Volunteer with ESN UAM Poznań

Volunteer with ESN UAM Poznań was a 2 day event focused on volunteering on exchange and its importance and value. They days went as follows

Day I (21.04.2024)

International students with ESN volunteers had an incredible opportunity to do something good for free and with care of the environment. They met to create tug toys with their bare hands and with no prior knowledge about knotting ropes. It turned out that in total they made around 40 tug toys that would be later passed to the neighbourhood dogs' shelter. During this workshop, they mostly used textiles from Po-Dzielnia - a shop that offers not wearable clothing and materials for free.

Day II (25.05.2024)

International students had the opportunity to go to the "Schronisko w Gaju" (animal shelter) together with ESNers to hand over tug toys made during first phase of the activity. In addition, they listened to a lecture on the activities of shelters around the world, the issue of pets' homelessness and legal aspects in Poland regarding animal care. The students also went for a walk with dogs and shared the previously purchased food and charitable donations with the facility. The event took place in cooperation with the Mosina Troop - it was attended by 10 scouts who supported us in traveling by car from the Mosina PKP station to "Schronisko w Gaju", which we needed due to the lack of access by public transport. International students had a few hours to integrate with ESNers and scouts during walking the dogs and sightseeing the shelter. Some of them were really amazed by the cats' houses "Kociarnie" where cats could adapt to living in the building and then go to another cat house to gain more confidence in being touched and trained by humans. This specific shelter hosts  200 dogs and cats.