I’m the volunteer of the project called “Breaking the isolation, hosting by the organisation “I.M.S.O”. I came from Turkey, I’m living in a small town known as “Yenişakran” .Let me give you some information about my hometown.
Yenişakran is a part of Aliağa district which is an intracity district of Greater İzmir. It is situated at a bay of the Aegean Sea. It is on the state highway D.550. The distance to Aliağa is 14 kilometres (8.7miles) and to İzmir is 75 kilometres (47miles). The population of the town is 3552(according to 2011).
Although Yenişakran is founded only recently the vicinity of the town is rich in historical ruins. There are at least three sites of ancient settlements to the south of Yenişakran, Ancient Kyme is in Aliağa. Another site Myrina which was founded by Tezeus in the 11th century BC is on the way connecting Yenişakran to Aliağa and Gryneion is just at the south of Yenişakran. The ruins to the north of the town may even be more ancient. At the north of the town there are ruins which were believed to belong to Elaia.The famous Pergamon is in Bergama about 30 kilometres (19miles) north of Yenişakran. However in contrast to historical ruins Yenişakran is relatively a recent town. The very first settlement began in 1949 and Yenişakran gained the status of village in 1955. After the rapid growth in population in 1982 Yenişakran was declared a township.
The main agricultural wealth is olive. Fruit production, cattle breeding and fish hunting are other important economic activities. Tourism is also an important sector which is constantly developing. Being relatively near to big city of İzmir, Yenişakran hosts summer house vacationists.
The European Voluntary Service (EVS) is a part of Youth in Action programme. It provides young people with the unique chance to express their personal motivation through unpaid and full-time voluntary activities in a foreign country within or outside the EU. In this way, it helps to develop solidarity, mutual understanding , patience and tolerance among young people, thus contributin to strengthening social cohesion in the European Union and to promoting young people’s active citizenship.
How did I decided to be one of the volunteers in EVS programs? While studying at university, I heard about Youth Exchange and Voluntary Service . Then, I started to search for much information about them. Luckily, I managed to meet a student who had experience about them. He also made a project in Turkey. He advised me to find a sending organisation first,so I found an organisation called“ GENCTUR”. It’s a famous organization in Istanbul who has been dealing with Youth in Action programme, working camps, language courses, Interrail…etc as sending, hosting and co-operating organization since 1979. Then, I started to look for a suitable project for me and my skills,competence and attitudes.
Finally, I managed to find the project, titled “ Bre@king the Isolation” , hosting by the organisation “I.M.S.O.”, in Nationaal Multiple Sclerose Centrum in Melsbroek, Belgium. I applied for this project and after some time, I received an e-mail that I was selected as the prospect volunteer of the Project. I started to prepare my documents that I had been asked for, passport, insurance…etc.
After a long term visa process, I managed to get my visa and arrived to Belgium on 8 November. When I first set foot outside of the Brussels Airport, I was shocked, because it was really cold. In my hometown I’m used to high temparatures so, the first day, I got cold a lot. But, people in my workplace gave me a warm welcome, and day by day, it was not a real problem for me.
I’m twenty six years old and i finished studying at university. I got my diplome from the department “ Translation in French”. So, it really helps me to communicate people (Esp. Francophone…) in clinic or in capital (Brussels ).I’m also taking dutch courses which helps me communicate better. I’m at the first level but, I have chances to speak dutch all the time.
Belgium is a great country. I could not find time and courage at first to travel around it but i could see Gent and Antwerpen. I really admired these cities. I’ll also visit Brugge which is a great touristic city of Belgium as well.
Let’s talk about work. Mostly, me and my collegue, Tammo, from Germany, are arranging the shifts as first and second shifts. We are both working in Cybercafe. It’s a cafetaria in which computers are the main insturments of the department. We’re helping patients use the computers,surf on the internet and realise the importance of web. Every three days of the week ( Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday), we also look after the cafetaria and serve drinks and desserts to the patientsWe also have competitive chess matches with the patients and they are really good at it. Even they have obstacles, they are really doing their bests to enjoy every little moment of their lives and it really admires me. When I help them, I really feel myself confident, problem solver and efficient person.
I really appreciate to be chosen for that project as volunteer and I’m really happy to hava that experience in here. I owe a big gratitude to Dr. Ketelaer to give me this opportunity.
Sincerely,
Cemal TEZCAN