Parandzem Hovhannisyan 10.05.2010 – 10.02.2011, Poland, Gdansk
About a year ago volunteer work was a dream for me, especially work with the disadvantaged people. Today Poland seems to be a dream. It seemed to me that work was only a dream, and the people- the real heroes of that dream.
These heroes were the disadvantaged people who worked in the organization “Sprawni indczej” in Gdansk. Every morning I was looking forward to getting on the trolleybus or bus, and then to my work. Moreover, during my work with a group of 21 people and with the help of the therapeutics, I learnt how to realize art therapies and then I myself did it.
In three different working rooms, there was everything for our work. At first several weeks I worked with the disadvantaged people specialized in making paper, and then I made many ceramic things with the group. However, the major part of my volunteer work I have spent making postcards, painting on the bottles, horse riding and some therapy classes.
On Mondays, we had cooking hours on my own initiative, during which we prepared many Armenian dishes. The work in Denmark was also very interesting. In the framework of the same organization, we were in Denmark, where we organized their leisure and free time far from the family and in extraordinary conditions.
Besides the activities mentioned above the most interesting part of my volunteer work was the time when we should represent our country. Meeting with the Polish people I got them acquainted with the Armenian people, culture, customs and traditions. I am very happy that I could live in that big community, to love and to be loved there.
However, I could represent properly the 9 months of my volunteer work in Poland.
