{ "id": 3516, "date": "2018-07-04T10:46:55", "date_gmt": "2018-07-04T08:46:55", "guid": { "rendered": "https:\/\/sboverseas.org\/?p=3516" }, "modified": "2018-07-04T10:46:55", "modified_gmt": "2018-07-04T08:46:55", "slug": "3516", "status": "publish", "type": "post", "link": "https:\/\/sboverseas.org\/en\/3516\/", "title": { "rendered": "Volunteering in Lebanon: Alex’s story" }, "content": { "rendered": "
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Tell us about yourself<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
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Heya everyone! I am Alex from Romania, I have worked for five years in the cruise industry, <\/span><\/span>mostly<\/span><\/span><\/span> organising tours. For the past year, I have been a freelancer. <\/span><\/span>Therefore<\/span><\/span><\/span>, I have traveled to Egypt, Iran and Lebanon where I taught English, wrote, danced, tasted and experienced different cultures and had the opportunity to discovere myself<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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How did you get involved with SB<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I actually found about SB from the internet as I was very keen to work with the refugees and had always wanted to visit Lebanon<\/span><\/span><\/span>! ☺<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Favourite memory with SB?<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Of course \u2013 the mountain trip! It was a trip that we organised for the children from my class. <\/span><\/span>We went to the Cedars of God in the Bsharri Mountains where most of the children saw and experienced snow for the first time in their lives<\/span><\/span><\/span>! We danced, had snowball fights and contemplated the beauty of the place. <\/span><\/span>It was <\/span><\/span><\/span>truly<\/span><\/span><\/span> unforgettable ☺ Furthermore, on the way back, although most of the volunteers and organisers <\/span><\/span><\/span>were tired<\/span><\/span><\/span>, it was so incredible to see the children still dancing, singing and jumping on the bus with the music on full blast – as if they wanted to enjoy <\/span><\/span><\/span>each and every<\/span><\/span><\/span> moment \u2013 as if they did not want it to finish\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What do you find challenging?<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I think<\/span><\/span><\/span> for me what was quite difficult was coping with the kids that were not interested in getting involved<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Those that would stand aside or would refuse to <\/span><\/span>participate<\/span><\/span><\/span> in an activity, game or exercise. Also, it was challenging to also work with children that had never been in a school environment. <\/span><\/span>You should be patient and give it some time so that you can actually attune yourself with everybody\u2019s needs and way of being<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Advice for a future volunteer?<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I think<\/span><\/span><\/span> the approach that any volunteer should have in this context is to be more of a companion that wants to help and share, so that together you can create the environment to learn<\/span><\/span><\/span>. The whole traditional idea of teaching is different when you place it in the context of a refugee camp. There we should all do our best and learn something every day from each other. <\/span><\/span>Also, there should be lots of flexibility and good humor \u2013 songs, playfulness and diversity of activities<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Did it change your life in any way? <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Working with people that have lost their way of life, their place, and <\/span><\/span><\/span>maybe<\/span><\/span><\/span> even their loved ones, as well as their childhood changed me<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>I understood that I should be grateful for all that I have and that it was the only way to actually be able to help the people facing difficulties<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>I also admired so many people \u2013 men, women, and children \u2013 that had such a strong will and attitude towards life even if they went through so much\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I decided to work more with women \u2013 getting involved or even creating a women’s empowerment program<\/span><\/span><\/span>. I felt a lot of joy while doing the fitness classes and I would like to see where that leads me. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What was the most important lesson you learned?<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The most important lesson I learned is that we have the power to choose and make a difference for people that need help now – more than anyone<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>There are many causes to fight for, it is true, <\/span><\/span><\/span>however<\/span><\/span><\/span> I believe<\/span><\/span><\/span> that education is the best hope we have to bring a change in this world<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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In the end, the bottom line is \u2013 how responsible are we as humans for what is happening today in the world? <\/span><\/span>And I do believe that we should look further than our own mundane, common struggles and seek to give \u2013 our time, our attention, our (in)experience or good intention<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>Just<\/span><\/span><\/span> give ☺<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Anything else you want to share? <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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People tend to complicate things. Keep it simple. <\/span><\/span>We often forget that listening to someone, showing appreciation or even a smile are such tiny acts of kindness<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>Maybe<\/span><\/span><\/span> it is a clich\u00e9 – <\/span><\/span>however<\/span><\/span><\/span> when there is will, there will be a way. As stated in an old saying – \u2018it’s rain that grows flowers, not thunder’.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0i<\/span><\/div>\n
Read more\u00a0about Alex’s\u00a0adventures on her blog <\/i>here<\/a>\u00a0where\u00a0she writes about her experience living and volunteering in\u00a0Lebanon.\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
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Interested in our volunteering program in\u00a0Lebanon? Click <\/i>here<\/a> to apply!\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
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