Our European Volunteers
Click here for our open call for summer 2022:
Organisation Profile 2022 Don Bosco Rijswijk short term
For applications or questions, please read the profile carefully and send an email to spela@donboscorijswijk.nl
Ons team is extra kleurrijk dankzij de aanwezigheid van Europese vrijwilligers. Deze vrijwilligers zijn voor langere periode bij ons, ze wonen in Nederland en werken als vrijwilliger bij Don Bosco Rijswijk.
Afgelopen periode (2021-2022) waren Maytee, Asier en Adela onderdeel van het programma en zij vertellen graag wat over zichzelf en hun tijd in Nederland en bij Don Bosco Rijswijk.
Hallo allemaal! I’m Maytee (pronunciation up to your imagination), a volunteer here in Don Bosco. I’m 22 y/o (1999 here; I love my year of birth, because it’s the end of something and leaves the space for something else to begin – guess what? Yep, a new century). I come all the way from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, from the not so small island of Cuba, and then moved to Italy at a young age. I’ve spent most of my life in Turin, a quite big (considering Italian averages) city. Quite different from where I used to live – a small village with only one main street. Still different from where I’m now – halfway (not mathematically correct).
So, I got my Bachelor degree in Business&Management, and decided to go for a change. Do you know that point in your life where you don’t know what to do next? Or you’re simply not ready to enter the average life? In that case you might look for an alternative, toch? That’s what happened. I didn’t want to live in my city much longer; don’t get me wrong, Turin is mooi (worth visiting) – just not my place. And if you don’t feel in the right place, what do you do? Exactly, you look for another one! Now, why the Netherlands? One answer I gave was quite basic, so I’ll avoid sharing it here. Let’s just say that Australia was not an option at the moment, and the Netherlands was the European country I was most interested in. Now, since we’re in the European topic, the question is: why not use the benefits of being a European citizen? Since I couldn’t find a why not, I went for it. I got to know about ESC some time ago (the year before university – moment of indecision), but I let it aside for a while (3 years, apparently). I had been wanting to do some volunteering for a long time, but never found enough motivation and willingness to act. But this summer I finally did. It’s like a potion, whose ingredients are: exploring, experiencing, opening your mind, new opportunities and, at the same time, doing something good for you and the others. To this, let’s add liking children, and all is set; so, puff, here goes Maytee in the Netherlands.
Zo, dit is van mij, someone looking forward to find their place in the world.
Hi my name is Asier Martinez Tomas, I`m 23 years old and I`m from a little town near to Barcelona. Before coming here to do voluntary work, I studied a higher cycle of forestry management, apart from having previously studied at high school and one year of the social baccalaureate.
I have worked in many different jobs in different places, as a waiter, cook, in the warehouse of a factory,…
Apart from working and studying I have done various types of voluntary work and experiences such as working as a social educator in a center with children from dysfunctional families, living in Edinburgh (Scotland) and Swansea (Wales) studying English.
There are several reasons why I have chosen this volunteering, but I chose it mainly because of the values that Don Bosco brings and the desire to help everyone, the elderly, young children, refugees, etc….
Without any profit motive they welcome children in their centre who can come to learn all kinds of things such as cooking, woodworking, sports,… but above all to have fun and have a good time.
Then there are the activities they have for older people who live alone and can come to have a coffee/tea and do all kinds of activities such as painting, drawing, sewing, among many other things.
The other thing that I find very interesting is the good atmosphere that exists between the workers and the good communication between them, because of the many meetings that are held in which everyone can give their opinion, comment on things that could be improved, and all kinds of things that they think should be discussed among the whole Don Bosco family.
In short, working at Don Bosco makes you feel fulfilled as a person, learn many new things and above all have a good time at the same time you work.
Hello! My name is Adela, I’m 20 years old and I’m from Barcelona, Catalonia.
Although I find it very difficult to define oneself, I like to consider myself as an open-minded and social person, who likes to help in any way she can.
About three years ago I came to Don Bosco as a guest to see a friend who was a European volunteer at the time. I stayed for about ten days, during which I was able to participate in some of the activities there, and I fell in love with the spirit of the project.
I have always loved to be with children and I am always happy to take part in creative, growing and learning projects.
Some time ago I went through a difficult period due to different health problems, nothing serious, but they kept me from having a full and carefree life.
I think I felt the need to prove to myself that these health problems did not define me as a person and would not prevent me from having a full life, but rather that I was capable of moving forward on my own and overcoming the difficulties by giving the best of myself.
I think this influenced me in wanting to become an European volunteer, to meet new people, going to another country with a different culture, a different climate…
But above all, it was because the work to do seemed wonderful to me, and being with children and trying to give the best of myself to contribute to others at the same time as learning fills me with energy 🙂
