Intercultural integration at its best

Volunteering has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Even in primary school, I used to take part in fundraising events for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. I also often volunteered at various festivals and theatre events. When, during my first year at university, a friend told me about the opportunity to participate in international volunteering, I immediately knew it was something for me. Every trip like this is not only a great chance to learn new things and meet interesting people, but also an exciting adventure.

I took part in a three-week workcamp organized at the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum, located on the grounds of a former concentration camp, because the project’s subject matter was closely connected to my academic interests. At that time, I had just completed my second year of studies and was considering topics for my bachelor’s thesis. Among other things, I was interested in issues related to German neo-Nazism. I wanted to understand how this topic is perceived in different German social environments. Volunteering in such a place seemed like a valuable opportunity to find some answers.

It was an incredibly enriching experience, mainly because of the vast amount of knowledge I gained and the opportunity to exchange views both with the staff of the Sachsenhausen Memorial and with volunteers from other countries. I love talking about politics and I always take every chance to learn more about the world beyond what reaches me through the media on a daily basis. Discussions with the museum staff gave me a new and fascinating perspective on the popularity of neo-Nazi attitudes in Germany and helped me better understand what is currently happening there. All of this proved very useful while writing my bachelor’s thesis. I also hope that the experiences I gained through volunteering projects will help me pursue my future professional goals, including working in an international environment - for example at the European Commission.

I believe that participating in projects like these is an excellent opportunity to broaden one’s horizons and meet incredibly interesting people and places. In today’s world, we can see growing radicalization in political and social views, which personally worries me. Maybe I am an idealist, but I truly believe that initiatives such as international volunteering projects teach us to understand one another a little better and respect different perspectives. It is intercultural integration at its very best. Taking part in international volunteering is also an excellent lesson in independence and navigating efficiently within an international environment.

Aleksandra’s story comes from an interview published in the book Międzynarodowy Wolontariat Młodzieży. You can read the full version of the text here.

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