My name is Zsuzsanna Kalányos. I’m 22 years old and I’m studying to be social worker at the University of Pécs in Hungary. My host organisation is VISA-L’année diaconale, this organisation coordinates hosting projects across France (including associations, institutions, and organizations hosting volunteers) as well as the follow-up and the training of the volunteers throughout their service.
I am volunteering in France in a social home for elderly people, for a period of 9 months. I spend my internship in Livron sur Drome. Here I take care of seniors and I organise a lot of programmes for them, like group singing, cooking, baking, and playing words games.
Every week we organise handicraft events, where the seniors do a variety of projects including making Christmas decorations, candles and jewelery. I speak a lot with these people and I also learn a lot from them. Since I began my voluntary service, I’ve met a lot of new people, several new cultures, and I’ve expanded my knowledge and experiences of social work. Also, the experience of discovering a new country and environment has been very important to me. Doing this voluntary service is a really excellent opportunity for me, and I highly suggest it for anyone who is considering it.
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