The organization takes care of children and young people who are unable to live with their biological families. Due to challenging socialization conditions, these children face various deprivations and require ongoing assistance. Around 40 children aged 7 to 18 reside at the Children's Village. Volunteers assist the staff with daily activities, including meeting children after school, cooking, teaching, doing household chores, playing games, and organizing leisure time. They accompany children on excursions, arrange entertainment, and provide emotional support in challenging life situations.
Volunteers gain insight into the Austrian social welfare system, improve their social skills, and learn about social work, education, and treatment methods. Program participants must be able to easily connect with children and demonstrate that they have no fears or prejudices about caring for socially disadvantaged individuals.
The project runs from July 10, 2023, to January 31, 2024.
"I first heard about volunteering with the European Solidarity Corps a few years ago and realized that I definitely wanted to try myself in this field. This year, I decided to find a project specifically related to social work. I felt that I wanted to work with children because they need and deserve the support that their parents failed to provide. Moreover, I have always enjoyed working with kids and seeing the happiness in their eyes.
I have now been volunteering at Kinderdorf (Children’s Village) in Austria for five months and would love to share some of my thoughts and experiences!
Firstly, this project has become much more than just a "project" for me – it feels almost like another home. Every day, I spend seven hours in a house with nine children of different ages (from 6 to 15), engaging in all aspects of their lives. We do homework together, go for walks, play sports, celebrate their birthdays, cook, and often hold art workshops. They always have the opportunity to practice their English with me or learn it from scratch. Additionally, every day, my colleagues and I set an example for them on how to take care of themselves, maintain their health, and keep their home clean.
Of course, challenges arise daily. There are arguments, tantrums, misunderstandings, and sometimes someone gets sick. But we handle everything together! We also teach the children in our house how to cope with difficulties. They know they can rely on me and the other social workers. It is incredibly rewarding to see that the children feel this support and look forward to seeing me every day.
Secondly, this experience gives me a fantastic opportunity to learn more about Austrian culture! Almost every day, we try to cook traditional Austrian dishes – especially Styrian ones, since Graz is the center of the federal state of Styria. From my colleagues, who are local residents, I also learn about the region’s unique aspects, such as clothing, traditions, and dialects. A year ago, I could only dream of this! Furthermore, I not only get to study the German language but also practice it in daily life. As a philology student, this is an incredible opportunity! I love that no one judges my mistakes – Austrians are always supportive and eager to help.
Lastly, I have met many other volunteers from different projects across Europe and beyond! It is always incredibly exciting to meet new people, exchange experiences, and learn about our respective countries, languages, and traditions.
Since we often have the opportunity to travel around Austria on weekends (or even visit neighboring countries), we eagerly take advantage of it! Traveling with other volunteers to Vienna (where we visited almost all of the magnificent city's museums), Hallstatt, and other picturesque towns and villages will forever remain in my heart and memory!" shares Yuliia Shtefan.
Previously, a student of the 035 Philology specialty, Valeriia Dubovyk, participated in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteer program "Volunteering Summer Fest 2," dedicated to organizing an Italian commune. The philologist successfully completed a course on European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteer programs and undertook training in the "MOOC on the European Solidarity Corps" as part of the Erasmus+ program.
It should be noted that students of Poltava Polytechnic have the opportunity to study abroad under the grant programmes of credit academic mobility for a semester or a whole academic year at the leading universities of Austria, Greenland, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, and the Czech Republic.
For more information on current mobility programmes abroad, please contact the International Relations Department (room 320-F, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua) or the Coordinator of International Cooperation of National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” – Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation Anna Kostiantynivna Pavelieva (room 310-C, email: kunsite.zi@gmail.com, phone: +3-8-(095)-91-08-192).
Additionally, all interested individuals are invited to guest lectures on 21st-century literature, delivered by leading experts from various universities in the EU, the USA, and Canada. Guest lectures are held every Wednesday in a hybrid format during the fourth period (13:30-14:50) in room 318C at Poltava Polytechnic. Students and faculty members of Poltava Polytechnic can attend the events both in person and online. To receive a Zoom link, please contact the Department of German Philology and Translation in room 310C.
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