Who we are?? Current volunteers

Hello!!!
I’m Chiara, the new volunteer of Edra.
I’m from the southern Italy.
I study psychology and after my first degree I thought to make an foreign experience before subscribing at the second university. I decided for the EVS project, because I want to practice my studies and also to learn a foreign language. When I was reading the Edra’s project I thought that this was the perfect project for me!!! I like this project and the work in a day-care center with Aspasia, Anna and the others volunteers very much. The atmosphere in the day-care center is very nice and I like to work with the users of the center, although I don’t understand the greek language and I don’t speak with them, but almost always you need just a smile to communicate or some words as “Kalà”, “Bravo” and “Pame”… I hope to learn more!
I came to Athens in April and now for me is all to be discovered!!!! Athens is a beautiful city, full of contradictions, a city between the East and the West and I like it for this reason. There is everything you want: art, culture, entertainment, good music, the beach and the mountains (also the hills, as Lycavittos ) and above all good food!!! The only thing that I don’t like in Greece is the coffee, but I’m Italian and for sure this is only a problem for Italian people!!!
In conclusion, I strongly recommend young people to participate, because for sure the EVS is a huge experience in different fields. It’s a chance to get involved in multiculturality and it is a funny experience for you!!!:)
Chiara

Geia sas!!

I am Joaquin Zamora Campoy. I am from Spain and I have 24 years old. 

When I finished my degree I tought what I could do after my studies,I studied psychologist.

The idea came becuase one friend of mine made the EVS and he was always speaking me very good about her experience so I told to myself, why not??

I think to be a volunteer is very good way to learn other people, reality, country, ways to work, is just perfect experience!

I was looking for one organization where I could develop everything I learnt in my studies, so the better way was something in relation with the social area, and I found EDRA.

I am working in the Boarding House Hippocrates, around one month and half ago and my first contact was very good, even If i didn´t know nothing about greek, but now is getting better in all the senses.

I really like Greece! Is a beautiful country with a lot of contrasts to discover , I am living a very nice and now experience here.

I will keep you informed about how is going on... ;-)

 Hellooo!
My name is Tobias and I am from from Landshut in the south of Germany. I am one of the current volunteers at the day care center of EDRA. I just arrived at the first of March and I will stay for six month here in Athens. In the day care center I assist the stuff in the dialy work, especially at the arts and crafts workshops.
I always wanted to do a gapyear after high school, because in my opinion is very important to break out of you routine enviroment before you continue to study at the university. I hope to gain some very valuable experiences in the next half year.
What I can say after the first few days, this project is the perfect choice for me. It`s different to my usual life (as I had e.g. no experience in the work with disabled before) but I have an easy time adapting to everything. As our flat is pretty centrally located, you get to know other EVS -volunteers, ERASMUS-students and Greeks very fast. And as I am open minded person and I like to discuss a lot, I already met many nice people with very interesting backgrounds in my few days in Athens.
Soo...now you know a bit about me and the expriences of my first days here and maybe I could help you if you also thing about to make the EVS in EDRA!

WHERE WE WORK??

EDRA is operating in the fields of mental health and intellectual disabilities. Our vision is to see these individuals destigmatized and integrated to the social and occupational environment.
How? We are operating a day care centre with creative activities and two mental health residences where the service users are offered an alternative way of life comparing to public services. Our activities are taking place in a professional context with the care of professionals. Throughout the year we are running, participating, organising workshops seminars, holidays, different arts groups.
Concerning EVS we are a host, sending and coordinating organisation. Within this environment we welcome EVS and local volunteers to offer their enthousiasm and will to be part of our family!

We have been working with EVS since 2005. Since then a lot has happened...and that lot has helped us all (us and our volunteers) to take a step further in life on a personal but also profesional level. It all started when one Greek ex-EVS (Kostas) decided to join and start EVS in EDRA. A great idea that was going very well with our local volunteer movements.

Since then we have received Monica from Spain, Emine from Turkey, Liis from Estonia, Charlene from France, Miranda from the Netherlands, Isabel from Spain, Mieke from Belgium, Helena from Spain, Lydia from Austria, Fransesca from Italy, Mara from Latvia, Brice from France, Aleksandra from FYROM, Carine from France, Ana from Spain, Jorge from Portugal, Marco from Italy, Sophie from the UK, katia from Poland, Rebeca from France, Margit from Lithania, Klinta from Latvia...  and much moree....

We have coorganised one EVS contact making seminar in Greece (Disabling Disabilities) and one EVS training in Finland (Disabling Disabilities II) and of course we have participated in a number of trainings related to youth work and NGOs, locally and internationally. This is just an introduction. Stay with us to hear our volunteers stories, see photos of them, us and our structures, see the EVS house and our activities!