Pre-departure workshops

Predeparture workshop: A photo of volunteers who attended a predeparture workshop to help prepare them for their voluntary work abroad.

2010 predeparture workshop dates (on Saturdays, from 10.30 to 3pm):

Dublin Workshops (Irish Aid Centre, O'Connell St.): 06 March, 08 May, 7 Aug, 11 Dec

Cork Workshop: 29 May

EIL Ireland has developed as a unique workshop to prepare their volunteers before leaving for their projects. It's a lively session of activitiesand information! Anton Kieffer the Volunteer Coordinator and Caterina Totaro the Development Education Coordinator prepare volunteers with an energetic and participative workshop on volunteering and global issues.

So what's covered in the workshop? Half of the workshop offers the participants an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a volunteer, the positives and negatives, the challenges of living with a host family and the culture shock. "I met other volunteers so I didn't feel like I was the only person who had concerns about going away and it made me feel better about being able to deal with potential problems". The rest of the workshop uses games and activities to help bring attention to the global issues that they will encounter and to how volunteers can raise awareness when they come back to their own communities.

One volunteer writes "I thought it was very interactive - rather than lectures we took part in practical games that highlighted issues and heard from others experiences"

In 2009 over 100 volunteers have taken part in these workshops and EIL Ireland are looking forward to reaching many more over the next year.