One evening I was snuggled up in bed trawling through Facebook to see the latest cute video of a pug jumping up the stairs or a funny screenshot of a classic text message fail. When I hit upon an advert that intrigued me, Restless Development, offering a once-in-a-lifetime overseas volunteer experience. I clicked on it of course, I have always tried to explore ways of both helping people and doing charity work, I have done all sorts, raised money for Blue Peter when I was young with a bring and buy sale, done a bungee jump for Cancer Research and supported the Air Ambulance.
I am also a keen traveler, having traveled around Europe and living in Vienna for 7 months, I am no stranger to being away from home. I have looked into helping building projects in Uganda or climbing Mt Kilimanjaro for Cancer Research, however these opportunities are incredibly expensive. One key attraction about Restless Development is that it is in partnership with the International Citizen Service, meaning 90% of ICS is funded by the Department of International Development, the other 10% is funded by volunteers fundraising. The fundraising does not go towards the volunteer’s expenses but to in country resources and aid, plus ensuring continued work with future volunteers. At this my ears spiked with interest, almost thinking it was too good to be true.
After a little research in the early hours of the morning on ICS and Restless, reading reviews and blogs, I decided I just had to apply. You do not need any qualifications or skills, just commitment and passion about changing the world. Although you cannot chose precisely where you are placed if you are successful, but they take your preference into consideration.
A few days later I heard my application had been successful and I would be attending a Selection Process two weeks later, the good thing about this is all your travel expenses are re-reimbursed or they can book them for you. The Selection Process was certainly interesting, fun, and filled with inspiring videos and stories, firstly I had an interview which consisted of questions like –
“How would you react sharing to a room with four mattresses on the floor, unreliable electricity and a 7pm curfew?”
“What if the toilet was only a bucket?”
My only answer…. I’ll give it a go!
One of the most inspiring stories I heard in the assessment day was about Brian Rockliffe, who is the Director of ICS. He was once asked what international development and volunteering meant to him. His answer – I went out to Tanzania to volunteer in a school and 30 years later had the chance to revisit the school and some of my pupils, one night I asked his friend who he kept in contact with for 30 years, What was the point of it all?… expecting a reply along the lines of my English greatly improved. His friend said, “Seeing the way in which you and your colleagues interacted, has changed the way not only me but my community treat women. It’s changed the way I treat my female pupils, my wife and daughters.” To me that is an incredible development.
This is TOTALLY not our bridge…
We also faced some assessed group tasks, one in particular was great fun… with 4 participants, 4 long pieces of sticky tape and 4 news papers we had to build a bridge to hold a small weight in 4 minutes. Then we had 2 more minutes to make our construction and even stronger to hold more weight…. by this point we had used most of our cello-tape, and Hazel, our interviewer shouted ONE HAND BEHIND YOUR BACK! That was when we really started working as a team, helping each other out, communicating, and laughing, great skills for when we actually go out.
At the end of the selection process we were told we may not find out before Christmas which seemed like a long time. But the very next day….. last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away…. sorry sidetrack! The very next day I got a call, I had been accepted to go to India in June 2015. OMG! I couldn’t believe it, I was walking around Tesco in a daze and forgot the milk. It was one of the best Christmas presents I have received and my parents and family I know are very supportive.
My placement is conditional on the achievement of fundraising my target of £800. Then I shall be getting on a plane in June for 3 months and challenging myself to change the world and I honestly cannot think of anything better to try and do. So now to think of some fundraising ideas…. if you have any let me know.