A day in the life at Samos Volunteers
What’s it like to work at Samos Volunteers? It’s hard to narrow it down. Some days you prepare tea and coffee for over 150 people, prepare activities for women and children, teach English class, welcome people at reception and play chess, ping pong, dominos and other board games. Other days you might be clearing fields, fixing musical instruments,mopping the floor, playing football and volleyball, picking up goat poop, building chairs and tables out of pallets, learning Arabic, dancing with community members and sharing meaningful conversations in several languages with people from many different countries.
Some days it might be cold, rainy and windy, and some days it will be so sunny you forget you were ever cold. Some days you might feel exhausted and overwhelmed, and other days you will have so much energy you wish the day would never end. Some days you might be talking about life experiences with someone you only met a few days ago, and other days you’ll be running after hyperactive children who make you want to make this world a better place.
Maybe you have certain skills that can be very useful in some areas, or maybe you are good at everything, in which case you end up being very important everywhere. Maybe you like to teach, and you find yourself standing in front of a classroom full of motivated students of all ages and backgrounds, who show their appreciation every day and encourage you to keep going. Or maybe you prefer to play games, sports and activities, which means you are out having so much fun you lose track of time. Either way, if there is one thing you should know about working at Samos Volunteers, is that it doesn’t take long to get used to it, and even less time to feel at home here.
If you ever wondered whether this type of work is something you would like to try in your life, then save yourself some time and join for as long as you wish to. You are guaranteed to meet a team of brilliant, amazing and highly enthusiastic people who will make you feel like you belong. And take it from a former volunteer, even though people come and go faster than you might like, that’s okay, because before you know it new people will arrive and enrich your life in the best way possible. Working here really is unique and unpredictable. And remember, once you leave, you will always have a place to return to. There’s a reason why so many of us keep coming back to Samos to work here - to be part of this forever changing adventure.
Written by Andrew Steketee, Volunteer
Edited by Elena D’Onofrio, Communications, Advocacy and Fundraising Coordinator