Hello, my name is Haitham, and I am 26 years old. This is my first time volunteering outside my home country, Jordan. In previous years, I volunteered with local organizations and have always believed that the voluntary sector plays a crucial role in developing various aspects of society and individual personality. I chose the Czech Republic as my destination for long-term volunteering for several reasons. My friends who visited Czechia motivated me to come, and I was drawn by its peaceful environment, beautiful nature and monuments, and respectful people.

Currently, I am volunteering with the Diakonie ČCE organization at the Rubikon Club in Vsetín, Czech Republic. I am the only volunteer from Jordan here. I chose to volunteer at Rubikon Club because I enjoy interacting with children, seeing the beautiful smiles on their faces, and feeling their energy as they play, create, innovate, and envision their futures. Initially, I felt confused because it was a new experience in a new country with a different culture and language. Everything was different for me. I remember the first days of volunteering as being very confusing because I didn’t know how to start. I had my own ideas and plans, but I was also very enthusiastic about getting involved in the club. However, I struggled to understand my new environment and the club’s rules, which led to some mistakes. 

Thanks to my colleagues at the Rubikon Club and Diakonie, who helped and supported me step by step, I began to learn the rules and how to work professionally with the children, particularly those from the Romani community. They also helped me understand the Romani traditions and culture. My colleagues started teaching me Czech because it was necessary to break the language barrier between us and the children, who also don’t speak English. Now, I feel better and see improvement day by day. I am achieving my volunteering goals, spending quality time with the children, engaging in activities, speaking with them in English, and helping correct their behavior to integrate them well into the community and prepare them for future activities.

Another challenge I faced was adapting to the region. At first, Vsetín seemed strange to me, especially since it is far from the capital city. It is a small city with a few inhabitants, and the shops close after 5 o’clock. However, thanks to the European Solidarity Corps’ cooperation with Diakonie, we met with our mentor Honza after a couple of weeks. He took responsibility for helping us, providing plans, and inviting us to participate in activities to make our stay more enjoyable.

Now, I can say I have adapted to Czech society, met new people, and made new friends. I have started learning the Czech language, and my skills improve daily thanks to the lessons provided by the Diakonie organization and the European Solidarity Corps program. I have learned that patience is essential, and with time, everything changes for the better.

I hope to see more volunteers with new visions for contributing to the community and building their personalities to move forward.