Hello, My name is Berna. I started my project in April 2022. I work as a volunteer at Volkshilfe BETA.
BETA is a vocational preparation project for young people with special needs. The aim of the project is to prepare young people for the business world in a targeted and professional way. There are professional trainers and youth coach who train young people here. Sometimes we go to mow the lawn with the young people, sometimes we learn math or English. We also have a workshop where we do creative things. Sometimes we make jewelry there or we work with wood. We give shapes to the board and paint them. This is my favorite activity.
The company is located in Wörgl, Austria. My flat is also located in Wörgl. It is small but very cute. The city I live in is a bit small. That’s why I see the same people every day and it’s easier to make friends in the small cities than in big cities. But the biggest problem I had while making friends was the dialect. I learned german while living in Turkey, but I can only speak high german, so it took me a long time to get used to the Tyrolean dialect. But despite all the difficulties, making new friends, getting to know new cultures and tasting their food excites me.
One of the biggest reasons why I wanted to come here was that I wanted to improve my language. The project provides both online and classroom course opportunities. I also made many friends in this course. I improved my German by talking with them.
One of the two trainings we had to attend in the project, on-arrival-training, was online. Frankly, it was a bit of a disappointment for me because I wanted to meet and spend time with other volunteers. We did the training via Zoom. Although it wasn’t as exciting as being side by side, it was still a fun experience. Immediately after the training we communicated with other volunteers and became friends. We traveled to many places in Austria together. So I think these trainings are useful in many ways and I look forward to the Mid-term-meeting next month!
I am not normally a nature person. I would describe myself more as a city person. However, it is impossible not to fall in love with the exquisite view of the Alps! Every time I go for a walk or hike, the beauty of nature fascinates me. I love the mountains, the scenery and the fresh air here.
I have now finished the 5th month of my project. So I’m almost halfway through. I am very happy with all the experiences I have had so far. I look forward to gaining new experiences and collecting new memories. Thanks for reading.
Berna,
volunteer in Volkshilfe BETA, Wörgl
coordinated by komm!unity