EVS Blog

Ciao a tutti :)

My name is Ernest Poghosyan. I am from Armenia. With great pleasure and honor I want to say that I am an ex-volunteer of Villa Sant’Ignazio. I was volunteering in Trento for 6 unforgettable months. During my project I was working with emigrants, with people with different cultural backgrounds and social problems. My mission was to help people to be integrated in contemporary life. My project was consists with different activities such as house assembly (it is an activity where guests, volunteers and educators plan the activities for the following week), meetings with Hospitality sector (an activity to organize weekly work and to speak about eventual problems in the organization of the structure), meetings with educators and volunteers of the Host Community (it is a moment of both informal training on how to build relationships with the guests and also to speak about eventual difficulties), movie sessions, excursions, sport (volleyball, basketball etc.) and also assistance of the Head of the House.

I was very lucky because I did my project together with another wonderful international volunteer from Hungary. Her name is Edina Kiss. We became just very good friends, I am so proud of her, she is like my sister… Edina, my dear, always remember that I am very happy to know such a smart, intelligent and just a kind person as you. During my project with Edina we had an opportunity to make our own project. For example, we could make intercultural evening with presentation of our countries, also different kind of activities to make friendlier environment, to create unity and solidarity between people.

Of cause during the project I faced also with different kind of conflicts about misunderstandings and communication but we could resolve them by speaking and discussions. And I think that conflicts are not so bad. It is a way to show your way of thinking, your overlook and yourself in generally.
During my staying in VSI I developed my abilities concerning intercultural communication and awareness of other cultures. Leaving, having contact and making friendship with other countries' people helped me to see and feel the differences and common points between the cultures, and to find out a lot of common wishes, feelings, ideas that go beyond nation. This project was wonderful possibility for me to have dialogue and intercultural encounters with other people reinforcing the openmindness opportunity and positive awareness.

EVS for me was a new way of learning compared to learning in school and university. My goals within EVS project were helping people, meet and work with other volunteers, share experience and knowledge etc. And I got it! EVS gave me a work and life experience in intercultural environment and international dialogue. I could see how the things are in more developed countries such as Italy and how the projects are implemented there. International experience is very important as the world is getting more and more integrated, so this was a chance to have a look at these changes and influences them. I acquired a new look on the things, I met new people and make a changes in life. And, of course, language learning - as no teacher can teach you the language that you will learn living in a country of origin of this language... I do remember my Italian when I came to Italy for the first time. I known only “Ciao” and just nothing but living there also taking part in Italian courses I improved my Italian skills to better and better.
And of course Italiaaaaa, perfect country and rich culture to do volunteering. During my project I travelled more then 10 cities in Italy. There were possibilities to take part in on-arrival training in Verbania and mid-term training in Naples where we could also visit a unique city called Pompei.
In the end of my project I received my “Youth Pass” certification which certifies my participation of European Volunteering Service.
Now I don’t know what else to write, maybe nothing... I just want to advice you with all my heart – guys just do EVS! :)

P.S. – I want to pay my best regards to all those people who were involved in my EVS life!