Hi! My name is Tanya, and from 11 to 15 March I took part in an on-arrival training course.
For those of you who don’t know what that is, let me explain
There are loads of organisations in Slovakia that need volunteers. One of them is Youth for Equality, where I’m currently volunteering. For all volunteers who’ve joined any other organisations across the country, these meetings are organised at the start of their journey, as well as halfway through. It’s a brilliant chance to learn new things, meet people and just have a good time.
My on-arrival took place in a small village called Terchová. I’ve been living in Slovakia for four years now, but to be honest, I’d never even heard of this place before.
I was a bit nervous as I didn’t know where I was going or who I’d be spending these few days with. But everything changed on the way there: the incredible mountains and beautiful views on the journey from Žilina immediately put me at ease and got me in the right frame of mind.
We stayed at the Pod Oblazom guesthouse, and I really liked it there.
Clean rooms, delicious food and a great location right next to the ‘heart’ of Terchová (the tower, which is about a 20-minute walk away).
This on-arrival experience was a real reset for me.
Silence, nature, beautiful scenery and a sense of calm. That was exactly what I needed.
Gradually, other volunteers began to arrive. It was very unusual to meet people from different countries, but at the same time incredibly interesting.
Our first meeting began with some ice-breaker games, and I can say that they really helped to break the ice quickly and remember everyone’s names.
The next day, each participant gave a presentation about their organisation. Valeria and I (she’s also a volunteer at my organisation) spoke about Youth for Equality, and we think we did a really good job.
Adam, the director of NIVAM, came to see us at the on-arrival session and told us about our rights and responsibilities as volunteers.
We also learnt more about the YouthPass programme and a bit about Slovakia’s history, we came up with various theatrical sketches, made videos and quizzes, went for walks around Terchová and explored the local area whilst participants from different countries received useful tips, apps and life hacks for living here.
One of the highlights was the hike to Jánošíkove diery.
It was a short but very beautiful route. The nature in Slovakia is truly stunning, and when you go hiking with good company, it becomes even more enjoyable.
On the last evening, we had a farewell bonfire.We sat together, roasted marshmallows, chatted, sang and simply enjoyed the atmosphere. It was a very warm and heartfelt moment.
A huge thank you to our organisators, Andrea and Sasha they ran every training session to the highest standard, tried to make them as interesting as possible, and also listened to our suggestions and helped us if we had any problems.
What I like most about these training sessions is that those days, those people, those emotions and that knowledge stay with you for the rest of your life, deep in your heart. Feelings that will keep you warm for a very long time.
This experience was truly special for me.
A big thank you to everyone who took part. I’m really looking forward to the next meet-up!
