Hej ! I’m Pascal, I am 22 years old from France. I did a 1-year-long ESC volunteering project in Denmark, where I worked for the Student’s Culture Hub at Copenhagen’s DTU University. It is a 4-person team at DTU working together to create social events for the students to help them connect and create an inclusive campus. It is done through the celebration and promotion of diversity as well as combatting loneliness.
During my volunteering experience, I realized how even the smallest cultural activities are able to bring people closer together and spark a sense of community. That was especially true when I organised a small volleyball afternoon with just 5 students.
The Original Idea
It all started in early May. The students all entered their exam period, and all the planned events my team had planned or done. I was considering doing one final event, but I was lacking ideas, means, and interest from the students. I very much hesitated doing one more event, especially considering most of the team’s planned events were done and most of the students were busy with their exams and also leaving for the summer holidays. I was then reminded of my passion for sports, and I then thought about one of the most common ones to do in the summer : Beach Volleyball.
The Implementation Process
I therefore tried to search for the nearest beaches from the university, but they were all too far away. I then contacted the student head of the university’s volleyball association to ask them for advice on a suitable location. They told me I could borrow the nearby beach volleyball court for the occasion, and I would have to provide the material for the event.
During May and the first half of June, I therefore created an advertising poster with my colleagues’ help, posted it on the Students Culture Hub’s Facebook and Instagram pages, and put the poster everywhere around campus. I also created a WhatsApp group for the interested students.
The week before the event, I went to the nearby shopping center and Netto supermarket to buy 3 beach volleyballs and snacks for the event. In the meantime, 8 students had joined my WhatsApp group, though 5 actually came in the end.
Finally, on the day itself, the participants helped me move a 1-piece wooden picnic table and benches all the way from the academic buildings to the sand court. I brought the snacks, and the event was finally set.
The Final Result and Reflection
I ended up spending a fun beach volley afternoon with 5 students, playing and exchanging with each other. everyone was friendly, helpful and motivated to spend a fun few hours together. This event showed me how constant research hard faith in a real project are able to bear fruit, even when everything around you might be telling you are playing a losing game. It also taught me that the amount of people does not fully matter for an event’s success. What matters is the mindset and contribution everyone brings to the table. This is what I hope future ESC volunteers will undertake with their projects. Go for your ideas, research your possibilities, give yourself the means to your projects, and make it happen !
ESC Solidarity Projects 