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I had by the past a few opportunities to volunteer for different
projects. I participated to the “Giornata mundiale della juventu”
in Roma. I also helped to the organisation of the FRAT 1996 and
1998 and to the Jamboree 1997, which are all gatherings for young
catholic people. However, I felt a sort of deception or more like
if something was missing from those experiences. Because the organisation
was so vast and my role within it was more of a technical support
I did not enjoy it as much as I could have.
Then a friend of mine came to me and told me that West London’s
YMCA was looking for someone to help them creating a magazine.
I first saw it as a great opportunity for me to put in practice
what I was learning for my degree in Journalism. I met Marta a couple
of times and we decided to get started with this project; we would
meet every Thursdays with some of the residents who were interested
in this project too.
I realised after the first two sessions that this project
was not about me and that I did not come with the right
state of mind. The magazine is not my project but the achievement
of the residents. They are the ones who make it. I had much more
pleasure running the sessions from the moment I understood that.
The time going on Marta offered me to be more active as a volunteer
for West London YMCA by helping her and Patricia organising the
next trip. This experience has helped me having a clearer
idea of what I wanted from life and from my future job.
I am now convinced of the importance for me to keep volunteering
and getting more and more involved with that kind of projects.
I am truly grateful to Marta, the YMCA and its residents for having
offered me a place within them and offering me the opportunity to
be useful. I could not see a better way to occupy my spare time.
Clement Dusollier
Volunteer at West London YMCA
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