Linnea is a new Team Member in LC Jyväskylä as well as a future Exchange Participant of the Global Citizen program. We asked Linnea to let us in on the process of applying for the project and preparing for an internship, here's her story so far! Check back for more news from Linnea's experience to come during the spring.
"Getting
ready…
I’m Linnea Ervasti from Jyväskylä, Finland. Last autumn I started my history
studies in the University of Jyväskylä.
I’ve been
dreaming about going abroad for many years, and the opportunity for that came
out when I was walking around at university organization fair on the very first school
week. I found the AIESEC info stand and they told me about the organization and its function
– especially the opportunity for volunteering got me interested!
In the
beginning of the winter LC Jyväskylä organized a Global Citizen competition on Facebook,
where we got to answer the question: “Why do YOU want to volunteer abroad?” to win a grant for the internship. Well, I thought this was my chance, and started listing the things on a
paper. I became more and more enthusiastic about volunteering when I was
jotting the things down. I’d like to do something good for other people – to
volunteer! Of course we can do good things in Finland too, but it seems like
there are worse life conditions in some other countries than in Finland.
Besides, I’d like to have new perspectives to life and get to know different
cultures.
It was a
huge WOW –reaction for me when I found out that the winner of the competition was
me! Thinking about that day I can still feel the butterflies in my stomach and I still can’t really believe it! I started planning my volunteering experience with wide smile on my face.
AIESEC Jyväskylä outgoing exchange team created me a profile on myaiesec.net and I started filling some information
about me on my profile. It took me a while to write my CV – before that I
couldn’t get my EP-id, with which I could apply for projects. After finishing the CV I started looking for projects and countries. I had
discussed with my student counselor about my studies and a good time for the
trip, so I ended up deciding to go at the end of spring 2014.
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| CCALP Logo © |
It wasn’t easy
to choose the project I’d participate in – there were a lot of great projects
available! In my opinion, the search site was handy, because you could limit
the opportunities with country expectations or just put there some keyword
(e.g. I used the word “orphanage” many times). I wanted to go some African country, so I
picked up some English speaking African countries and I surfed on those sites
dozens of times until I found the CCALP (Centre For Child Advocacy And Life
Planning) project in Uganda. The job
would include, for example, playing sports and games, teaching
English and maths, and organizing musical moments for the kids. Sounds tempting! :)
I sent
email to the Ugandan contact person and he answered already on the next day and gave me a warm welcome to their country! I
asked him different questions such as what is the city like and what kind of
food they eat there (I have got a coeliac disease, so I can’t eat, for
instance, wheat and rye, but luckily they don’t use very much those grains so I’m sure I’ll survive).
A week
later we had a Skype conversation and talked about my job description:
the two first weeks the children will have holiday so I’d go to primary or high
schools for working on other things.
After the holiday I could teach some Finnish songs to the children, play
games with them, and teach some lessons. I’m so looking forward to spending time
with children! And of course, the African culture, the sun, different habits of
life in Uganda, spending time with the other volunteers.. the “WOW” –feeling again! So, it’s quite
certain now that I’m going to Uganda in the end of April. I’ll volunteer there
6 weeks and then I’ll come back to Finland for my summer work.
I still have a bit over a month until departure. What have I done already to prepare for the trip?
Well, I've renewed my passport, almost taken all of the required vaccinations, been comparing
different flights to Uganda on internet sites, and written a long to-do
list (should put it into effect!). In the beginning of this week I wrote (or,
actually my EP-manager did it) an official application that was sent to the AIESEC
of Uganda. Just waiting for the answer and the acceptance note they’ll send to
me.
It’s really going to be high time for booking
the flights, taking the vaccinations, getting the visa, and listing up
different games I could play with the kids. Some people have asked me how I
dare to travel alone to foreign country. I see this as a chance for trying my
limits and getting to know myself. And, I’ve got lots of AIESECers supporting
me both in Finland and in Uganda.
The life is
exciting and given us only once - let’s make the dreams true!"
Interested in Global Citizen program? Check out our renewed LC Jyväskylä website, and the Global Citizen in Finland -website for more information on the program and how to apply. Opportunities with AIESEC can be found from the Opportunities Portal. Don't hesitate to ask questions, the contact information -tab will give you tools for that!
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