Tell us about yourself
My name is Richard Dolder. I am a 20 year old Chemistry major studying at the University of Georgia in the United States.
How did you get involved with SB?
I first discovered SB OverSeas online while researching volunteer opportunities in Lebanon. I wanted to do something different from my chemistry courses in order to broaden my experiences. I figured teaching English to children is about as different as I can get. Their website supplied me with all the information I needed, so working with SB Overseas was an easy decision.
Favourite memory with SB?
My favorite SB OverSeas moment was the day I taught emotions (like happy or sad) to the kids. We played charades to reinforce the lessons and the acting performances had me laughing till tears came out. Not to mention that night all the volunteers went out and got their first taste of the fantastic Beirut nightlife.
What do you find challenging?
Making the move from America to Lebanon was a huge transition for me. There are so many vast differences between the two countries, but in a short amount of time I settled into the rhythm and felt right at home.
Advice for a future volunteer?
The biggest piece of advice I could give a new volunteer is to relax. For a lot of volunteers, it is their first time teaching. I know it was for me, and that can make them understandably very nervous going into their classes. However, once you realise that no one is expecting you to be an expert and that the kids are really excited to learn, everything gets a lot less stressful and a lot more fun.
Anything else you want to share?
I had an unforgettable experience in Beirut, and I cannot thank SB Overseas enough for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of their amazing work.
Richard is currently a volunteer with SB OverSeas in our centre in Beirut. Interested in joining us? Click here to apply.
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