One of our incredible volunteers, Veru, has recently started a six-month volunteering project in Estonia with the organization Noored Ühiskonna Heaks. She’s based at the Maarja Village Competence Center, where she supports people with learning disabilities in a rural community near Tartu — helping with daily life, joining workshops, and building meaningful human connections. This project is part of the European Solidarity Corps and is funded by the European Union.
Want to know what inspired her to take this step and what she’s expecting from this experience? Keep reading!
Hi! My name is Veru, and I use all pronouns.
At the beginning of March, I’ll be heading to Estonia, where I’ll be volunteering for six months. I’ll be working at the Maarja Village Competence Center, which supports people with learning disabilities in the rural south of the country. Currently, 40 people live there, receiving vocational training and rehabilitation.
When I came across this opportunity, I knew it was exactly what I was looking for. At the time, I had just finished my bachelor’s thesis and was preparing for my final exams. After three and a half years of studying, I was completely drained. The idea of jumping straight into a master’s program felt unbearable. I needed a break – and I found one.
I study psychology, and throughout my studies, I felt frustrated by the lack of practical experience. That’s why I started volunteering at a psychiatric hospital early on. It kept me motivated. Interacting with patients brought me joy and a sense of purpose – it showed me that my efforts mattered. I expect that my experience at Maarja Village will be similar.
My responsibilities will include supporting residents during various workshops like woodworking, yoga, sewing, and more. I’ll also spend time with them playing board games or just chatting. Because of this, I need to learn Estonian. I already know the basics – I previously spent a semester studying in Tartu, and that’s actually another reason why I chose Maarja Village. It’s only an hour’s bus ride from Tartu, which I now consider my second home.
