Reaching and connecting with vulnerable young people is often a challenge, even for professionals. Yet many young people do not have enough safe and empowering adults in their lives to listen and respond to their needs. It is important that youth workers have the right tools and experience to fill this gap. Volunteering is a versatile and effective tool they can use: it provides an opportunity and a framework to connect, but it also offers more through its learning potential.
This was the experience of participants in the Engaging and Empowering Youth through Volunteering training in the picturesque village of Tiszaroff, Hungary, from 13 to 24 April. The 10-day programme, led by the Academy of Experience, brought together representatives from nine nations from five countries to learn about volunteering opportunities and gain new tools, experiences and inspiration for their work with young people. The training was led by Zsófia Gergely, Kriszta Gyöngyösi and Árpád Bárnai, who used playful, interactive methods to deepen the participants’ knowledge.
Volunteering in practice
One of the highlights of the training was the field exercise, where participants had the opportunity to test themselves. They planned and carried out their own volunteering activity in neighbouring Tiszabura, where they spent two days with children from the village. The event proved challenging at first: the participants did not speak the children’s language and many had no previous experience of working with Roma communities.
However, the language barrier was quickly overcome by the power of sincere outreach, playfulness and spontaneity. Deep and joyful connections were made between the children and the participants, creating lasting experiences for both. While English was a tool, it turned out that the real language of connection was empathy, openness and quality time together.
What did the participants learn?
From knowledge acquisition to experience and personal development, the training covered a wide range of learning experiences. Feedback from participants indicated that the programme was particularly valuable in the following areas:
- Planning and implementing volunteering projects – They learned how to structure, prepare and implement a project, adapting it to the challenges of the moment.
- Strength in community – They understood the importance of working in a supportive team and that safe relationships are essential for them as well as for young people.
- Collaboration and resilience are key to success – The participants’ own powerful experiences boosted their confidence and made them more courageous. They experienced a new way of working together, drawing not only on their own resources but also those of the team.
- Empathy deepened – From a new perspective, they saw that every person and every situation has a story to relate to and enrich.
The ten days of training were filled with many touching and inspiring moments as well. As a participant said at the end of the programme: ‘I finally realised how easy it is to improve a child’s day’.
Inspirations
The Engaging and Empowering Youth through Volunteering training showed that volunteering has a positive impact not only on the lives of young people, but also on the lives of youth workers, as it provides inspiration and momentum for future work, which was reflected in the feedback from participants.
‘Empathy deepens when we are confronted with the fact that every person and every situation has a story. Even the most remote village has a story to tell.’
‘I had never been in contact or worked with Roma people before, so I am very happy to have met some of them and to see how open they are.’
‘I understood that there are people who need us very much. And we can help them a lot.’
‘This volunteering has planted a seed in me that I will continue to water, to fight for social issues that affect children.’
Hopefully, the knowledge and experience gained from the training will open up new perspectives for the participants and also for their communities, and that volunteering as a tool for youth work will contribute to building a more supportive and inclusive society.
The program was funded by the European Union.
Want to learn more about volunteering as a powerful tool for youth work?
Take a deep dive with our guide Transforming Lives through Volunteering or start your next learning journey today with the Youth+: How to help disadvantaged youth grow in volunteering projects free online course.