Would you like to volunteer? AIESEC can help you!

26/04/2016

¿Do you know what AIESEC is? Their acronym stands for Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales and it is a global, apolitical and international non-profit organization. Their most popular activity are their volunteering programmes, which last from 6 to 12 weeks and can take place all around the world. The programmes have a close relation with each country’s needs, but the most common are educative and environment programmes. The only requirement to participate is to be between 18 to 20 years old and willing to learn new things. If you want to find out more about AIESEC and these volunteering programmes, you can come by the Sala d’Actes in l’Àgora Building next Wednesday 4 May at 1 pm. There will be an infosession and also a Cultural Fair with stands from different countries.

We have talked with people who participated in these programmes and they all want to do it all over again. Helena, Miquel, Victor and Alejandra tell us about their experience.

Helena Mallart, 21 years old

I found out about AIESEC two years ago. I was looking for volunteering opportunities when I saw an AIESEC stand among the Sant Jordi stands. I gave them my contact information and they contacted me right away. The steps to follow are very simple: sign up in the website, apply to the projects you are interested in and have an interview both with AIESEC and the Local Committee in the place you want to go. After that, the adventure begins.
At first, I didn’t want to get out of my comfort zone and I applied for a project in Poland. I was not accepted, but instead a project in Eskishehir, Turkey also attracted my attention and it turned out they were interested in me as well, so I went for it. Really, the best thing that could have happened to me was that Poland rejected my application. When I arrived in Istanbul everything was different. We were 30 volunteers from different countries: Pakistan, China, Russia, Egypt, Tunisia, etc.
The aim of the project is to teach both written and spoken English to kids between 14 and 18 years old, and also to help them lose the fear of speaking in public in this language. We taught everyday in a school from 9 am to 5 pm and, after the lessons teachers and students did activities together and enjoyed free time. Accommodation is included in the programme: first I stayed in a house with other volunteers, later I moved with a host family with a Turkish boy who tried to make my stay as good as possible.
It was a life-changing experience. A year after that, I did another volunteering programme in Algeria, it was a cultural project to promote tourism in the country. What really caught my attention was the kindness of the people. My stay there coincided with the Ramadan and I did it because I wanted to integrate myself completely. It was hard, but also very rewarding. The Ramadan is not only about fasting, but it is surrounded by a sense of spirituality and familiarity. They have a lamb, which they divide into three parts: one for themselves, one for family and friends, and the third part for those who cannot afford to eat. At night they set up tables and give food to these people. Seeing all this with your own eyes really makes all the prejudices go away.
 
Miquel Molina, 21 years old

I found out about AIESEC because of my brother, who had already participated in a volunteering programme. I went to Florianópolis, Brazil. It was an educative project in a state school. All projects are aimed to cover the needs of each country and in Brazil there is a need for educational projects. We were about 50 volunteers from 30 different nationalities and that allows you to get to know, not only the culture of the country you are in, but also the culture of the countries of other volunteers. We lived either with host families or in student houses. I still keep in touch with people I met in Brazil. Everyone there is a volunteer and that means that everything is done in a selfless way. Also, the people who organized the projects have also participated in volunteering programmes, so they know what they are talking about.

Victor Martínez, 19 years old

I did a volunteering programme in Taiwan. I was very interested in Asian culture and that’s why I chose this project. I taught kids between 12 and 15 years old during six weeks. When I decided to join this programme I didn’t think it would be such a life-changing experience. I expected a cultural shock, but didn’t expect an experience like that, an experience that allowed me to understand people’s lives and problems. It was such a rewarding experience that when I came back home I wanted everyone to feel that way too. My volunteering project was quite different from other projects, because I was the only volunteer there and I stayed with another person who worked in the school. I was able to see their reality from the point of view of the kids, of the parents and teachers and of the person who took me in. I don’t like feeling like a tourist and I never felt like that in Taiwan tanks to the level of integration that I had. The next time I do a volunteering programme I will go to South America or Africa.

Alejandra Badelon, 20 years old

I chose to go to Bolivia, specifically Santa Cruz de la Sierra. I liked the idea of going to South America and I felt in love with the project that they had there. It was an 8 weeks project that took place from June to September. I worked in an orphanage for children whose parents didn’t have enough resources to maintain them or who had abandoned or ill-treated them. This kids’ living conditions are very hard and I thought it would be hard for me to adapt to the situation, but it was not. The kids were used to meet volunteers from all around the world, and I didn’t have any problem. I lived in the orphanage during weekdays, and on weekends I visited other places in Bolivia. It made me appreciate what I have got. I only think of going back there, I really miss that kids that I worked with.