working in a Kindergarten with disable kids. I really like kids so this project is perfect for my. Naturally I want to learn more about Poland and his culture because I like to travel and know a other language and culture is always good. If I am not working in the kindergarten I like to go canoeing, to play football, to painting or meet friends and in winter I like to ski too.

              

All Good Things Must Come To An End

Time is flying, for real! I remember when I first arrived to Pultusk with so many fears and worries. There was a new world which was waiting for me. But now, you have my heart Poland! In the end I can say that doing EVS in Poland was the best decision in my life. I didn’t feel regret for any moment. Now time to go for ciocia Gizem, but for sure I will be back!

I have so many words to say, but if I summarize:

The place which I eat my favourite food –of course potatoes- almost every day, the place which made me get used to eating sweet pasta(!), the place which has amazing people. The place which made me ‘Ciocia’. The place made me survive without get depressed even though extremely dark and short days in winter. The place which I fell in love every day. And people who made my year amazing. The people who became my new family. The people  who made me comfortable as if I am at home. The people who are inspired to me. Dziekuje bardzo za wszystko. You are zajebisteeee. And I don’t wanna say ‘Do widzenia’, so ‘Do zobaczenia!’.

Time to say do widzenia...

11 months Poland, Pułtusk-small town vibes.
At some point ( maybe during springtime..) I finally fell in love with this town. Appreciating its beauty, calmness ( not speaking of the noise in front of our bedroom windows...) and polish flair. Not only I fell in love with Pułtusk but with Poland in general. Oh, how long was it just "like Germany but 20 years ago"... no, it has its own tradition, culture and somehow its very charming.
Poland you catched my heart!
Only your language stays a riddle... 
It gave me a year filled with laughter, good food, weird conversations and new experiences.
11 months going to work in a kindergarten; a love-hate relationship. Amazing ciocias, annoying children but also a lot of love and hugs.( and sweets)
I cannot say if there was a highlight but everyday was somehow awesome. Whether we had  parties in our flat, pickled cucumbers like real polish housewives or just watched movies together. Maybe it's because of the people that surrounded me. So many nice people that turned into friends and into my children. I became the flatmom and I guess that is my favourite memoire of the whole year. Ups - and downs, so many struggles, so many accomplishments. This EVS was a complete success. I expected nothing when I came here and now I can look back at this year with a big smile on my face (and in my serduszko) 
Knowing that I have to leave it all behind now feels so strange but as we say in german "man soll gehen wenn es am schoensten ist" and I guess this is the best description to my situation right now. Poland, Pułtusk, moje dzieci- kocham was. 

Yours, Liza-Shirin 

How was Greece?

It's been over a week since Kuba and Wiktoria returned from Greece and I met with them on Friday to make an interview 🎤

The "Summer in the city" workcamps are organized by our partner ELIX and he projects's aim is to support underprivileged families that encounter difficulties, by providing their children the opportunity to spend a quality summer time at school through creative activities. Also thanks to the project Volunteering is possible (VIP) financed by Erasmus+, our participants got support for the travel costs and pocket money.

So what were their impressions?

Both have agreed that it was an amazing experience, they opened more to the world, met a lot of great people from different countries, they both want to travel more in the future and do more volunteering and work with children.

“Before the trip I thought that dreams are just dreams and now I think that you can make dreams come true” Kuba

“Now I look at everything differently.. at children, at the people, at different countries, at the language, at everything.. it changed me so much” Wiktoria


How did a normal day look like?

this is where the volunteers were sleeping

House team had to wake up at 7am, the rest anytime before 8:30, they had breakfast together. Then the work started, first they spend some time with the kids outside, then came to the school, they had some classes, they played, there were two breaks. The working hours were from 9 to 14 but as Wiktoria and Kuba agree:

"Work wasn’t even work, it was pleasure, it was something you could be comfortable with"

After "work" they had lunch and then free time. Everyone could do what they wanted in the afternoon but usually they came up with a common plan like for example going to the beach or to Athens and who wanted to participate, join, who didn't, could stay and rest. Since they often stayed up talking until late at night, some people were trying to get the missing sleep during the day. 

How was working with kids?

Wiktoria admitted: "Before the trip, I'd rather work with older people, I thought children are noisy, always crying but now I only want to work with children!"

Kuba adds: “Even if they are noisy, it’s fine, they always cheer you up"

Wiktoria: "They come from nowhere and want to play with you, learn your language, they don't know English but try to connect anyway"

Both discovered how happy it can make you just being around kids.

“There were some days when I was waking up and a smile just appeared on my face when I saw these kids. It never before to me just like that” Kuba

"When you were with them, you had to feel happy, you had to have a smile on your face" Wiktoria

"I recommend work with kids to everybody, all the time you are so positive, they can make your life better, teach you something" Kuba

What were you most proud of?

Wiktoria was most proud of her English, before going to Greece she was afraid she wouldn't be able to speak or that people wouldn't understand her, but she discovered that there were people with a lower level and everyone was able to communicate.

Now she feels more confident, more comfortable talking in English. Also about talking to people in general, before she was quite shy, closed to people, but the other participants made her more comfortable with them, with everything, they talked about everything, opened her eyes, she realized that "Poland is not the end of the world, you can travel, you can meet new people"

Before she felt like nothing will really happen in her life but now she says: “I feel like I can do everything I want!” “After this workcamp, I can do everything, I can play with children, I can cook, I can clean,I have many different skills. I learnt everything.”

Kuba feels proud of giving something to the kids, he didn't realize he can give them so much until the last day, they had only positive words at the end, some of them were crying. Afterwards they kept texting and called. He has their addresses so he can send postcards and visit them in the future. He says the kids really taught him a lot.

He also feels more confident about the future: "Before I thought studies are difficult, I wanted to study but I was afraid, now I thinks I can do it!" He would like to study psychology, philology or geology.

We will see what wonderful adventures are waiting for these two in their future... I hope the newly gained motivation will stay with you and you can turn it into into something good!!! 😊

For both this was their first travel abroad, so obviously they were nervous. As Kuba said: "I thought it would all be so difficult, at the airport, in another country, but it's not." Wiktoria added: " The people were very helpful, when we asked for directions, they even tried drawing maps for us"
There a few difficulties but with the help of our amazing Sylwia they got resolved. Our young travelers are very thankful for the support they got!

There was much more said but then this article would be too long..

I just want to thank you once more for sharing your experience. For mean it really meant a lot, seeing you so happy, so full of joy and positive attitude, your stories really touched me. I am so grateful we could have helped you get this opportunity!

Dziękuje bardzo,
Christina