My name is Márti Munkácsi, I am 20 years old and a university student in Szeged, studying special education in my second year. I joined this project as a volunteer because of my studies, and also because I had already worked in camps before. I wanted to gain more experience, make friends, and collect new memories.
Our volunteer team was very diverse and full of energy, with people from many countries. I think the teamwork went very smoothly, and everyone tried their best to give the children many fun and valuable experiences.
The program was supported by the European Union, Egyesek Youth Association, and Csodaműhely Association in Csobánka. The aim of the project was to make the summer camp for disadvantaged Roma children more colorful and exciting. We wanted the children to meet new people from other countries, to motivate them to learn English, and to help them step out of their comfort zone and be more open to the world.
Our tasks included organizing some camp programs, leading activities, accompanying and supervising the group, and of course, playing and talking with the children.
One of the challenges for me was the language barrier. The volunteers really wanted to understand the children, but it was impossible to translate everything for everyone at the same time. We solved these problems with nonverbal communication, and we also encouraged the children to use English. Sometimes the weather was against us, but we continued our programs even in bad weather.
My favorite moments were when the children gave us feedback in their own way, showing that they enjoyed the activities we prepared. I also loved the time we spent on the village football field, playing and moving together. Another special part was the time with the volunteer team after the daily activities. We tried to get to know each other and build friendships.
Spending time in the “tanoda” (study hall) confirmed for me that I chose the right studies, because there I could talk with a special education teacher who worked with the children. The children also showed us their village, we made small films about it, and they even took us hiking. Their parents wanted to share their culture with us, so they cooked traditional meals, showed us Roma dances, and even played music for us.
I really recommend this kind of project to every young person. Even though I stayed in my own country, I gained many new experiences, friends, and memories. Since this was my first time in such a project, my advice is: be open, be curious, and if you face any obstacles, don’t be afraid to ask each other for help.
