It’s hard to call my way to EVS-project in Slovakia complicated. Once I saw a post on my friend’s FB page with proposition to registrate in volunteer program. As other young and intersted young people I immidiatly opened link and 3 hours “learned” all pros and cons. When I had read stories from other volunteers, I found out lots of interesting things and also got energy boost and inspiration. So, I wrote to my friend…

There were lots of affairs next three weeks. I applied for international passport and prepared all documents to get a visa. At first time I’ve visit Kremenchuk. I was thinking all the time, I still couldn’t believe in what I did! I became a volunteer!

After I had prepared all document for departure I have realized that I will be a part of serious project, moreover I will work with kids. But instead of ordinary teacher as I was in Ukraine, in Slovakia I will stay in specific community of people – Roma. I will be an assistant social worker. Gradually I started learn Slovakian language: I listened radio, read about Roma communities. There are really lots of those communities in small Slovakia.

Finally departure time. Everything was like my coordinator Alena described, I felt really exiting and inspired. I haven’t even noticed the road, but I’ve felt some difficulties on the border, when customs started to speak to me in Slovakian. It waked me up from my dreams…

2015-07-18 14.05.25

First few weeks everything was ok, but with some difficulties in communication with local people and new co-workers. Sometimes, I doubted and felt despondency. I couldn’t understand as I make right decision to come her… Fortunately there were people, who advised, supported and helped me.

Finally this day came… My real volunteer work started. My co-worker and I left our cozy cottage and went to mysterious village – Roskovice. I was thinking that it will be ordinary village. About 120-160 people live there and few settlements of Romani situated somewhere near that village. But it was completely Roma village. (by the way there few completely Ukrainian settlements in the east of Slovakia)

So, about 100 adults live in Roskovice. It is quite difficult to say how many children live there. Each family has about 6 and more kids in different ages. Wherein 15-aged girls have already had presents from storks.

When we arrived I felt myself strangely. Although children are poor, disadvantaged and isolated from civilization, they are happy and have interest to world, new people and simple pleasures of life…

 CAM00913

 Two months of my volunteer work in Slovakia passed. Short summary:

  •  my nutrition became healthier. In Ukraine healthy nutrition was impossible because of lack of resources and my laziness (now one of factors make less influence).
  • I can speak elementary Slovakian: I understand everything, what I hear and I can answer. Of course, I have problems with changing languageis, but that means that I should practice and learn more.
  • In two months I’ve collected some money. It’s about 4-5 my monthly salaries in Ukraine. Wherein I bought some clothes, ate well, even few times in the restaurants and I my abilities to save money not so good. So, one more cons of working ther e- ability to manage money.
  • Also, I traveled a little bit. I’ve visited Presov, Spіsska Nova Ves, Levoča. There are lot of ancient buildings in those cities, which included in the UNESCO Fond.

Of course, I’m not implement all my plans. For example I haven’t started learning English intensively. Also, I haven’t had serious trip yet, because lot of locals need help and ready to pay for it. So I postponed trips in to the nearest future.

In the end of third month of my volunteering I would go to Ukraine and sum up my work in Slovakia. After I would have returned in Slovakia, I would have started to embody my new dream, perform the duties of volunteer and tell about my impressions regularly.

Viktor Naumenko

***

Victor is a volunteer of European Voluntary Service in a long-term project “R.I.S.E. (Raw Insight into Social Exclusion)”. Project is initiated by Slovak organization “People in Need Slovakia” (Bratislava) and it lasts from 01.06.2015 till 31.05.2016. The project was supported by Slovakian National Agency of Erasmus+ Program and financed by The European Commission (Key Action 1 – Mobility of young people and youth workers – European Voluntary Service).

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