On 16 January 5 UWC Adriatic students met 11 classes from Arturo Malignani High School in Udine alongside representatives from Medecins Sans Frontières. The purpose of the meeting was to promote the school’s participation in the Colleges Volunteering Fair next April and Alvaro (Philippines), Chungu (Zambia), Elisa (Italy), Simone (Croatia) and Yuki (Japan) were happy to share their experience on the theme of the next edition of the fair: “Actions that heal”.
Volunteering is, of course, an important part of our students’ UWC journey and these students shared their experiences with activities ranging from volunteering at the Hospice, supporting disabled people in our local community, environmental work in the Karst following last summer’s fires, mental health and assisting Ukrainian refugees. In addition to these, Alvaro also talked about his community service work as a Peer Supporter and Health Educator:
Our students highlighted different aspects of volunteering but they all acknowledged how much they have learned about themselves and the world in their social service. Elisa mentioned how enlightening it was for her to realise that in a place such as the hospice dedicating one’s time to someone who is suffering takes on a very profound meaning. Chungu commented on how volunteering with Ukrainian refugees was a valuable experience for him:
The MSF volunteers and workers then presented their organisation and shared their experience in refugee centres in Belgium and Syria.
