Everyone Can Make a Difference

Another international project implemented by Šiauliai Didždvaris Gymnasium is over now and I think it's time to share some impressions.
"Everyone Can Make a Difference" was run by Didždvaris Gymnasium in cooperation with International School Ekola Wroclaw. The aim of the project was promotion of  international volunteering, to show to  young people how volunteering might influence their surrounding in a good way. In short, to see that Everyone Can Make a Difference! As an youth exchange project it had two parts. First part took place in Wroclaw, Poland in November 2011 and second one in Šiauliai, April 2012.

About the first part of the project we already wrote on our blog. http://radijoklubas.blogspot.com/2011/12/volunteers-week-in-wroclaw-2011.html

So now let me tell how was the second part :) This time 11 students from Poland came to Šiauliai to explore the importance of international volunteering with students from Didždvario gymnasia for one week. During this week we've visited several social institutions such as Elderly house, Daycare centers for infants and 7-16 years old children. Before going to this institutions we've prepared some activities together. For elderly house we prepared short concert and the Bingo game. For daycare centers we prepared some games which we thought might be interesting for children.

I think that the experience gained by participants during this volunteering activities is unique and meaningful. First of all they were working in international group. Second, they went to institutions to which they usually don't go and  the feedback of the residents of this social institutions, especially children's, clearly showed the importance of volunteering. And finally, they had fun, they enjoyed working together and they made a difference.

In the end of the week we went to Vilnius and visited some official institutions there like Vilnius Municipality and The Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania. In municipality we listened to presentations about volunteering made by different youth organisations. The visit in the Ministry was rather short :)

During this project we had some informal activities such as cooking, dancing and watching a movie but of course everything was related to the topic of our project. Our Polish participants have prepared the dish from Polish cuisine - bigos. It was delicious! Lithuanian participants prepared the cold soup (I totally love it) and ... [omg I don't remember the name of the dish.. Lithuanian participants, please help!] 
I guess our participants enjoyed the line-dancing evening. And we also watched the movie - All the invisible children. I think it's a must seen movie!

During the project participants created the video clip and radio show about volunteering. We will put the radio on air next week. And hopefully we'll be able to put the video clip online as soon as possible.

In the end I should admit that the atmosphere in group was simply great! Participants really liked each other, they were eager to work together that's why it was easier to work with this group. Of course during this week there were a lot of Dos and Don'ts and it was quite exhausting week for Rabea and me as we lead most of the activities and we were also involved in some organisational parts but at least the weather was nice :)))

The project was definitely successful and it wouldn't have been possible without effort that was made by organizes, participants and coordinators.

I hope that the partnership which exists between Siauliai Didždzvaris Gymnasium and Ekola school Wroclaw will continue in the future and next generations of students will benefit from it as well.

Manana

P.S.

Here are some photos from the project by Morta Nauiokaite:
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