Benny´s year in our Coexistence Village
Evaluation and Description
VESNIČKA SOUŽITÍ
INTRODUCTION
I was asked to write an evaluation of my voluntary service in Czech republic which includes the work in the low-threshold facility Vesnička soužiti. One great year with many new, difficult but also a lot of nice and beautiful experiences will end this month. Here I try to give you an authentic view on my work in Ostrava.
HOW EVERYTHING STARTED
When I started here, I was introduced and welcomed by the former volunteer coordinator. After two weeks preparation seminar I arrived in Ostrava on September 15th and I was happy to hear: „Today you can just relax, tomorrow morning we will meet in my office.“ There I got a little gift for motivation including an Ostrava-guide and a map. Especially in the beginning when everything for the volunteer is new and exciting it was important for me to have reliable persons who can help and give advices. I really appreciated the colleagues had patience with me because it let me feel much more motivated and safe. Due to many new impressions (new country, new people, new culture) and the fact that I could not speak czech - it was my biggest barrier in the beginning – I was often very tired and exhausted. Of course for me it was a big help to have english speaking workers who translated me a lot of things. But all this I think is normal in the beginning and it just needs some time until it gets easier. Thanks to a visit in Ostrava in July 2014 where my precessor Pia showed me already important things, I was little bit more prepared for the work in Vesnička soužiti. From September to November I worked also in the club „Horizont“. Then I worked only for Vesnicka and the other volunteer Selene only for Horizont. I think it was a good idea because I could concentrate on one club and on the children there. Nevertheless, I think it is good to let the volunteers first work in both clubs until they decide after a few months on which club they wanna specify.
WORK
In the first months I felt often boring; especially in the club for the older children. I know that it is as it is but if there was something else to do (e.g. prepare paper things or whatever) I was always happy. After christmas everything changed because it started the period in which I could prepare my own activities. I really liked it to prepare work sheets according to the topic. I also prepared dancing lessons for the younger and older children. My most critical point is here that the children could go when they wanted. I know that we do not and cannot force the children to do an activity but due to this it was not easy to make progress. Also the authority would probably higher if there is one social worker counselling the kids. Anyway I think the children had a lot of fun and I tried to show them something different. Although it was really difficult to lead the lessons in czech alone it was a challenging and good experience. I want to thank you all a lot for giving me the possibility to do my own dancing lessons. Thank you for your trust!
The longer I worked in Vesnička, the more I got to know the children (for example who is brother and sister of whom) and I am happy and glad to see how thankful and openminded children can be.
PRESCHOOL CLUB
In January I began also to work in Školka once per week. Even from the beginning I liked the work there much. Compared to Klub Depo the Kindergarten has a much more structured daily routine. That is why I could follow the activities already very well after a while. Here I improved also my czech skills, because – except in some cases – the workers Kaja and Kika spoke a lot of czech with me.
Later on I could do my own activities and in the end I could even lead a whole day in Školka. I always felt included everywhere and there is really nothing more to say than it was just great! Thanks that I could also work here. It gave my voluntary service even more quality. Very interesting is also the work with the children at home (Terén). And I will miss the children!
PHILOSOPHY AND BACKGROUND / SITUATION OF ROMA
Due to the miserable situation, poverty and social exclusion of Roma one aim of Vesnička soužiti is to help the families and children to a more self-determined and selfconfident life. So all clients have an „individual plan“ to help them to learn and develop by themselves. The flats and houses in Vesnička are for Roma-families as well as for families of the majority society. I think this is a one-and-only project in the czech republic and a senseful start to break the barriers and coexist peacefully. Much impressed were all volunteers – including me – by Mrs Dunkova who deals very passionate with the problems and situations of the families. I was glad to work and to learn with children and families of the Roma-culture. After the seminar in Romania where I learned even much more than I already knew I was even more motivated to work in Vesnička. My sending organisation ASF which was founded after the war to work and help in countries which suffered under the National Socialists is still fighting against any kind of xenophobia and racism. The cooperation with Vesnička exists also to be active against antigypsism, protect and show rights of minorities, help individually and remember the Genocide of Roma in World War II. I think it is important to point out which background has the sending organisation.
When I heard in April that the cooperation with ASF will stop at least next year, I must say I was sad because the next ASF-volunteer cannot continue the project. But of course I know that this is not the fault of you, my colleagues.
CONCLUSION
On meetings, at work, on the trips including the big summer camp in July – no matter where and when it was – I felt always comfortable and saw that you included me as much as you could! Thank you also for interesting and funny conversations, helping me with problems in czech language and being flexible and cooperative according working times and holidays. I had the chance to work with children and teenagers of all kind of ages (3 -19 years), got to know cultures, learned new pedagogical methods and a new language and finally I think I became more experienced and selfdependent. It was an unforgettable year with many new impressions, wonderful people, new experiences and beautiful moments. Thank you for everything! Děkuji mockrat za všechno!
Benjamin Brow, Volunteer 2014/ 15 Ostrava, 24.08.2014
