Cameron's EVS project

I arrived in the Czech Republic on one of the most disorientating days imaginable. Right in the middle of the Masopust celebrations, for those of you unfamiliar with this event, it consists of a myriad of characters, getting drunk on stage, marching about the local village and then performing a short play. Characters include, a drunken husband, a goat that has beer in its udders instead of milk, a clown, and executioner, a bear and a grandmother, to name but a few.

In this flurry of activity, I was introduced to my new home away from home, Toulcuv Dvur. I had about 8 pints of cultural integration that night and woke up with a large hangover, but feeling happy with all my new setting.

My EVS project began with a week's introduction, helping me settle in, showing me around Prague, getting to know the people I would be living and working with. It was a really easy, enjoyable transition.

The following week the work started, and really hasn't stopped since! I attended a study session in Strasbourg, France on environmental law. Shortly after that I had my on arrival training where I met fellow volunteers and acquired even more new acquaintances. I then took part in some activities such as "Earth Day", and I got to know the best places to eat and drink around Prague and Hostivar.

We then had our first physical board meeting which I took part in. This is when I really got to know about YEE and the network. Being introduced to the board and planning the Annual Meeting was a fantastic experience for me, and I quite cavalierly agreed to act as chairperson for the event in July.

In May, my EVS partner arrived, Natasha from Russia. It was nice having company in the office and we worked together on the YEE newsletter, took part in a Tamjdem work weekend which we organized. We re-plastered a medieval shed, put new thatch on the roof, cleaned the playschools windows and dug a massive trench.

With summer nearly in full swing I spent many of my days working outside in the garden or helping with small tasks about the farm.

In the office we prepared for our Annual Meeting. I don't have the best memory in the world, in the last year I have not learnt my Czech phone number, so it was quite a challenge for me to be in charge of the voting and the flow of the Annual Meeting. I had a ratty piece of paper which I held on to for about 5 days that was my life line to the Annual Meetings official proceedings and thus sanity.

Around the start of August, I traveled from the Annual Meeting to Warsaw and then on to Lublin, Poland. Here I attended the European Juggling Convention and had a wonderful time. I met my old friends from Ireland and caught up with all the goings on. After the convention we headed to Berlin, a large group of about 8 Irish people. Here we spent another week together, partying and playing with props. The city had such an effect on me I ultimately came to the decision that this is where I wanted to go next.

When I got back from Berlin, the weather in Prague was unbearably hot. After a long day working in the office, me Natasha and Dima (another volunteer) would escape to the local lake and go swimming.

The heat gave way to lightening storms, and the next thing in my EVS project was a trip to Albania for a youth exchange on pedestrians in cities.

Summer for me lasted another month. Tirana was just as hot as Prague! We spent a lot of time outside, observing the city, discussing sustainable urban planning as well as networking with each other. It was a fantastic, and dare I say, educational.

Winter came before I knew what had happened to my beautiful summer weather, I had my mini project to consider, it was around this time I became aware of the mortality of my project. It would end soon.

It's a weird feeling when the honeymoon faze of your project wears off. It left me feeling slightly panicky.

YEE organized a water-monitoring trip, North of Prague. During the summer I had built up a small bit of experience, experimenting with making small educational movies on cider and sausage making. I put my new skills towards documenting the trip to the Vltava River to measure its health. The video can be found here:

Water Monitoring Video

The Christmas markets provided a much needed distraction from the cold and the snow. I took part in another mad festival, where this time I dressed up as a devil and terrified kids. It was more fun than I would like to admit, I am proud of the fact I reduced countless children to tears and was more than likely responsible for a few change of nappies.

And now I have two weeks left in my project, I am reflecting on how much I've done while completing my Youth pass and final report. It is a very big shame that the EVS project will no longer be continued, though in its place there are other opportunities, which I would happily encourage any one reading this to avail of. It is not a life changing experience, but it is a life affirming one.

After my EVS project I feel more human, I like to think what I have contributed has made an incredibly small difference. I have learnt more than I would have learnt in a years worth of schooling and have a whole new branch of friends I did not have this time a year ago.

Cameron Murphy
EVS volunteer in YEE 2012-2013