The End of an Era

So here I am… the last day of my volunteer life.  I can’t believe I’m actually finishing today (well officially on Friday but… small details lol).  I’m just completely in shock.  A sad moment, I have to say.  I have spent a total of 15 months volunteering at La Mission Locale de Lille in the North of France, with the helping hand of Yves Bourdérou guiding me along the way. 

It has been a rollercoaster of a ride and I cannot hide the fact that it has been incredibly challenging at times, but worth every single minute.  Learning a language can be daunting and difficult.  That combined with the new skills I have learned and others that I have developed, my 15 months have been a challenge well worth accepting!!!

I have become more and more attached to the world of European Mobility.  The ability to give a volunteer an opportunity of a lifetime is just so special.  In the past 2 weeks I have been able to find projects for 2 volunteers in Turkey, one who will be going for 8 months and another for 9 months.  Another volunteer whom I’ve been working with for months had a positive reply for a project in Slovakia, where she will be for 9 or 10 months.  Another will be attending a short term project for 2 months with a project in Turkey.  How amazing is that?!

This is my last group of volunteers that I have been working with in my English workshops :

My last English workshop ever ... So obviously we had to have a mini party ;-)

A meeting with the volunteers departing on Léonardo projects

Me with the volunteers who have improved so much in English in the last 2 months

So there you go…. I’m leaving on a high as I know that I've helped some people to have a chance to go far away which will inevitably change their lives, as volunteering has my own.  I cannot count on 2 hands the number of people that have asked me when I’m going back to England .  The answer is that I’m not. I’m still loving this region and my new job is here, so why not stay ;-)

Lille is a city perfectly located between London (1h30), Paris (1h20) and Brussels (45m), as well as having easy access to Germany (3h), the Netherlands (3h) and Luxembourg (4h).  10 minutes walk from my house I also have a big park with lakes and LOTS of herons :-) So nice !!!

I’m going to head off for now.  I shall update you on how my situation is going once I’m settled into my new job.  One last thing… I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to the one and only Yves.  I’m rubbish at saying personal things out loud but can write (yes it's easier on a blog for the world to see... crazy right?), so thank you so so much for everything.  My parents are also incredibly grateful for the opportunities you have given me.  These voluntary projects have opened so many doors up to me and I will be forever thankful for that :-) THANK YOUUUUUU :-D :-D :-D

Peace out ;-)  

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

Heyy everyone !!!

What can I say … It’s been a very long time since I last posted and for that I’m sorry.  I just seem to get lost in what I’m doing and completely forget about my poor blog !!!

As for me, my Christmas and New Year were great, spent skiing in the French Alps and with family and friends in the UK.  It all passed in a flash and now I’m back into life in Lille, France (where I love).  It’s good to get back into some kind of routine.

At La Mission Locale de Lille where I’m doing my Service Civique voluntary project, EVS (European Voluntary Service) applications are on over drive as the deadline for processing all the documents is the beginning of February.  That means that our volunteers here are desperately trying to find projects abroad. Stick at it everyone still searching; you never know J

I still love my project and am creating more and more interesting and diverse activities for my English workshops every week.  Saying that, I only have 3 weeks left !!! It’s going to feel so weird to no longer be at La Mission Locale …. That will be 15 months in total here… Think I’ll feel homeack about La ML.  What great experience and language skills I have gained.  But working life awaits J

In terms of volunteering, anyone that is thinking about it and has never really known how to do it or the guts in general, just go for it.  It really does change your life and your perspective on society in general.  You can research into programs provided within Europe such as EVS and Leonardo da Vinci Program.  For example, if you are in North of England, check out this website:

http://www.everythingispossible.eu/

This organisation is based in Leeds and is the reason I’m in France in the first place.  Great people and so so helpful !!!! :-D

Furthermore, if you look on the following website, you can see the database for EVS projects.  You could easily find a sending organisation (near you in your country who would help you and do the necessary paperwork) and then a hosting organisation (where you would do your project):

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm

For EVS, you have to have a sending organisation in your own country, otherwise it’s not possible J

It’s actually really quite simple if you’re patient.  Find your sending organisation, prepare your CV and motivation letter, apply to hosting projects (as many as you can), then when you find your project, you depart 3 months after the deadline.  Everything is paid for; including flights, accommodation etc, and you can do all kinds of different types of projects.  For example, you could be working with turtles in Turkey or with elderly ill people in Spain.  The world really is your oyster!

I hope that this information is at least a bit useful.  I just want other people to share the amazing opportunities that I have had in the last 2 years since finishing university.  In June 2011, I moved abroad and have never really looked back.  I think it’s safe to say that 2013 will be my first full year living away from the UK and I’m so excited at what’s to come.

So here’s to wishing you all Happy New Year 2013.  I hope that all of your dreams come true and that if something in your life isn’t right, you decide to MAKE A CHANGE.

And always remember…. Keep Smiling !!!!