Volunteer Abroad in Ukraine

Why did you decide to volunteer with VFP in Ukraine?

Theresa: I choose VFP for two reasons. First, VFP is one of the only low-cost volunteer organizations in the United States that focuses on “volunteering for peace” as opposed to “volunteer tourism.”

Specifically, they are a nonprofit organization with historical connections to the original “volunteer workcamps” of the 1920s and 30s. Second, the previous summer I volunteered abroad with VFP in Portugal and had a wonderful experience both at the camp itself and during my communications with their staff before and after the trip.

What made this experience unique and special?

Theresa: I think my volunteer experience was unique for a number of reasons. I believe the location of the camp, on a relatively isolated, rural farm in Ukraine made the volunteer group very close. We really only had each other to talk to and rely on. Luckily, we all got along very well, which made for a great and unforgettable experience. I also think the timing for the volunteer camp, which coincided with the Ukraine summer solstice holiday, Ivan Kupala, allowed us to participate in an important cultural festival and gain great appreciation of Ukraine culture and history.

How has this experience impacted your future?

Theresa: As an Anthropologist, intercultural relations and its impact on international peace fascinate me. Every international volunteer experience I have furthers my interest in and knowledge of this topic.

In particular, I am interested in what impact everyday citizens can have when they participate in grassroots global civil society activities like international volunteerism. Having already completed in two international volunteer projects, I will continue to participate in this movement because I think it is important to build relationships across borders, to reach out to those unlike yourself, and sacrifice your time to help others and help improve the world.

Morning: Our typical morning was early--although it isn’t extremely hot in Ukraine during the month of July, spending all day in direct sunlight doing manual labor is never a good idea. We started work at 7am and most of us got up around 6:30am to have a quick breakfast before heading over the work site. The breakfast was simple and typically included cereals, bread, cheese, fresh milk, coffee and tea.

We worked from 7am until noon. Our worksite was a five-minute walk from the farmhouses where we slept, ate, and hung out. The goal of our volunteer camp was to use experimental archeology to build an Iron Age house using mainly our hands and a few reconstructed Iron Age tools. The finished house was to be part of a larger Archeology/Living History museum the owners of the farm where trying to develop. Some days we cut down trees, other days we collected grass and wheat, and still other days we mixed clay to put on the walls of the house.

During these morning work hours we were allowed to freely take breaks and relax as we needed and we spent most of the time the talking to each other, learning about our similarities and differences.

Afternoon: Our afternoons began at noon when we finished our workday. Lunch, which was prepared by a few volunteers each day, was served at noon and typical included a pasta, potato or rice dish with vegetables. The majority of our food came from the large 5000 square feet garden located on the farm where we were living. After lunch many of us took showers, naps, or hung out in the common areas on the farm. There was always one or two us that walked into town to stock on supplies from the small convenience stores or if need would take a walk to the neighbors house to stock up on fresh eggs and milk. The nearby lake also attracted many of us when we wanted to swim or sunbathe.

Evening: The evening began around 6 p.m. when we sat down to eat dinner together. Again a few volunteers would cook the dinner together and similar to lunch our dinners were typically a pasta, potato or rice dish with vegetables--on rare occasions we would eat meat or fish. We always had lively conversations during our dinners which sometimes lasted well into the evening hours. Some nights and late afternoon we had activities organized by the local Ukrainians living on the farm with us. For example, we had both a Ukraine painting and clay workshop. During the evening we also made use of the farm’s bayna (a Russian steam room).

Highlights: Personally, I am always seeking new experiences--be they atypical or common. While not the most wholesome of activities, one the highlights of my trip was learning to pluck a chicken. I choose this volunteer camp because it was situated on a farm in rural Ukraine--far far away from the cityscape of Los Angeles where I was living. For the past few years it has been my goal to seek out experiences that highlight the natural world--and deepen my understanding of nature. Learning to pluck a chicken--which was surprisingly easy--was a great experience in bringing nature to the forefront of my life.

Of course, I also loved meeting and learning about the other volunteers. I really appreciated the diversity of the group, in gender, age, nationality and occupation. I also felt like we bonded very well together as a group. Many of us were interested in history or archeology and would have lengthy conversations about subjects beyond our cultural differences.

Lastly, I had wanted to travel to Ukraine for many years and finally being able to experience the beauty of the country and its people was a thrilling experience for me. Many of the iconic sunflowers fields of Ukraine where in full bloom and I could have spent hours upon hours simply staring at them. Although the volunteer camp was situated in rural Ukraine, there were many local Ukraine around the farm and in nearby farms that allowed for a good mix international and local relationships to develop.