Om Shri Gurubhyo Namaha!
I came across Workaways, a website where one could find programs abroad / within the country, getting to do some volunteering activity. It could be either working for a farm or work in a school, etc. This thought kept running in my mind for a few weeks, especially since the Corona lockdown began. I felt a part of me wishing to give back something. I kept scrolling through websites, curious to see if I could find something. I was open to anything but not more than two weeks given the need to get back to work again.
Through a friend of mine, while working out with him one day, I expressed this interest to do some kind of a volunteering program. After a few days, he let me know of a volunteering program, which was about an English language exchange with the kids in the mountains of Poland for about 9 days. I was excited and soon wrote to the organizer about it. My wish was getting closer to reality! I didn't worry much about planning for it, but I wrote to my teachers with whom I'm still in touch & some good friends, asking them for some tips. They were happy to share a few tips with me.
Transport to and from was arranged by the camp, I didn't need to worry about it. I got to meet the other 5 volunteers (one of them from my running group here, the rest of them from Armenia, Turkey, France, and Italy). The more we explore, the more we learn. We played games while going in the bus, getting to interact with the kids and the other volunteers.
The groups were split into three, based on age groups. My friend from the running group and I took care of the youngest ones. We had to organize them to do a group performance on the last day of the camp. It turned out to be finally, a short drama - Harry Potter living in this village Zab, in Zakopane. Link to the performance: Harry Potter in Ząb (click on the Hyperlink)
Some of the key activities we did during the camp were - Playing a mystery game in the night, rafting on the Dunajec river, thermal baths at one of the popular spots in Zakopane, dancing to local, traditional music, hiking to the nearby trails with majestic views & getting to integrate with everyone.
 |
| A short hike on the nearby trails for a beautiful view of the scenery! |
As it got closer to an end, it was an emotional time, for the kids, the organizing team, and to us, the volunteers. One week went by too fast.
 |
| The kids are super creative, it needs to be brought out! This one is an example! |
I got to interact well with the kids. With some of them, good deep conversations too. I hope they will remember me / us. I / we might not have managed to teach them so many things in one week, but I / we managed to show them a short perspective of how I / we see things!
 |
| Hurray, the mountains! |
 |
| Relishing the thermal baths for the first time! |
 |
| Dancing with the traditional musicians to the local tunes |
 |
| With the organizers and the fellow volunteers. I'm grateful to have had this chance, to get to meet and learn from everyone! |
Big thanks to Tristan for recommending me this program. The kid in me is still alive. This experience has made me think about both perspectives - being a teacher& being a student.
 |
| The kid in me is still active! |
Back to the usual life again. An experience that will remain in my life& mind forever. I'm grateful to have interacted and worked with creative, interesting minds!
Photos&Video courtesy: Friends from the camp!
