Roxana about volunteering

       

        Working with old people is like trying to dig into the past and find something that was hidden from us for such a lot time. And though this never happened while volunteering at the center for the elderly in Baia Mare, other things came in our way haling at us to just stay for a minute and forget about everything but the interactions that we do have with old people that could be any of us years after that. We kids have quick and spontaneous minds that make us do things that we regret and wish we had never done. On the other hand, these kind of actions never hurt an old person because there is nothing in this world that they could do that they have never done before.    

          The idea of getting out of your comfort zone might seem a little scary at first, but with all the truth that I can handle right now, I assure you that nothing would provide you more gratification that being a part of a volunteering group involved in action together with senior people.

Raluca about volunteering

Our latest activity in the seniors’s centre dealt with craftwork. We gathered with some grannies to re-create some paper roses and other stuff.  We organized in workshops made of students and seniors and started to work with coloured  paper, patterns and glue.

We cooperated very well because our partners were very patient and we discovered that they were skillful as well. Although we did such things quite a lot when we were in primary classes, they competed with us and proved they were not clumsy, in spite of their age. We succeeded to make a bunch of beautiful flowers and – in the end we were all satisfied and appreciative for our opportunity to be and do something together.

 

Iulia about volunteering

We organized a volunteering activity in the “Rivulus “ centre to debate with the seniors over the kind of music we like versus the kind of music they listened to when they were young. We all listened to each other’s favourites and we discovered we definitely do   not like the same kind of music.

However, this was an opportunity which made me reflect on acceptance and respect for the others in spite of the differences in taste, attitude or opinion. Listening to the music of their generation was not the most exciting thing ever but – I suppose it was the same for them when we put our music.  Still, they appreciated our initiative and behavior and praised us for being open minded. For me, personally, it was a lesson in itself.