My name is Salome Mtchedlishvili and I done my EVS in Latvia. Everything has happened really spontaneously. In summer 2018
I started to reevaluate things that I was doing in my life, my profession, my
environment, daily routines and I realized that I was canned in a very narrow
frame, everything I was doing was boring, I wasn’t gaining anything new, my
life routine was just stepping on one and the same place.
I started to think what could I do to change the situation.
Started googling, asking friends, about projects abroad. I wanted to go far from my routine, out of my
comfort zone. Then I remembered about EVS, which I was thinking to do when I
was in my early 20-s but then I started a full-time job, and have forgotten about this program. So, I have remembered about it
and then I asked one of my friends, who has done it twice, where could I find
EVS vacancies, she sent me several links of Georgian sending organizations. I
started checking vacancies, I saw a vacancy in Jurmala, Latvia, it was about
working with youths and it sounded interesting, because I already had some
experience in working with youngsters as a private teacher.
So, I applied, sent my CV, motivational letter and
application form. I didn’t have big hopes, because I thought that younger
applicants would have had higher chances but, soon, in a week as I remember,
they wrote me an e-mail about skype interview. The interview went really well
and about int 2 weeks they wrote to me that I was accepted and adventure has
begun from that moment…
1st of August. Me and Nini, second volunteer, started out
voluntary work, which was joyful, interesting, fun, a lot of new people, new
experiences, everything was new and different. During August we worked for
summer camp, in Jurmala. We were planning daily activities for youngsters
13-15-year kids. We were playing on the beach, I and Nini taught them games we
used to play when we were at their age. Summer was pleasant, sunny but not hot
weather, so playing and swimming with them on the beach was not working but a
long-term vacation.
At the end of August, I and Nini had on arrival training
with other volunteers from all over Latvia. And I had an amazing 5 days. I met
amazing people and made new friends there from different countries. Our daily
routine was non-formal training, we were discussing the benefits of EVS, how to
plan the project, how to brainstorm, how to communicate locals. We also made a
project together in the local city, our goal was to communicate with local
people and spread the positivity. We
made to boxes one, full of apples (Latvia is full of apples) and one full of
wishes and we were giving pedestrians apples and wishes (wishes were written in
Latvia ofc) these five days I spend there with other volunteers were one of the
best during my voluntary work.
From September our office work has started, but it was fun
as well. First of all, the office was so cool. Walls and ceiling were decorated
with graffiti. We had a colorful couch and a football table. This place was a
favorite place for youngsters and we had to make it more interesting by
planning interesting events and activities. My first project was a Movie night
club. We watched movies, ate popcorn and had fun together, it was kind of fun
activity to cheer youngsters up after tiring school day. Sometimes I and Nini
were collaborating and planning things together. So, at the end of October, we
organized a Halloween party with a local school. It was so fun. We made
decorations with our own hands.
Youngsters really liked it, and on the annual youth day it was named as
the best event planned by our center and I am so proud and happy because of
this.
During 6 months we have planned many small projects, such as
DIY workshops, painting on jeans, a workshop about social media. Also, I and Nini were involved in events
which were planned by the center, mostly we were dealing with decorating
events, which was really fun. Also, we were teaching Georgian language and once
Nini made Khachapuri making workshop, the center was full of youngsters. My
last and biggest project was a Photo contest, the theme of this contest was the
breakfast club (named after the movie, with the same title) my goal was to make
youngsters think about something really important, teenager life issues and
think, how to visualize their thoughts. After announcing we had a movie night
and discussion about key points of the movie. We had an exhibition of the work
of finalists and awarding in Jurmala’s museum. All finalists received diplomas
and the winner was awarded by Fujifilm Instax mini camera, also we wrote about
him in the local newspaper. 
You might think that volunteering is only about being in the
city you have to do your voluntary work, but no… one of the best parts of
volunteering is traveling around in the neighboring countries and inside the
country, visiting other volunteers in their cities, meeting new people, having
fun and memorable moments.
Salome's hosting organisation is Jūrmala Children and Youth Interest Center
https://www.facebook.com/JurmalasBJIC/
Project supported by Erasmus Plus programm - European Voluntary Service
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