We all have some kind of idea about volunteerism. Although, it only gained international recognition in the 17th century, used mainly by the military, the human mankind took it into practice well before. What is volunteerism? What does a volunteer do? What kind of volunteer works exist? What are the criteria?

In Hungarian „önkéntes” means: the person who makes something willingly, with his or her own will. Namely: the person is not influenced by anything (neither by advantages nor disadvantages). Takes what he or she feels to be needed.

There is no restriction in kind of volunteering. Planting a tree can be as important as sharing food among homeless people or teaching English at a high school. Everything depends on the volunteer, who wants to make some change in his or her environment. There is one important question of volunteerism, what has already been discussed several times: Does the volunteer get anything from the other side? The answer is certainly: YES. Maybe not right after work…maybe not exactly from the same affected participant…maybe in a very different way. The volunteer gains a lot of experience, and even though it is sometimes invisible, the volunteer starts to develop and improve different skills.

V ision

O pen-minded

L ively

U niversal

N ew cultures

T aking care

A lternative

R espect

I magination

S hare

M ovement

I wake up this morning, i wake up and i feel something strange... there is something strange in my head. How many years did i spend in my country? How many years to speak the same langage? To use the same habits? To see my family all week? I like this life for sure... but... maybe, i just need to put myself out. I need to learn more about others, about myself. I want to make something for someone, to give, to share. I need to make my own way.

You started to daydream...

Make the first step, go in this little grey office and papers, papers, papers... start to have a project, found something you expected, new chances, in a new country... just try. Imagine all the possibilities. And papers, papers, papers... and wait... the phone rings one morning... YEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!! After this, all is so quick, you take the plane, leave your life. When you arrive all is so different, you become like a sponge and you absorb all around you. You want to be the best, give the best. Sometimes you want too much, sometimes nobody understands all that you expect from yourself, and what you expect from these people around you. Just need to feel useful, to be a real citizen, because this is not a simple journey, it's your job, your new life, your new house, new shop, new street... Try new taste, and look at this people on the street, so much different, so much the same also. You have made the choice to be here and your only expectation is to discover.

But this is just a simple morning, you drink your coffee in your bed...and keep in mind.

mosaic : finish! (hem...almost!)