The weekend started with a solo trip from Cork to Cologne Bonn Airport. From there, I got a train into Cologne. I was lucky to have some extra time, so I took the opportunity to look around the stunning Cologne Cathedral. After some time, I got a text from the other participant from Ireland, Dara, saying that he was nearby, so we started the awkward process of trying to find each other in an unfamiliar place. When we did find each other, it was a relief to have someone to travel with to our final destination.
After getting a bite to eat, Dara and I continued on and took a train and a bus to our final destination, Haus Venusberg Bonn. We were both so tired that we nearly fell asleep and missed our stop, but we got there in the end!
The first evening was lovely. As always with AFS, we had fun learning where others were coming from and where they had been with AFS so far. The plenary that evening was a crash course in Asterix and Obelix, who would be recurring characters throughout the weekend. Once the formalities were completed, it was time to relax and get to know everyone more casually. With some beer and good company, the evening was very comfortable. We listened to music from different places and eras, and there were even some Irish hits in the mix, including the classic An Dreolín.
The first workshop I took part in was titled “The Listener: Better Communication (SIMA).” As the name suggests, it focused on how better and more active listening improves the quality of communication for everyone involved. It explored how allowing space for others to share their thoughts, as well as demonstrating patience and respect, benefits both the listener and the speaker. To start, we agreed on how we would each contribute to making everyone feel comfortable sharing their thoughts without fear of judgement. This is always easy to do in an AFS environment, as everyone is so gracious and open. Because we all shared common ground through AFS, we could easily relate to one another.
More than any of the other workshops I attended, this one was an eye-opener. I learned about and practised what it means to be an active listener beyond what I thought I already knew. Even something as seemingly small as waiting three seconds after someone stops talking before responding can have a significant impact. This simple technique was perhaps the most valuable thing I took away from the weekend. It is astounding that implementing something so small as waiting a few seconds before responding to someone in daily life can have such a positive effect on how conversations unfold. Often, if you wait just a little longer, people have more to say. Active listening is not just about listening and showing respect, but also about giving others the space to gather and share any thoughts they may have. This particular workshop was also a lovely opportunity to get to know some of the participants a little better. It was a joy to listen to what everyone had to say.
The second workshop I took part in was called “Living and Empowering Sustainable Development as an Active Global Citizen with AFS.” A theme that gradually emerged throughout the weekend was that even though change may seem small on an individual level, with time and care it can grow beyond the individual. During this workshop, we learned about each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and what they entail. We then discussed the impact AFS could have on them and which goals were most relevant to the organisation. Even indirectly, the potential for positive impact on each of the goals was awe-inspiring. In particular, the fourth Sustainable Development Goal, “Quality Education,” seemed to be the one that AFS could influence most significantly, and through that, indirect progress could be made towards some of the other goals. Of course, none of these issues are straightforward, but every small effort can contribute to addressing them in a holistic way.
The final workshop I took part in linked closely to the previous one in many ways. “Promoting Social Change through Active Global Citizenship in Volunteering” also explored the idea that small individual efforts can grow into meaningful change. We examined how social change can occur at different levels, including the individual, group, community, organisational, societal, political, and even global levels. We then discussed and shared thoughts on how social change can come about through different channels: changing mindsets, adapting and developing skills, influencing social and governmental structures, and ultimately taking action. All of these approaches can be pursued by individuals as well as larger groups.
One thing that stayed with me from this workshop was the importance of not dismissing the impact that one person can have. It may feel as though you are doing something insignificant, but little by little, progress is made. BAM! was also a reminder of how broad AFS’s reach is and how significant an influence it can have, both locally and internationally.
What was lovely about the whole experience was that, even though we were only there for a short time, a sense of community was quickly established. We had all arrived separately or in small groups of two or three, but by the time we left, I found myself in a large group all travelling in the same direction. In this case, we were heading to various airports and train stations. Those who knew the area helped everyone find their way. In a broader sense, everyone at BAM came together to find common ground and practical ways in which individuals can create change, and how the roots of wider change can grow from individual action.
We were all from different parts of the AFS ecosystem and brought different experiences with us, and in Bonn we came together to explore how we could best apply the skills and experiences we each had to further our volunteering efforts. The workshops gave me practical tools to make sense of and explain abstract concepts more clearly. Even some of the concepts I thought I understood well proved to be more nuanced once I had the opportunity to take a second look. I am sure that the memories and friendships I made in Bonn will last a lifetime.
