My volunteering at Svitac – Evan Pearce, Canada
“I began my volunteering experience in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country I had previously little knowledge of. The times I would inquire with friends and family here in Canada I received only vague statements about the Winter Olympics and a war in the ’90s. There had to be more to it than that. This curiosity is what drove me to sign up with Omladinska organizacija Svitac and it has to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Upon my arrival in Brčko (my new home) I was immediately welcomed by local staff and fellow volunteers and before I knew it was a part of the international Svitac family. During my stay of one month I had the opportunity to work with people from many age groups, from little kids learning the months of the year to adults practicing advanced English. The scheduling system was very flexible and the volunteers had a great deal of freedom based on their interests and what they wanted to share. My personal contributions included music, dance, English and German language classes.
Before I knew it my time in this wonderful country had come to an end and I only wish I could have stayed longer. To anyone considering volunteering for any period of time, I highly recommend Bosnia and the Svitac organization.”
Evan Pearce, Canada
Svitac volunteer, March 2016
