Let’s start with the most radical thought: who ever said that the moment you leave school, you are obliged to switch to the same seats of a university (let’s be honest – the educational processes in last years of high school and first years of university are pretty much the same)? Do you really know what you expect from higher education?Are you so sure that this, and not some other, university will give you what you want? Do you actually know what you want?
Isn’t it unfair that these hard decisions lie of the shoulders of a child, who only blindly followed what teachers said before? Isn’t it more desirable to get some rest, new environment and a chance to just think about the future? There are many ways to accommodate that, EVS is just one of them, but we will concentrate on it now.
European Voluntary Service – is an exchange program for volunteers in EU countries and a few more. The idea is simple – in support of international connections and mobility of youth, EU funds organisations for hosting volunteers from everywhere (Ukraine included). A young person (18-30 y.o.) goes to a cool new place (Germany, Poland, anywhere!), helps out at the selected organisation, and instead gets allowance for accommodation, travel and food, gets assissted with professional and personal development (Youth Pass*) and anything that is required to live in a selected country. The hosting organisation gets ever so needed help and experience of working with youth from other countries. Everybody wins.
The person who wins the most is you – a future citizen of the world and actively maturing youngster. Because nothing educates more than absolutely new environment, people, unfamiliar language, culture and numerous new experiences that only you can go through. Sounds over-the-top, but you still discover yourself better by changing the familiar environment for a foreign, unexplored one.
This was something I expected when leaving so familiar Kyiv for unfamiliar wild Berlin. I can surely say – so many things I see differently now – my personal path, politics, anything for that matter. With the right amount of self-reflection (Youth Pass*) returning home becomes a step into a new stage of life. I became more demanding for myself and the world. I try to learn something new all the time and work responsibly, and I expect the same from my collegues, fellow students and bosses. And that’s how new big and great things are to be done for my society.
Ah, and also – there are many cool clubs here!
Tips:
- the volunteering programs differ from each other, but make sure to travel as much as possible during the EVS
- don’t ignore Youth Pass (finally an explanation for the asterisk, right?) – it is a double win: during the EVS you reflect on your experiences and growth, and together with a mentor you realise what is going on with you and what you learnt, and – at the end of the EVS you get a certificate showing your progress in non-formal education.
- learn English! Doesn’t matter, which country you are going to volunteer at, you are screwed without English.
To wrap up: I don’t regret much in my life, but I do wish I had known about EVS at 17, I would love to have had a gap year and had given myself a chance to travel around Europe and get the experience that would define my university and studies choices. Everything else – well, it’s a free-float.
Halyna Osadcha,
former student at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, National Art Academy, co-founder of a co-working space „Bilyy Prostir“ , artist.
Project: Promoting active citizenship (01/04/2017 – 30/03/2018)
Hosting organization: Citizens of Europe e.V.
Sending organization: Kremenchuk informative-elucidative center “European Club”
Main photo is from author’s FB-page
