Volunteering in Russia

Recently, I started to feel more and more that I should do a long-term volunteering. Not only because it is a great way to learn the language, understand the culture and visit a new country, but also because we should be more socially responsible. 

My project is a part of the European Volunteering Service, which is funded by the European Commission. It is a long-term volunteering for young Europeans from 2 to 12 months. I work in the Baikal Nature Reserve to gain more experience in my field of studies. My tasks are oriented around ecotourism, environmental education, coordinating short-term volunteers, as well as teaching English at the local school.

Leading a group of volunteers during the excursion in the Baikal Nature Reserve.

One of my main tasks was to coordinate an international volunteer work camp. The topic of the camp was to clean the Baikal shore and to promote garbage recycling among the local inhabitants. A year ago, some active employees of the reserve initiated garbage separation (only hard plastic, glass and aluminum). These are mostly just the materials in which alcohol products are being sold. Of course, this means a lot of garbage, because drinking is a popular leisure time activity in Russia. It was an interesting, but difficult job. Cleaning the shore was the easiest part. We also interviewed people and found out what they do with their garbage. Most of the times, they just burn everything in their ovens, bring it in the forest behind the village or just throw it away in the village. Places, full of garbage, are a big problem all around Lake Baikal.

Making a sign to keep Baikal clean, later located on a local beach.

Cleaning the Baikal shore and separating garbage for recycling.

During the camp we worked with students from Summer Ecological School. We wanted to show them that recycling is one option how to deal with garbage, but even more important is to not produce that much garbage. We should behave according to the rule.

Reduce!

Reuse!

Recycle!

Making recycling paper from old newspaper

Our products from the garbage. Reusing old newspaper, Tetra Pak, aluminium can and plastic bottle. We made a can holder, a wallet, a box, a basket and few different bowls.