My experience of volunteering with children

My four month experience as a volunteer at an orphanage not too far from the center of the city was undoubtedly the most incredible and invaluable one of my life. I could not have been happier with my experience there and I was truly devastated when the time came to leave. At the risk of sounding very dramatic, my experience at Voluntario Global proved to be the best decision of my life and made me realize what it was I want to do with my life. I of course cannot account for everyone who works with the organization, but I cannot stress enough the impact my time at the orphanage had on me. My memories there will stay with me forever and I am absolutely determined to go back.

My duties at the home involved cleaning and helping to maintain an ordered and safe environment for the kids aged between 5 to 13 to live in. The idea was that the orphanage mimic as much as was possible a home for these kids and the educadores (adults) who worked there were some of the kindest, most patient and hard working people I am yet to meet. They made me feel more than welcome and extremely comfortable and confident with my surroundings and significantly helped to make my experience as fulfilling and positive as it was. Once the kids were back at school following the summer holidays (whereby they were doing recreational activities most afternoons), I was expected to help them with their homework and whatever other extra work they needed support with. I also helped to dress and clean the younger children, carrying out regular head lice checks, particularly during the very hot months. I always ate lunch with either the children or the staff, I was fed extremely well!

The most difficult challenge for me was detaching myself emotionally from the kids and what they had individually been through. I encountered no major problems at the orphanage itself as I was very impressed with the high standard of living and how the place was run.

The most rewarding aspect of the work was simply playing with the kids and giving them my time and full attention. I was passionate about what I was doing meaning I made the very most of every situation or opportunity I was faced with. Although if I had to mention a particular highlight it would be the relationships I formed with the children and staff.