Our volunteers play a vital part in helping us end homelessness across the globe. Last year, over 1,350 volunteers supported those experiencing homelessness in the countries we work in.
This International Volunteer Day, we celebrate the dedication and commitment of all volunteers. We spoke to Depaul Croatia volunteers Ivo Santini and Magdalena Pavlić about their life-changing work in Rijeka.
‘Volunteering changed me as a person’ – meet Ivo, photographer and outreach volunteer.
I started volunteering last year, after hearing about Depaul through a friend. On my first day, I could instantly tell that the people at Depaul Croatia were warm, honest and good, and I immediately knew that it was the place for me.
I’m part of Depaul’s outreach team and every Tuesday we serve meals to those sleeping on the streets of Rijeka. As well as providing food, we make those experiencing homelessness laugh and this helps them to feel great. Afterwards, you feel this peace, and it’s a beautiful feeling – there’s nothing else like it. Being part of the outreach team helps me to learn about humility and gratefulness, and it’s a wonderful experience.
Photography is a passion of mine, but taking photographs of people sleeping on the street can be challenging, as we always protect people’s privacy. I decided to photograph their hands instead, as a person’s hands can show so much about their life. We used the photographs in an exhibition at our sleep out event, Depaul Under the Stars. There were quotes from our clients alongside every photo, making the photos even more special and we’re also curating an exhibition of photographs for the event this year.
At Depaul Croatia, we’re a team of people who are so motivated and full of energy. So as well as preparing photos, I’m helping to organise Depaul Under the Stars, which takes place this weekend as part of the event, I’ll also be sleeping outside along with many others. Last year was the first time I had ever slept outside and when I woke up, I felt cold, broken and my back was hurting. It helped me to realise what the people we support go through on a nightly basis, and why it’s hard for them to get up and start working or socialising. After my night on the streets, I didn’t feel like working and I didn’t want to speak to anyone.
Volunteering changed me as a person. I appreciate my support network a lot more – my friends, family, as a lot of the people we support don’t have that. There’s one man sleeping rough who we see every Tuesday, who shared his story with me and sang a song to us all. It was very emotional and we were all touched by it. It’s moments like these that give you the energy to keep on going.
It’s been a great journey so far and I’m looking forward to becoming more involved. Volunteering for Depaul Croatia has been a beautiful experience, and I’m very lucky to have found Depaul.
‘Art is vital to helping people exit homelessness’ – meet Magdalena, day centre and outreach volunteer.
I began volunteering for Depaul three years ago, when I came to Rijeka for university. Initially, I served dinner to those visiting Haven House, Depaul Croatia’s day centre, but then I realised that I wanted to do more. I started thinking about what skills I might be able to use, and as I can play guitar, I set up a choir at Haven House.
I didn’t know if anybody would be interested in the choir to start with but two men came to the first rehearsal. More and more people slowly joined, and they began to tell me how much the choir means to them and how learning a new song is a big achievement for the choir. We spend time practicing songs, and when the choir performs at a concert, it’s something that they own. Seeing people’s confidence grow made me realise that art can be vital to helping people end homelessness, as they become more open to accepting support, and you see them become happier.
The choir will perform at Depaul Under the Stars this weekend. We’ve spent a lot of time practicing for this performance, and as the choir will be singing a few new songs, they’re a bit nervous to perform but they are also really excited. These events are inspiring to be part of – when I see Sr Veronika (Depaul Croatia’s CEO) organising Depaul Under the Stars, I see her energy and love for all of the people that we work with. I’m thankful that I can look up to her and my other colleagues here at Depaul Croatia.
The most incredible thing about volunteering at Depaul is seeing the positive changes in the lives of those we support. These are small changes, but sometimes people will get a home or a job, which is really nice to see. However, things don’t always go to plan for people, but when that happens, they trust us enough to talk to us and ask for help. They know that Haven House is a welcoming environment where there will always be someone they can talk to and get advice from.
I’ve since finished university, but I’m planning on staying in Rijeka so that I can continue my volunteering work at Depaul. I’m quite introverted, but Depaul has been a safe space where I have been able to grow as a person, as any ideas that I have are welcomed. It’s a place where I have the freedom to do good and make a positive difference to the world.
When it comes to volunteering, I think everybody has something they can contribute. I never thought that my musical abilities would be useful at Depaul, but seeing the confidence of the choir grow has shown the incredible impact that music can have. I think that anybody interested in volunteering can utilise whatever skills they have – they just need to try it.
You can learn more about Depaul Croatia’s work at depaul.hr and keep up to date via their Facebook page.
