My name is Luna Schroth, I am currently finishing my final years of education in Berlin, and want to go abroad for a voluntary service, when I am finished. The idea of going abroad for a voluntary service has developed from my positive earlier abroad experiences. Having lived in Switzerland, Canada and Germany throughout my school career, I was confronted with a change of culture and change of people. For me the terms „change“ and „experience“ resulting from these encounters always had a positive connotation and left hunger for more. Looking back I have largely profited from growing up bilingually (German/English) and hope to utilize this benefit to successfully help in the assigned project. I am especially interested in projects concerning education and health as will be explained in the following paragraphs.
Visiting the international Berliner Nelson Mandela State School (NMS) for the final seven years of my secondary education, including international staff and pupils, has lead to daily confrontation with different cultures and traditions. A school following the spirit and principles of its eponym: Nelson Mandela has shaped me towards an open and accepting person who cherishes the different experiences which students from different background share. The Nelson Mandela school is an Unesco school, which has developed a close school community allowing us students to engage outside of the curriculum. Taking over lesson of primary teachers and presenting our school concept to external teachers and students, has aroused my interest for sharing knowledge in form of teaching. In context of the voluntary service I could therefore imagine to operate in the sector of education. Growing up as a bilingual student, with both German and English being taught on mother tongue level, teaching in the field of language seems most suitable to me. However, I would be happy educate in other subjects as well.
The German schooling system requires two higher levels, which the students are taught in more frequently and on a more advanced level. For me these, art and biology, reflect my further interests well. For a long time I have dreamt of studying medicine, leading to an internship at the Charité hospital Berlin and at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics. Being placed in the health sector would therefore complement my interests.
Outside of the school curriculum I enjoy playing field hockey, which have done on a weekly bases for the past six years. Here, i have engaged as a voluntary member, training children between the ages of six and twelve for two years. This experience has taught me valuable organizational skills by allowing me to plan and execute self planned training sessions. On a personal level, patience, with the individual willingness to learn and discipline of the children, were requested by me and my fellow team of coaches. Since this experience brought me great pleasure, I would be happy to cooperate with others and work in a group during my voluntary service. Having worked with children before, I could imagine being active in a project, which involves working with them.
My interest specifically for development politics has been shaped in the past two years while helping in a Berliner refugee camp (NUK - Winsstraße). The tasks include food distribution, organization of donations and teaching German to minors. Being confronted with the hard breaking fate of these people, has taught me the necessity and naturalness of helping people in need. Especially teaching young people my age German showed me how similar we are in our interests and hopes. This got me thinking, thinking that one day it might be me in a position, in need of help. This thought was the trigger of my interest in development work and the trigger of my application.
Aware of the fact, that I have had the privilege to grow up in a unburdened society, I want to broaden my horizon, to get a better understanding of the worlds complexity and the connected benefits and difficulties, of different parts of the world. I hope to get the chance of an abroad experience which will allow me to be encountered with a new culture. On the other hand I hope to give, by tackling specific social, ethnical, environmental or political difficulties in a given project. Here, instead of only embracing the difference between my culture and the one I am confronted with, I am interested in embracing similarities and sharing experiences so we can profit from one another. Especially the attitude towards life and the spirit of south-american countries, particularly Chile, Bolivia and Costa Rica fascinates me, however I would be happy to engage in other you other countries as well.. That is why I have decided to apply for a voluntary service in these countries, thinking that this placement would suit my interests best, additionally allowing me to further develop my preexisting Spanish knowledge and provide me with an environment, which I can actively develop.
With kind greetings and hoping for a quick and positive response
Luna Schroth
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