Finnish seniors’ experiences of voluntary work in Portugal 15 April – 5 May, 2012
The goals of the project were to acquire learning experiences of Portuguese voluntary work, to enhance cultural interaction and to develop language skills.
The activities of our group mostly consisted of getting acquainted with Portuguese culture and doing handicraft alone and together with Portuguese volunteers. They were greatly interested in Finnish handicrafts and the way they were made.
In the first week we prepared the programme for the second week’s senior camp. To our disappointment the “camp” turned out to be something other than what we understand by that term in Finland
In the first week we also went to see a new hospital. The registration of patients into hospital happened via computers and in this the volunteers played an important assisting role. The volunteers also were a great aid e.g. in the children’s ward by reading to them and organising plays because there were only two nurses per work-shift. We donated the handicraft we made to the voluntary work organisation so that they could sell our products and thus get funds for their activity.
At the beginning of the camp week we met all the Portuguese taking part in this project and introduced ourselves through a game called “the coat of arms”, told the listeners about Finland
Common games and plays in parks were great fun and it was nice to notice how similar many of our activities were. We could also use our hidden artistic talents when making a present from clay for a “secret friend”.
On the last ”camp day” we studied the culinary culture of both the countries through presentations and by tasting food. Then we gave our presents to out secret friends and told them, of course in English, what we had thought when preparing the presents. We also gave the organisers feedback of the week and spent the rest of the evening singing and dancing together.
Among the cultural events of the week must be mentioned a concert of a Brazilian and a local choir (in which one of our friends sang), another concert of a brass band and a play performed by a local amateur theatre group.
In the third and last week we had the opportunity to see the premises of the local Red Cross. Various physicians and therapists had their rooms in the building, the house also offered flats with services, food service and hobby groups for seniors with volunteer leaders. The hobbies included language studies, handicraft, dance, gymnastics, art etc.
On the last day we made a visit to Sintra and the westernmost point of continental Europe Cabo da Roca, which was very beautiful. It would be nice to return to these places some day.
Positive experiences:
- New Portuguese friends
- Getting acquainted with a different old culture
- Friendly and helpful Portuguese people
- Developing our language skills and daring to use a foreign language
- Six people who didn’t know each other very well managed to live together for three weeks surprisingly well
Negative experiences:
- Not keeping to the schedules as planned and useless waiting
- Changes in the programme happening frequently and on short notice made it difficult to make plans for free time activities.
Having taken part in this project we all returned home with beautiful memories and thankful minds!
