Erasmus+ Volunteering projects allow young people aged 17-30 to take part in unpaid and Full-Time Volunteering activities for up to 12 months in another country within or outside the European Union.
‘I am Sediola and I am from Albania. Before I came here I was working as an IT specialist in a government institution. I decided to take a gap year and to do something different. I wanted to use my skills in a different way and for people that really will appreciate it, and it has been the best decision of my life. I was here in in Kings Lynn for one year and I had opportunity to work with the most beautiful people ever. People that taught me what it is to be thankful, and people who were really thankful for everything that I did with them and for them.
Volunteering Matters were recommended to me as a hardworking organisation to volunteer with, which I found to be really true. This was really an important year for me. I really learnt so much from UK culture, and how important projects like this are to the community.
But I learnt many things myself. I learnt to use my skills in lovely way with people with disability. I had the opportunity to work with a volunteer in a charity shop, and I supported her when she was using the computer. It was the most beautiful feeling ever to use my professional skills to help her. It was different and made me feel like a special and better person.
I have and will recommend volunteering to all my friends – projects like this change your perspective on life and make us appreciate what we have more. While I volunteered, I was able to share my knowledge, I met people from all over the world and I experienced some amazing moments.
I am really happy now in my last days and I feel even better than I did at the beginning.’
Sedolia’s placement in the UK was made possible through Erasmus+ Volunteering Projects funding, often referred to as EVS (European Voluntary Service).
