For the 3rd consecutive year, the ASA/GLEN project is sending young Estonians out to the world to help others. Two girls, who participated in the project last year, are speaking about voluntary work.

‘I had a sincere wish to help people and make something better', says Kadri Aavik, who was teaching multimedia to students in South Africa. ‘Here (in Estonia – ed.) I often feel that the results of my work are not directly visible and I do not receive sufficient feedback, therefore I wanted to do something from which people would benefit directly.'

‘Having experienced the period of transition (to democracy – Kadri) in Estonia, I thought I could use my experience there', says Annika Räim who was engaged in museum pedagogics in Georgia. ‘There are obvious similarities between the life in Estonia in the 1990s and in Georgia today'.

Aavik believes that Estonians should definitely aid the developing countries, as Estonia has also received much help in the past. ‘I think that Estonia is not so much in need of help any longer, but is now able to help others, despite the fact that we are a small country', said Aavik. ‘Helping is humane'.

More solidarity

‘Above all, it is a matter of attitudes', says Räim. ‘If there was more solidarity, the world would be a more peaceful place.' She believes that it is essential to find a way to reduce the increasing gap between developed countries and developing countries. ‘It is a global problem and Estonia should certainly contribute', she said.

‘First and foremost, we could help the developing countries in the fields we ourselves are good at,' says Aavik and says that one of those fields is information technology, which was linked to her project in South Africa. At the same time, she emphasized that it involves co-operation between two sides and mutual partnership. ‘It is not we, the “smart Europeans” going to developing countries to educate the “dumb locals”', says Aavik. ‘Both sides have a lot to learn from each other'.

Räim emphasized the broadening of the worldview as a personal benefit and the invaluable experience of co-operating with people from other cultures. ‘The extent and impact of our help is difficult to measure', said Räim. ‘But I believe that we were able to bring new ideas and points of view to the local museum'.

She says that working methods emphasizing teamwork were new to her Georgian colleagues. ‘We conducted brain storming sessions and collected feedback', she says and admitted that although such working methods were unfamiliar to the locals in the beginning, they accepted these in the end.

‘I can say that the 4 months in spent in South Africa was most likely one of the best times in my life', admits Aavik. ‘To my great pleasure, we could do quite a lot for the school,' she said. ‘Although in the beginning we were somewhat afraid that perhaps we wouldn't be useful'.

The importance of sustainability

Together with her German tandem partner, Kadri was giving wepage, photography, film and newsletter classes in a township school. One of her most memorable experiences involved the advanced web page group teaching the beginners and how the students enjoyed teaching.

‘It is important that the project is sustainable', emphasized Aavik. ‘That the locals are able to pass the knowledge and skills acquired in the course of development projects to others, thereby contributing to the development of their own country.'

Youth in solidarity

* This year young people aged between 21-30 have the chance to apply for 3 projects until Febuary 14, taking place in South Africa, Cameron and Georgia.

* GLEN participants (age 21-30) work for three months in a project together with a German tandem partner. Before the departure to the project location, there are two preparation seminars – attendance in these is compulsory. After the project, the GLEN participant will be involved in active co-operation with the Roundtable for Development Co-operation in raising awareness on global education.

* The project is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Open Estonia Foundation. Read more: www.terveilm.net