Testimonies – Volunteering

We were 10 days volunteering in Germany, initially it seemed like a long time but we came to the conclusion that it flew by. It was a unique and inexplicable experience, only those who were there realised the mission itself, enriching enough to recognize that if we help little by little, the world is better off. We had contact with people from completely different cultures and facing certain challenges, with determination, made us grow. In view of all this, the people who went are not the people who came.
The people who have come are stronger to face life as it is and to grow immensely. Hopefully this is the beginning of a long journey! Finally, we want to say that we are grateful for this great opportunity.

…wonderful experience at all levels….adults or children, they took a bit of us. We understood how that population lives,…their dreams, ambitions, concerns, for 15 days we felt Mozambican. We were able to feel the purest of happiness, from the children’s smiles when we played with them,…. … when we hugged them… when we gave them our love and dedication …. A little bit of us remained in all the people with whom we came into contact and, without doubt, we brought with us each person with whom we were. Thank you for this unique experience and for the personal growth that each one of us felt in these 15 days.

…the bonds created between volunteers, non-volunteers and refugees resulted in unique unforgettable relationships. So we cannot remain indifferent to this global problem and we have to give our contribution to solving it. We advise everyone who has the opportunity to have these kinds of initiatives

This summer, Juliana Rocha, Psychology student, participated in an international volunteering project for the inclusion of refugees in the German village of Questzolsdorf, Leipzig, promoted by Portucalense University.
During 12 days, Juliana built with refugee teenagers from Syria and Afghanistan a wall, a labyrinth, did gardening, kept firewood for the winter days and still had time for radical activities, such as climbing. In the evenings she took the opportunity to socialise around a bonfire.
“It was the best and most enriching experience of my life. I felt that war really exists and that refugee children just have a different life story from us. I realised that we can’t change the world, but we can always make a difference in someone’s life and that that joy is the most rewarding,” confides Juliana.
“This project changed my life, my view of the world, my way of thinking, living and acting. Today I give more importance to feelings, people and moments”.

The student Inês Nascimento travelled to Germany to help the integration of refugees, as part of the international volunteering project promoted by Universidade Portucalense.
Inês helped to build a playful maze for the children of a village, created a garden and planted fruit trees. She recalls “good and bad, happy and sad moments” and the surprising life stories.
“I learned that life is not a ‘bed of roses’, that there are worse lives than we imagined and yet these people do not show that adversity. They are an example. I also learned that we can help someone and improve the world just with a hug”.
Inês believes that “those who like volunteering can always find a way to help – and it is not difficult to help – sometimes, a small gesture can make a difference”.