Lucky number one
on Le Reveil du Soleil (India), 09/Mar/2009 21:31, 34 days ago
I strongly believe it is absolutely fantastic that VSO had open doors to Eastern Europe too, recruiting potential volunteers from here too. I am the lucky number one (Romanian national) in VSO’s story of enlarging … 2008 was the first time when VSO started recruiting potential volunteers from Romania (www.voluntariat.ro). It has a strong collaboration with Pro Vobis, a Romanian NGO and apparently, there is a strong interest for this – as around 600 applications were received sinceits launching.For me, personally, it is an amazing opportunity and knowing that, otherwise, I wouldn’t have much chances to be involved in international development it is, indeed, the only opportunity. It was a nice surprise to hear that there is a strong motivation and interest among Romanians in doing VSO, especially that, it is not much awareness what is going on in the less developed countries around the world…and the idea of volunteering, anyway, still resembles grey confused old times during compulsory communist “voluntary” work.I gave a very short interview few days ago for a radio station and one of the question, I don’t remember exactly, but it was something related to the fact that how I will cope with the “tough” conditions as most Romanians would never accept living in comfortless conditions.. which firstable I am totally disapproving the hunger for sensational, leaving behind the whole idea what is about and what is interesting to know.. but anyway that’s journalism today in Romania (however not only in Romania....) and secondly, I don’t understand why people refuse all the time to remember that this kind of life we have now here, speaking of the comfort and “life style” in “western style”, we couldn’t even imagine 20 years ago…I am not old, but I can still remember the grey days…and thirdly is the totally confused image (and lack of knowledge) that people have about countries beyond Europe (excluding developed countries) especially in terms of culture and attitude and understanding towards poverty..… Well… one explanation, fully understandable is the lack of information… and unfortunately, one of an important tool in educating people – mass media – is so vulgarly intoxicating people with foolish, hilarious local events, thoughts that in their views are sensational, which must have violence on the menu...Than... what to expect? But still, I have hopes that people will have the courage to look beyond this and they will have at least a small curiosity to escape from ignorant society and search for more truths about the world we inhabit…Anyway, I totally divagate from the idea I started to write, but just to remind myself again and again I am the lucky number one and privileged to be a VSO volunteer.Cu ganduri bune,Cristina