We are absolutely loving our time at Dom Rafael since commencing our volunteering last month. We are specifically working with Dom Rafael’s day centre service, working alongside a small group of young adults with learning and physical disabilities. The service is available from Monday to Friday and our roles involve undertaking a range of activities, providing service users with the ability to maintain continuity of the development of personality and Independence.
The service users have participated in a range of activities since we have started volunteering and we have loved getting involved! Every Wednesday we adopt our teacher hats and run an English lesson, focusing on a different subject each week. Previously, we have focused on vocabulary surrounding the topic of ‘family’ (Rodina), using music and puppets to allow each session to be as interactive as possible.
Additionally, we have supported activities such as making pasta, cake and pagaciky! We have loved discovering and trying Slovak cuisine and have become soup lovers as a result! Furthermore, we have also got involved with creative activities such as pottery, gardening and even bowling games!
We have been overwhelmed by the hospitality and friendliness we have received from Dom Rafael, allowing us to feel so welcome during such a difficult time. It is always nice to hear English and Hungarian words from both the staff and the young adults alongside being greeted with several very happy and friendly “Ahoj!s” each morning which quickly started our days on the best note!
We have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the health and social care system in Slovakia and have learnt a lot since our arrival. The unique nature of Dom Rafael as a care facility has proved very insightful while the admirable community element of Dom Rafael, as a whole, is both personable and refreshing.
We cannot wait to see what else is to come on our volunteering journey at Dom Rafael!
Bridget and Zsanett
