Navigation path
- European Commission
- Youth
- Sharing experience
Sharing experience
Extraordinary Voluntary Service adventure
Razzett tal-Hbiberija (RTH) is a Maltese hosting organisation for volunteers applying through Action 2 – European Voluntary Service Scheme. The mission of the organisation is to offer an array of therapeutic, educational and leisure services to children and adults with physical or learning disabilities. People with disabilities regularly come to RTH to use the various facilities and participate in various ongoing events that are organised. It was however a new experience for all staff members and volunteers to be offered the chance to work with the Italian volunteer Domenico, who has a disability himself and who chose to volunteer and come and work with the organisation for 3 months. This experience, which the organisation first viewed with a certain hesitation and trepidation, was to end up being a lesson for everyone. Domenico was and still is a constant inspiration to many. Here is the extraordinary story told by Domenico himself:
"My name is Domenico Vetere, I am 30 years old and I come from Rome. Three months ago I arrived in Malta as an EVS volunteer to lend my services to RAZZETT TAL-HBBERIJA, Marsascala.
There is something special about me: I have a physical inability, due to asphyxia during birth. I am the first disabled EVS to arrive here in RAZZETT. These past three months have been the most intense, difficult and exciting of my life. Because for me this experience has been a benchmark: both for my physical independence and a challenge against myself.
In RAZZET, I mainly helped out in the park and at the sports club. In the park my assignment was to clean the enclosure, to tend to the animals, to welcome the various groups of visitors and to allow them to caress and to cradle the various animals, which included rabbits, a donkey and a deer (Bambi). Initially, I noticed a sense of amazement in the eyes of the people accompanying the groups of disabled persons that came to visit the park, but once they saw my commitment and my affection towards the children, their amazement turned into admiration and also affection towards me. For them I will always be Mimmo, the Italian volunteer. All the children will forever remain part of my most cherished memories.
On the sports front, I worked at the swimming pool, helping out during swimming. I had a very good time playing water polo and also tennis table. Sport is my passion and here, too, I gave it my all. I made friends with all the guys at the Sports Club and I hope to see them all again one day.
I did more than 3 kilometres per day, always on foot, and, for me, who has always used a car, it has been a true rediscovery of my abilities. Some days I returned home with several kilos of shopping and for me arriving home was practically a victory.
On a personal level, I had the pleasure to meet some extraordinary people, and to work with a very harmonious group of volunteers. They will stay forever in my heart: I was part of their life and they aroused in me indescribable emotions. For many of them, I was an example to hold up, but they simply don't know how important they were for me and my life, and for my development.
I want to thank everyone for their love and affection, for their understanding, for their comfort in the difficult times and also for their joy in the happiest times.
I hope other people with disabilities can find the courage to have this experience, because, as I say to myself, nothing is impossible if you really want it."
More experiences
"My name is Domenico Vetere, I am 30 years old and I come from Rome. Three months ago I arrived in Malta as an EVS volunteer to lend my services to RAZZETT TAL-HBBERIJA, Marsascala.
There is something special about me: I have a physical inability, due to asphyxia during birth. I am the first disabled EVS to arrive here in RAZZETT. These past three months have been the most intense, difficult and exciting of my life. Because for me this experience has been a benchmark: both for my physical independence and a challenge against myself.
In RAZZET, I mainly helped out in the park and at the sports club. In the park my assignment was to clean the enclosure, to tend to the animals, to welcome the various groups of visitors and to allow them to caress and to cradle the various animals, which included rabbits, a donkey and a deer (Bambi). Initially, I noticed a sense of amazement in the eyes of the people accompanying the groups of disabled persons that came to visit the park, but once they saw my commitment and my affection towards the children, their amazement turned into admiration and also affection towards me. For them I will always be Mimmo, the Italian volunteer. All the children will forever remain part of my most cherished memories.
On the sports front, I worked at the swimming pool, helping out during swimming. I had a very good time playing water polo and also tennis table. Sport is my passion and here, too, I gave it my all. I made friends with all the guys at the Sports Club and I hope to see them all again one day.
I did more than 3 kilometres per day, always on foot, and, for me, who has always used a car, it has been a true rediscovery of my abilities. Some days I returned home with several kilos of shopping and for me arriving home was practically a victory.
On a personal level, I had the pleasure to meet some extraordinary people, and to work with a very harmonious group of volunteers. They will stay forever in my heart: I was part of their life and they aroused in me indescribable emotions. For many of them, I was an example to hold up, but they simply don't know how important they were for me and my life, and for my development.
I want to thank everyone for their love and affection, for their understanding, for their comfort in the difficult times and also for their joy in the happiest times.
I hope other people with disabilities can find the courage to have this experience, because, as I say to myself, nothing is impossible if you really want it."
More experiences