Eighteen year old Marek Musil after bronze level is currently continuing on the silver level. For the second time he chose the same place for volunteering - a home for the elderly in Letovice. What has this volunteering given him and how does he try to make the elderly people's days more pleasant? He talks about this in the interview.
What led you to volunteering in homes for the elderly?
I thought a lot about what to choose as a volunteer, and in the end I chose this path. I enjoy hearing other people's stories. I found it to be a very interesting activity and I hoped to put a smile on someone's face.
What specifically do you do in the nursing home?
When I first started going there, I mostly talked to people, asked them about their lives and what they enjoyed in life. Some things were very gratifying and it always made me happy to hear a new story from someone's life who told me that they didn't regret what they had been through. Of course, we also played different games, we did a tournament in Man, Don't Be Angry and many other games, and sometimes we read - I read their favourite books to them and I was very pleased that they always sat or lay and listened diligently.
How do seniors react to you? Do you remember a particularly nice or touching situation?
The seniors react very positively to me. And sometimes I hear from my grandmothers how handsome I look, one even told me, "Our Mareček has arrived." Sometimes it's even sad, when I reached someone and that person didn't remember my name, I had to reintroduce myself. One gentleman gave me advice for life: "Unless it's someone you love, it's practically nothing. You have to take care of the people you love, or the good times with them will slip through your fingers."
What surprised you the most while volunteering?
I think it's the communication. I was expecting that they wouldn't want to talk to me at all, and I was surprised that they wanted to and were happy that I was going there.
How often do you go home and how much time do you spend there?
I go once or twice a week and I'm usually there with them for about two hours. It depends on how much they enjoy it and if I'm invading their privacy.
What has this experience given you in your life? Did you learn anything new?
She's certainly put a lot of things in my life. I think the thing I liked the most was that most of the people I talked to told me that they had no regrets in life and that they enjoyed their life very much.
Working with the Grandchildren of Jesus - more opportunities for volunteering
In DofE, we have newly entered into cooperation with the Jesus' Grandchildren project, which operates under the Czech Radio Foundation. And the homes for the elderly that are involved in the project now offer dofaks and dofachkas the opportunity to volunteer with them. A complete list of the participating homes for the elderly can be found in the Volunteering Map.
Do you have an experience or story that has inspired you the most in this experience?
I think what inspired me the most was the fact that seniors asked me if I would come next time. It was the kind of thing that makes you very happy. For example, Mr. Barta - once he asked me my name and from then on he remembered it and always wrote in his calendar when I would come. He always took me by the hand and said he was very happy that I was there with him.
Has your view of old age or working with people changed?
Not that it's changed, but I've definitely started to notice it more. And I started to notice even more that those people don't really have anyone close to them and that some of them don't even go to visit.
Do you feel like you get along with the seniors?
I think it certainly does. We laugh at each other's jokes and our thoughts are not far apart either.
How has the DofE programme supported you in volunteering? Has it helped you with motivation or time management, for example?
I was definitely supported by my coordinators and the program itself showed me that I had to follow through.
Would you recommend volunteering in homes for the elderly to other dofaks?
Absolutely, because you get another perspective and another experience. It certainly won't take anything away from you, but rather add to you. And believe me, that feeling of everyone smiling at you and letting you know they are glad you came to see them is priceless.
What would you say to other young people who are hesitant about volunteering in homes for the elderly?
That there's nothing to worry about. Most of the elderly who are in the homes are thrilled to have someone come and have a few words with them.
