One of our Young Leaders, Nicole, is planning her European Voluntary Service for September. She recently went to Greece on her Advance Planning Visit. The EVS is an EU funded programme – it is now called European Solidarity Corps. Travel, medical insurance, food, accommodation, training and pocket money (the amount varies depending on the project and destination) are provided. For more information on ESC check out this post.
My name is Nicole. My advance planning visit was to Thessaloniki in Greece.
I went with VSI (Voluntary Service International). VSI are my sending organisation. I went on my Advance Planning Visit in June 2016 for four days. I spent two days travelling and we had two planning days.
The reasons why I chose to take part in the European Voluntary Service are:
I wanted to discover who I am as person and what I am like in a completely different country. I want to be able to learn news things like languages and how to cook how to live aboard. In some people’s lives they don’t know what they want or who they want to be and I feel that taking this year out is going to help with that.
On my Advance Planning Visit I was able to see how to get on a plane and how to do all the nitty gritty things that some people take for granted whereas some of us feel this as a daunting experience. After going on my APV this isn’t a issue for me anymore. How to cross the roads in different country is different, everything is different and this is a good thing it makes you more aware .
I never felt as happy, as content, as comfortable, as scared and vulnerable all at once! I always think ‘good things happen when you go for it’.
The things that we covered on the trip are:
I will be working with other volunteers.
What I will be doing?
I will be teaching informal English.
Where will I be living?
Right across the road : )
I found all this out on my Advance Planning Visit. I will be going in September 2018 to August 2019
My Advance Planning Visit was such an amazing experience and I can’t wait to fulfil my year in Greece!!!!
If you want to find out more check out our post on Volunteering in Europe