My First Long Term Volunteering

Just to put you in a bit of context first; I have two main passions which are travelling and photography. I studied photography for three years in Barcelona and a year later after finishing my studies and after coming back from my very first adventure abroad, I got awarded with a scholarship to partake a Video & Multimedia Projects course in the same photography school. The important part was that the first trip would just set the beginning of a non-returning point where travelling became a huge thing in my life and I try to do it as often as I possibly can.

After photography school ended, I started my research on what to do next to not only keep taking photos because I like to but also so that I can give back to others by sharing my knowledge. This project in Iceland appeared out of the blue and obviously, I didn’t think twice and immediately sent in my application. The response took a while as there was a bit of a misunderstanding between my sending organization in Barcelona and the one in Iceland that was holding the project. A few weeks later I was having a Skype interview which would end up giving me the chance to move to Iceland a month later.

I felt quite lost during the first two weeks, even though the aim of the project was what I was looking for and even though I was in a country I’ve been wanting to visit for such a long time.

I wasn’t sure if I was where I wanted to be, if I took the right decision nor if my presence there was more annoying than helpful.

By the third week and after seeing how other long term volunteers were working and after having my training camp, the time of the truth arrived. I couldn’t believe that now it was my turn to lead a group.

What was the most surprising was the ease and inner peace I found myself in while being the coordinator of a camp of ten people, while sharing my knowledge with them, solving their doubts and questions, organizing and running activities as smooth as possible, making funny photography games and challenging them to improve their photography game when we were going out on excursions or simply by walking downtown at different times of the day.

These feelings repeated over and over again during the four-months stay in Iceland.

I found myself a bit sad and void after the participants left every time a camp ended, but the happiness that I used to have before a new camp was starting, was the stream of power and energy that would keep me happy, active and motivated for the future days.

Why? Basically because it’s not only about sharing the knowledge but also about the stories behind each and every one of us; getting to know new people, spending almost 24 hours a day during the ten days duration of each camp as well as the (deep) connections one get to make with people who share not only the interest in photography but in travelling as well. Connections that sometimes eventually become friendships but that at one point, even if you don’t want to, still you have to say goodbye to and wish that you will be able to work out the way that your paths will cross again in the future.

I found myself enjoying the whole process, experience and realized how spending time away from home doing things that you are really passionate about, surrounded by people who encourage you and trust in you, helps with one’s self-growth, esteem and on realizing that you are truly capable of doing whatever you desire if you put everything you have into it.