Through the European humanitarian volunteering programme EU Aid Volunteers, we have sent 10 expert volunteers to four low-income countries beyond the EU's borders - Albania, Georgia, Turkey and Uganda. The volunteers worked in the partner organisations with the aim of strengthening the capacity of the host organisations and transferring experience, in addition to working directly with the beneficiaries.

Among those who brought their skills abroad was Slovak Martin Pavelka, who won the „Volunteer of the Year“ award for his two-and-a-half-year assignment in Turkey. Martin worked in the organization Small Projects Istanbul (SPI) As a project and volunteer coordinator at a community centre for Syrian refugee families. As he says: „Being right in the thick of it allowed me to get to know people's stories, understand their needs, and find solutions to alleviate their daily suffering. Together with the SPI team, we were able to implement projects focused on children and youth education, psychosocial support and digital skills development.“ Martin has also coordinated projects in social enterprise Muhra, where refugee women handmake earrings and accessories. Profits from sales go directly to the artists and their families. „I am delighted that it was through a series of training sessions that these talented craftswomen learned new production techniques that enabled them to expand their product portfolio and increase their sales profits.“ He recommends volunteering to everyone, and describes it as a great combination of the pleasant and the useful: „Humanitarian volunteering has allowed me to do meaningful work and help where needed while developing my own skills.“

Martin was not the only Slovak we sent. Volunteer Nikola Bartošová headed to Africa and spent five months in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. In the community library of the organization Masanafu Child and Family Support worked as a development worker in the field of education. „My task was to start activities in the local library, which had been closed for a long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to attract young readers back, which we did,“ explained Nikola. „The organisation I worked for was also dedicated to working with disadvantaged children, for whom we prepared special educational activities. I was touched when these children told us that we had brought joy back into their lives.“ 

The project was funded by the European Commission and co-financed by the Official Development Assistance of the Slovak Republic, and ADRA cooperated with two European organizations - ADICE (France), and MONDO (Estonia) - for its successful implementation.

New international projects for volunteers coming soon

However, the end of the project does not mean the end of opportunities for European youth abroad. Those interested in volunteering can apply for volunteering positions in European Solidarity Corps projects, which will continue to offer humanitarian volunteering opportunities in low-income countries. For more information on the project and the conditions of participation: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity_sk

We have many years of experience in sending volunteers to low-income countries thanks to the support of the Official Development Assistance of the Slovak Republic. Through SlovakAid grants we have sent dozens of volunteers, four of whom have been awarded „Volunteer of the Year“. 2023 will be no different, when ADRA will send three more volunteers to partner organisations in Albania and Serbia.

Help is also needed in Slovakia

Those interested in volunteering in Slovakia can get involved in helping Ukrainian refugees at the Humanitarian Aid Site „Who will help Ukraine Aupark,which provides them with material assistance and counselling services. Volunteer help is also welcome in eight ADRA Good Centres, which are dedicated to helping disadvantaged communities in Bratislava, Piešt'any, Trencin, Banská Bystrica, Martin, Liptovský Hrádek, Gerlachov and Košice.

We are also helping people affected by the war in Ukraine, increasing food self-sufficiency for refugees in Uganda, building water and sanitation infrastructure in Lebanon, and assisting in crisis areas affected by natural disasters.

Support our work and get involved in helping the needy through a charitable donation. Just visit ADRA HelpShop and choose the product or service you want to donate. You can also help by giving financial support and material assistance.