10 year internship scheme anniversary (V): Why volunteering is important

Next up in our guest posts series is Elis Bechir, former Political Section intern and currently part of UNV staff working in Haiti. Here’s her take on the importance of volunteering.

On my last job interview -which I passed- I was asked why is volunteering important to me. Whenever I am asked about my professional background, one of the most relevant experiences that I always mention is working with the British Embassy as an intern for three months. One would say that three months is too short or too evasive to count at all. I should add here that my whole career is made up of patches, short random experiences that put all together brought me where I am and most importantly who I am today.

Some of us aim (too) high right after the graduation, thinking that one degree is enough to make you an employee for life. Some others, like me, take chances, any chance that comes along the way. I am not looking for a warm seat, a safe job that guarantees my income for years to come. What I am actually interested in is an opportunity to learn. After the internship with the British Embassy, I have decided to enlarge my knowledge about the world and take it to Africa, researching about the political crisis and also understanding the real issues of pollution and the lack of energy. Three months after I was back in Europe, working on mobility and immigration issues in Spain. Two years after, I went back to Africa to work in the corporate world to learn about development and commerce. One year after I was developing individuals in the oil and gas companies in the United Arab Emirates. And now in 2015, I took another challenge of working with the UN in Haiti, building capacities of the national employees.

The team at the British Embassy taught me about collaboration and about taking things further. I am still a loyal supporter of environmental policies thanks to my experience with the Political Section while I promote and apply the simple things an individual could do on his own. Whenever I look back and whenever I return to Romania, I am happy to see that Romania is producing solar energy and it has taken serious measures tackling the corruption within the government. I am also happy to have been a small brick in the wall and have had the opportunity to work with professionals.

If six years ago I was feeling lost and did not know where life will take me, today I can see the arrows and the big picture. There are certain benefits that I could not have missed: meeting so many diverse people and true leaders, having a broader area of subjects of conversation, traveling tips, speaking more languages, and last but not least, seeing and enjoying the simplicity of life in places where water or electricity are not taken for granted.