{"id":1138,"date":"2015-09-29T13:38:07","date_gmt":"2015-09-29T13:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.prostir.org.ua\/?p=1138"},"modified":"2015-09-29T13:38:07","modified_gmt":"2015-09-29T13:38:07","slug":"how-i-became-an-evs-volunteer-short-manual","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prostir.org.ua\/?p=1138","title":{"rendered":"How I became an EVS-volunteer. Short manual."},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s hard to call my way to\u00a0EVS-project in Slovakia complicated. Once I saw a post on my friend\u2019s FB\u00a0page with proposition to registrate in volunteer program. As other young and intersted young people\u00a0I immidiatly opened link and 3 hours \u201clearned\u201d 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\u2026<\/p>\n

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\u2019ve visit Kremenchuk. I was thinking all the time, I still couldn’t believe in what I did! I became a volunteer!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Finally departure time. Everything was like my coordinator Alena described, I felt really exiting and inspired. I haven\u2019t even noticed the road, but I\u2019ve felt some difficulties on the border, when customs started to speak to me in Slovakian. It waked me up from my dreams\u2026<\/p>\n

\"2015-07-18<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2019t understand as I make right decision to come her… Fortunately there were people, who advised, supported and helped me.<\/p>\n

Finally this day came\u2026 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\u00a0120-160 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)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2026<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"CAM00913\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Two months of my volunteer work in Slovakia passed. Short summary:<\/p>\n