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Interview with a short-term WBFN volunteer—Gesa Stender
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| by Lois Khairallah, Mosaic October 2005 |
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| Gesa Stender arrived at the Bank this summer and leaves at the end of September. She has shown us that there is a lot that even a short term volunteer can contribute and enjoy. Mosaic was interested in Gesa’s experience and to know what made “volunteering” even for a short time rewarding. | 
"Getting to know different cultures and being able to adjust for a while to a totally different life is fantastic and one learns a million more than what is written in books."
| | What drew you to volunteer at the WBFN? You got involved quickly, and you helped in such a great way! |  Let me first say how I got here. My partner had the privilege to be accepted as a summer intern with the WB. Since he is blind, I try my best to support him. I have previously accompanied him to South Africa, India and Germany, where he also studied.
The first day when we met his team, his director asked me right away what I planned to do once my partner got to know the environment and did not need my assistance. I had seriously thought about volunteering somewhere, but it was too soon to answer his question. But this gentleman has one of the sharpest minds and gave me right away the phone number of a WBFN volunteer. The next day I visited the WBFN and a week later I had found my spot. | | What did you do as a volunteer? | First of all I met really nice people in the WBFN office. After getting an overview of the many different things WBFN is doing I got involved with a group of people in improving the Spouse Orientation Program for our newcomers. I also updated sections of the WBFN’s Welcoming Kit. I also got introduced to the work of the Members Abroad Chair. WBFN functions as a bridge between families moving abroad and families from the country offices moving here.
Then I suddenly found myself being a volunteer for a 5-week program for Teens. In conjunction with this program, WBFN asked me to prepare and give a presentation about WBFN, its programs, whom it supports, in which ways, and last but not least, I included a history of WBFN in the presentation. Later I compiled a whole report on the teens program which I had jointly administered. I was even asked to write an article for Mosaic, our newsletter. One of the activities I enjoyed most was to welcome and get to know newcomers to the WB family, provide them with support and answers to their many questions. | | Would you encourage others to volunteer? If yes, how? | Of course I would! I would simply tell them to come to the WBFN office. Here you get to know very nice people who are able to converse in a variety of languages. There is also a coffee machine and many people who all have experienced a relocation... and then there is always something to help with. On the other hand, if someone can offer to teach a language, has computer skills, craft or any hobby, wants to share culture in any form, likes to lead outdoor activities for teens or kids, is a well read person and looks for others interested in certain literature, is a gourmet in a special cuisine, or knows something about wines, why don’t you come and share your fascination, knowledge and abilities?
If you like to help in a very direct way, there is the Book Project, where every 10 minutes of input are valuable to a school or library in a developing country. You can be sure to make a child smile somewhere on this planet. | | Tell us about yourself. | | I am from Germany, born and raised in the middle part of my country but my home of choice became the south of Germany. I simply love the mountains and the straight, but friendly people there. Tailoring women’s clothes, that is the wonderful handcraft I learned. I later went to a fashion design school in Munich. I was self-employed for a couple of years and also worked for tailors. I also worked for a theatre festival as a Costume Director. In Namibia I facilitated a long-term workshop for women and trained them in tailoring. Since the German university is calling for the final semester of my partner’s studies, we have to leave Washington in the beginning of October. | | What makes volunteering meaningful? | First of all one does useful work in serving the WBG family. This work is very much appreciated by the people in the WBFN. Volunteers contribute their skills to the WBG family, they learn new ones, and they gain valuable US work experiences for their résumés.
Moreover you get to know cultural differences by interacting with many different people from many different backgrounds. That is the spice in volunteering. |
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