Teaching first aid in primary schools and local associations
Kennert, EstoniaDuring the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, I was entrusted with driving the French Red Cross first aid teams across Paris to various event locations, sometimes using ambulance-grade vehicles. It was a role that carried real responsibility, and I felt proud knowing I was contributing to something so significant.
Kennert volunteered in France in 2023 for nearly one year. Joining the French Red Cross with the support of NGO EstYES, Kennert taught first aid gestures in primary schools and local associations together with another European volunteer.
🎤 What has been the most memorable or impactful moment from your volunteering experience — something you will never forget?
The most memorable moment from my volunteering experience was the opportunity to contribute to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games during the final month of my nearly year-long service. I was entrusted with driving the French Red Cross first aid teams across Paris to various event locations, sometimes using ambulance-grade vehicles. It was a role that carried real responsibility, and I felt proud knowing I was contributing to something so significant.
Being part of this mission felt like living a dream. I could never have imagined my year ending in such an extraordinary way, and it’s a story I’ll share even when I retire. I felt deep gratitude for the chance to witness Paris during such a historic moment. It was emotional and inspiring, and it reminded me how meaningful volunteering can be."
🎤 What type of impact did your engagement have on the local community where you were active?
"Through my engagement with the local community, my main mission was to deliver interactive first-aid and life-saving courses to children in schools. The students I taught gained essential skills, such as how to use a defibrillator effectively and how to respond in case of an accident, enabling them to act more confidently in critical situations. By sharing what they learned at home with their parents, they created a ripple effect of safety and awareness that benefits the entire community, which is now better prepared for emergencies."
🎤 How has volunteering contributed to your personal growth, professional development, or overall outlook on life?
"Volunteering has shaped my personal growth and outlook on life by making me reflect on the existential aspects of life. Listening to stories I would never have heard otherwise taught me not to make assumptions, as we can never truly know what someone has been going through.
Volunteering has humbled me and made me far more grateful for everything I have, reminding me not to take anything for granted. Experiencing gratitude through volunteering has also made me a happier person and has changed how I think, act, and feel about life. It helped me better understand the meaning of human equality and deepened my compassion toward those who feel treated unequally."
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