Dr & Mrs gonzi - MaltaRightNow.com

| ISSUES |The Voluntary WorldChristmas is approaching with speedy perseverance. For some, it is a call forcelebration, partying and presents. For others, it is about doing some yearlygesture of good will. The cliché phrase of Christmas is ‘about being nice topeople’, in the minds of many means dropping a few coins into an anonymousbox or slipping a note in an envelope, sometimes destined to placespreviously unheard of. Frequently, little is known about the client groupsthese organisations work with, whose faces remain confined to the occasionaltelevised images during fund raising events and telethons. Not much isknown about the people behind these organizations, often the invaluablecomponents of the voluntary organization machine. In this issue, ShaunGrech speaks to two young people about their experiences as a volunteer,their perceptions about the nature of this very special type of work, and whatmakes voluntary work an incredible experience where time is key, and passionthe drive.Name: Pamela Kerr / Jean Pierre GauciAge: Pam: 27 / JP: 22Profession: Pam: Assistant Psychologist / JP: Law Student, University of MaltaVolunteer Position and name of Organisation: Pam: Teacher - Angela House /JP: National Coordinator – European Network Against Racism and Founder ofnew organisation PfCHow long have you been volunteering, where, and howoften?Pam: I have been volunteering for the past 2 years invarious organizations. I mainly do this once a week.Presently I am doing this at Angela House.JP: I spent the past 4 years engaged in work withAmnesty International Malta on a daily basis, pluscoordinating the European Network Against Racism(ENAR). I also spent some 5 summers doing voluntarywork with poor children in Egypt.What is the nature of your work as a volunteer?Pam: I teach movement classes.JP: Human rights activismWhat motivated you to start volunteering?Pam: The idea of voluntary work had been brewing inmy mind for quite a long time and I always seemed tohave an excuse why not to do it. It is hard to explainexactly what motivated me because it is something Ifind very intrinsic.JP: Wanting to “be the change I wanted to see”What were your expectations when you startedvolunteering , and were these met?Pam: I did not have any expectations at all.I personally believe that as soon as you haveexpectations you lose the concept of voluntary work.JP: Satisfaction. I’d say there were trying times, but ingeneral I would say they have been met.L&s | DECEMBER ’07 5