Hi, I´m Veru. I am writing this from the middle of my European solidarity Corps volunteering experience in Maarja village in Estonia. Maarja village is a Competence Centre, which supports people with learning disabilities in the rural area of southern Estonia. Currently, 40 people live there, receiving vocational training and rehabilitation. I´ve been here for three months so far, and I´m feeling like I´ve got the hang of how things work here.
I work from 8 am to 4 pm with a break for lunch. I attend different workshops with the residents, such as pottery, music, art and woodworking workshops. Some residents need support during workshops, or feel more motivated to try them if a volunteer goes with them. I support residents with reduced motor abilities, such as helping out of a wheelchair onto the sofa, transferring from an inside wheelchair to an outside wheelchair, helping residents to dress to go outside and so on. When residents have free time, we play board games, talk, bake, draw, go for walks or do something else that interests them. I help them with domestic chores – peeling potatoes, cleaning, sometimes cooking lunch or making a dessert.
On top of my regular activities, I organised two workshops. First was an art workshop with the topic of butterflies. The second one was a music workshop where we played with different drum instruments. From time to time, I help our occupational therapist, Helen, with her online sessions. I take the residents to her office, put them on a video call with her and assist during the session.
I have been able to make amazing memories as well. During my time here, we went on two volunteer trips, one to Narva, the third biggest city in Estonia, on the border with Russia and to Rummu quarry and prison. My free time is filled with going on walks in the forest, going to the sauna, playing my ukulele, visiting Tartu on the weekends and talking to the other volunteers.
I feel like I have found peace, community and purpose here in Maarja village. I can´t wait to spend my summer here!
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