On the 5th of December we celebrated the International Volunteer Day, a day that we dedicated to all our previous and current volunteers. The volunteering aspect has always been important in YEE – especially when it comes to the European Voluntary Service. With this occasion, we got in touch with some of our previous EVS volunteers and asked them to share some thoughts, memories or just a few words on their volunteering experience.

Gosia, EVS volunteer in YEE 2008/2009

"I became an EVS volunteer in YEE completely by coincidence but it was a lucky one! I had a year full of work, new friends, travels, projects – like all volunteers. But I had more – I learnt how to make publications, I organised a youth exchange, I worked in an eco-farm, I practiced how to work in English and Czech, how to solve conflicts and how to work in a team... And the most important, I got environmental awareness! Thanks to volunteering in YEE I also got a job in YEE :)"

Cameron, EVS volunteer in YEE 2012/2013

"My name's Cameron, and I used to live in Ireland. I did my EVS program with YEE in what feels like the incredibly distant year of 2012.

At the time we were in a bigger office, but it was still cozy. The team at the time consisted of me, Natasha, Gosia, Adriana and Maggie, who for an entire year, fought the good fight against environmental ignorance. Our main weapon was Youth participation and over the course of the year, I got to take part in projects all over Europe. From the Sun soaked bustle of Tirana, Albania, all the way to the quite home of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.

During my time at the YEE office, I got to organise a wide range of activities both near and afar. The skills I learnt during this year eventually gave me the confidence to move away from Ireland in search of broader European opportunities. I no longer live in my favorite place in the world. I went from the warmth of a lovely community who lived and worked together on a farm on the outskirts of Prague, to the hustle and bustling anonymity of Berlin.

Volunteering is still a huge part of my life, all be it for slightly different causes. Instead of the environment, I'm now mostly involved in the circus arts. I help run a training center for performing artists called the Katakomben. I also got involved with organising a study session in Budapest on the topic of European human rights.

When Natasha asked me to write an article, I was delighted to. It's another little way to help : ) When you really look for it, little opportunities to volunteer present themselves all the time."

Jessica, EVS volunteer in YEE 2013/2014

"I absolutely loved being part of the YEE team – the cherry trees and fleecy lambs at Toulcuv Dvur, the camaraderie of the office and the chance to meet activists and lovely people from across Europe... it was brilliant. EVS provided me (and many others) with the rare chance to do such inspiring work and I am enormously grateful for the opportunity."

Jesus, EVS volunteer in YEE 2013/2014

What did volunteering in YEE give you?

"During my EVS in YEE I experienced the importance of working in a group. And how networking and sharing ideas improve the individual point of view. But I also experienced the personal development and the importance of compromise with others.
I realised the value of my ideas and how and individual can encourage others to improve the World we live in."

How was your EVS experience in YEE?

"It was an amazing period full of expreciences and opportunities. I lived many changes in my live and I could try many different things, like horsemanship. I met local and international people, I travelled with other volunteers, took part in traditional parties and volunteering activities.

During the Annual Meeting I could meet people from YEE network. They are very motivated to promote environmental awareness and they have a lot of energy to develop international projects like the one I took part in Slovenia – "Women for the Planet".

The office work was an important part of the EVS, but to work in the farm with horses and the different actions ourdoor with other volunteers and organisations gave me an extra of energy to fight for environmental issues."