Can you introduce yourself?

My name is, Augusto Eugénio Macarringue, I’m 28 years old and I am Mozambique, I am an IT Support Technician and also a volunteer.

What were you doing before volunteering?

Before volunteering I was a Sexual and Reproductive Health activist, document scanning technician and scanning machine operator.

Why did you decide to volunteer?

Well, it all started in associativism, I was shy and didn’t speak in public so I thought I could overcome shyness in associativism and I managed to overcome it and without realizing it I ended up gaining passion and love in associativism and that’s how I gained a taste for volunteering.

Did you have any fears/reservations before doing it?

My fear was to speak in public, to express my ideas.

Can you describe your volunteering experience?

Volunteering opens minds, I have several experiences with volunteering, about the exchange of experiences, cultural aspects and different realities. In the Workcamps I have done several activities depending on the nature of each activity:

• Informal education: planning, being creative;
• Permaculture: environment friends, good practices for the environment;
• World Heritage Volunteers: this kind of activities I’ve been chosen for two times to be coordinator of the activities, we plan the activities before the WHV and we lead a group of youth, teach local community how to take care of the World Heritage;

How did you feel during and after the activity?

During volunteering I really feel me important for something in the world, and at after volunteering I feel like Misson Complete.

What was the most challenging thing?

The most challenging thing was, to sleep in the tent that they were not completely safety, and I was stung by scorpion, because where we were camping was area with a lot of scorpions. I was happy  anyways because the mission was complete.

How did you handle it?

I handled it like it’s normal to have any accident, we never go to the workcamps or to volunteering expecting to have accidents, and I said to me carry on.

What is your favourite memory?
My favourite memory, when we were having informal education (environment) with children, their parents came to the camp to tell us that the children were crying at home saying that they want to join us. Children crying when we were going back, after the mission complete.

What have you learned from this experience?

From this experience, I learned that little things means something for someone.

How has this experience changed you?
In fact this experience changed me, now I have open mind, I have been learning day by day, I’m no longer judging different cultures, etc.

What is next for you?
The next for me, is to keep doing Volunteering, helping communities, learning always!