Returned Volunteers Weekend

Tested in Vietnam and Mongolia

RVs look forward to this event

VSO-Bahaginan honors its returned volunteers by hosting a 3-day RV Weekend.  This is a forum where volunteers get to share their experiences - their joys, challenges, and coping mechanisms upon return. 

One of the souvenirs

Items brought home as souvenirs from the placements are also exhibited.  At the fellowship night, RVs traditionally wear the attire native to their country of assignment.  

My memorabilia from Uganda

Stories shared vary and I am mentioning some of them here not to scare would-be volunteers but to provide a balanced view of the agony and ecstasy of volunteering.   Each experience is unique.  One volunteer was stoned because the locals thought that she came from an unfriendly country. 

From Zanzibar

Another experienced an attempted burglary.  One figured in a mob justice incident when his motorcycle was stolen and the culprit was stoned to death by the locals.  Several met motorcycle and vehicular accidents that were nearly fatal.  

It's time for nostalgia

Some had to be repatriated when serious political troubles occurred in their country of placement.  Others endured severe and extreme temperatures -   portable individualized heaters are carried to keep the body warm or bed mattresses have to be doused with  water before lying down to combat the heat.  

From freezing Mongolia

And most had to ingest food in a way similar to swallowing cod liver oil – squirming with hesitation but have to take it nevertheless.  There was also a lot of opportunity to travel within and nearby countries of their placements. 

Prints from Malawi

 Abundant were heart-warming stories of appreciation from the locals whom volunteers have interacted with or whose projects succeeded with help from volunteers.  The goodbyes were long and promises to keep in touch and return were common.  

VSO-Bahaginan staff making sure RVs feel at home

Back home some RVs experience the reality that they have no money, no jobs but it seems that these are very temporary parts of the adjustment.  Others have returned to their jobs or  have found better career opportunities because of their international volunteering experience.  

The solemn Volunteer pinning ceremony

Over-all, everyone felt a satisfaction that they have touched other people's lives, and their lives, too had been enriched by volunteering.  I brought home from that gathering the affirmation that indeed, volunteers are a different breed.  

They are men and women for all seasons. 

In a few months time, most of them will be re-volunteering