Angielski (ENG) 
Polski (PL) 
Volunteer abroad and president of an organization
Eszter Beke is the chairperson of our partner Hungarian organization, the Foundation for the Youth of Balatonalmádi. Our volunteers, Tosia and Kacper, asked her to share her experiences related to how she discovered non-formal education, volunteering, and how it happened that she is now involved in a non-governmental organization.
Kacper Kowalski, Tosia Suchecka: Hi, we are here with Eszter Beke, could you tell us something about yourself?
Eszter Beke: Hello, I started to work in the field of youth work more than 10 years ago. I started with a youth exchange where i was a partcipant. I fell in love with that kind of freedom, creativity and meeting new people and cultures. I also like travelling and with such type of opportunities I could travel and visit a lot of diffrerent countries all over Europe. After a few years I realized that I like to help people in general. I tried to study psychology but I haven’t been admitted to the university. At least, I decided I want to work with people so I applied to the university as a social worker. I used to work as a manager of different catering establishments during the time at univesity. After 10 years I decided to do my master degree as an expert of Mental Health in Relations and Community Development. I’m a freelancer now, I am working for my own mostly on the field of youth work.
Eszter Beke: Hello, I started to work in the field of youth work more than 10 years ago. I started with a youth exchange where i was a partcipant. I fell in love with that kind of freedom, creativity and meeting new people and cultures. I also like travelling and with such type of opportunities I could travel and visit a lot of diffrerent countries all over Europe. After a few years I realized that I like to help people in general. I tried to study psychology but I haven’t been admitted to the university. At least, I decided I want to work with people so I applied to the university as a social worker. I used to work as a manager of different catering establishments during the time at univesity. After 10 years I decided to do my master degree as an expert of Mental Health in Relations and Community Development. I’m a freelancer now, I am working for my own mostly on the field of youth work.
K.K., T.S.: Can you tell us more about the Almádifjak organisation?
E.B.: In 2016, I got the opportunity to continue this organisation. The members of the advisory board had their own life and family, that’s why I got the position. So that’s how all started. I continued their path, their aims and goals. Our passion is to take the youth out of their comfort zone and open up their eyes for different projects what they didn’t know before. We would like to involve the local school’s students into the society, which means we usually organise local events where we invite everyone from the town. My new passion is menthal health, which is being more and more important nowadays. We would like to focus on this field with different methods: stress management, balancing life, time managing, sports, etc.
K.K., T.S.: Do you have volunteers in your organisation?
E.B.: Yes, we have numerous volunteers in our organisation.
K.K., T.S.: We know that you had been volunteering for one year in Armenia. What were the main reasons to go there?
E.B.: When I decided to be a volunteer in Armenia, that was my second time there. Actually, in Veszprém (which is the other city, that is very close to Balatonalmádi) the community of minority of Armenia is pretty huge. From my childhood I know them and it was very interesting for me. I wanted to learn more about that culture.
K.K., T.S.: What are the differences between local volunteering and your volunteering in Armenia.
E.B.: Well, the biggest differnce is that if you are a local volunteer you can go home when you have already finished your task or activity. When you are more than 3.000 kilometres away from your home and your family, that is really different. You are in the middle of the world, almost alone with new people who are your flatmates. You get dropped in a place which is totally new for you, you don’t know the language even a few words. You have to challange yourself to be patient, to aclimatize into the local community, learn new things, even the language. If you ask me about international volunteering, you have to be open for different cultures and know your limit. Overall I can tell you it was an unbelievable experience. It changed my whole life, and who knows, it could change lots of young people’s life too. :)
E.B.: In 2016, I got the opportunity to continue this organisation. The members of the advisory board had their own life and family, that’s why I got the position. So that’s how all started. I continued their path, their aims and goals. Our passion is to take the youth out of their comfort zone and open up their eyes for different projects what they didn’t know before. We would like to involve the local school’s students into the society, which means we usually organise local events where we invite everyone from the town. My new passion is menthal health, which is being more and more important nowadays. We would like to focus on this field with different methods: stress management, balancing life, time managing, sports, etc.
K.K., T.S.: Do you have volunteers in your organisation?
E.B.: Yes, we have numerous volunteers in our organisation.
K.K., T.S.: We know that you had been volunteering for one year in Armenia. What were the main reasons to go there?
E.B.: When I decided to be a volunteer in Armenia, that was my second time there. Actually, in Veszprém (which is the other city, that is very close to Balatonalmádi) the community of minority of Armenia is pretty huge. From my childhood I know them and it was very interesting for me. I wanted to learn more about that culture.
K.K., T.S.: What are the differences between local volunteering and your volunteering in Armenia.
E.B.: Well, the biggest differnce is that if you are a local volunteer you can go home when you have already finished your task or activity. When you are more than 3.000 kilometres away from your home and your family, that is really different. You are in the middle of the world, almost alone with new people who are your flatmates. You get dropped in a place which is totally new for you, you don’t know the language even a few words. You have to challange yourself to be patient, to aclimatize into the local community, learn new things, even the language. If you ask me about international volunteering, you have to be open for different cultures and know your limit. Overall I can tell you it was an unbelievable experience. It changed my whole life, and who knows, it could change lots of young people’s life too. :)
K.K., T.S.: Did you miss your family? How long does it take to aclimatize?
E.B.: Of course. In the first two months actually I wanted go home, but in the end I didn’t want to go home. After 10 years, I went back to Armenia with my friends and meet the people there.
K.K., T.S.: What is your best and worst memory?
E.B.: The worst was when I saw a cocroach in the kitchen.:) The best was when we celebrated Christmas together with my flatmates. <3
E.B.: Of course. In the first two months actually I wanted go home, but in the end I didn’t want to go home. After 10 years, I went back to Armenia with my friends and meet the people there.
K.K., T.S.: What is your best and worst memory?
E.B.: The worst was when I saw a cocroach in the kitchen.:) The best was when we celebrated Christmas together with my flatmates. <3
K.K. , T.S.: What was the funniest situation or something you especially remember?
E.B.: My mentor was a sculptor and he invited me to his home some time and I could meet other artists as well, which was really funny to see how they live.
K.K. , T.S.: What is the most valuable experience that you have learned?
E.B.: I learnt to be more patient with other people in general from different culture and I started to know my limit, such as myself.
K.K. , T.S.: Did it inspire you to do youth exchanges and Erasmus+ projects?
E.B.: Of course, and I woud like to show the youth to be open and use that kind of opportunities.
K.K. , T.S.: Does that project influenced who you are right now?
E.B.: Sure, 100%. Maybe I won’t have this foundation and I won’t work on this field if not this experience. :)
K.K. , T.S.: Thank you for taking your time to answer our questions.
E.B.: Thank you too.
E.B.: My mentor was a sculptor and he invited me to his home some time and I could meet other artists as well, which was really funny to see how they live.
K.K. , T.S.: What is the most valuable experience that you have learned?
E.B.: I learnt to be more patient with other people in general from different culture and I started to know my limit, such as myself.
K.K. , T.S.: Did it inspire you to do youth exchanges and Erasmus+ projects?
E.B.: Of course, and I woud like to show the youth to be open and use that kind of opportunities.
K.K. , T.S.: Does that project influenced who you are right now?
E.B.: Sure, 100%. Maybe I won’t have this foundation and I won’t work on this field if not this experience. :)
K.K. , T.S.: Thank you for taking your time to answer our questions.
E.B.: Thank you too.
