Gvantsa's memories

New generation of volunteers is here and we are looking forward to hearing about their experience! However, let's read one more reflection of our former volunteeer Gvansa which she wrote almost at the end of her service. She volunteered in Sarepta with seniors, how was it?

"It is hard to believe that 8 months have gone so fast and my volunteering time in Sarepta is slowly coming to an end. Every new day I feel more comfortable with doing my daily tasks and it’s a pity that I have to leave soon. I go to work every day and try to help as much as possible. I started speaking Czech but I sound like a toddler. However, I have a hope that by the end of my project I will be able to express myself better.

I am very happy when I spend time with the seniors here as they always reassure me of my decision - during the service volunteers should be doing what they enjoy the most. I am excited to meet them on every working day and try my best to make their days better. It has been an extremely interesting experience for me as this is my first time working with seniors. However, everything went rather smoothly because I felt very welcomed here. I soon overcame my shyness and engaged in the work life more enthusiastically. I go to individual activities with our clients and try to manage with my poor Czech. Fortunately, they never make me feel embarrassed and are always understanding of me not speaking perfectly.

I had an opportunity to invite Turkish volunteers to Sarepta as well. Together with them, we planned Turkish day: presented their culture and customs, treated clients with Turkish delight and hot drinks and overall, spent a nice dopoledne together. My friends also loved the atmosphere in the house and always remember this day warmly.

As the weather gets warmer, we started to have more activities outside - either walking with seniors in wheelchairs in Komorní Lhotka or going for trips outside by car. This always makes me admire the lifestyle here as opposed to Georgia, my home country, where seniors aren’t usually given a chance to enjoy their lives with such activities. In all, I love my days here mostly because of the people who accepted me wholeheartedly. I am willing to use the time I have left here to reciprocate all the positive feelings that they feeded me with and I hope that I will succeed in that." (Gvantsa)