Volunteer Stories  Eva Zaleski in Guyana
Eva Zaleski is one of the 33% of volunteers who either extends their placement or re-volunteers with VSO. Here are her first impressions on returning to Guyana to support VSO’s National Volunteering program.
The greenery is lush amid a riot of tropical flowers. Parrots squawk and frogs sing night-time symphonies. Rain pours down so heavy it seems impossible that it could rain harder, but then it does. I feel that I’ve never left Guyana.
I’ve written to my friends in Guyana about my return. I call Golin to hear the happiness and calm presence in her voice. She is my best friend and my family in Guyana. She was my downstairs neighbor and moved in with me for three weeks when her room was flooded during last year’s rains. She has no idea how much I relied on her friendship to see me through difficult times.
On the street, Kerion calls to me from his car. But the taxi behind leans on his horn and Kerion passes by. Another car slows down and the driver calls “No fare, no fare!” It’s Cyprian teasing and he insists on giving me a ride. He asks if he’s the first one to see me and is pleased to hear that Kerion couldn’t stop. I feel close to these people, engaged and sympathetic.
The first time I came to Guyana was as a VSO geologist. After that, I worked with the VSO office, doing livelihoods research. Now I’m a National Volunteering Feasibility Consultant. I love the concept… that VSO should strengthen and promote the local homegrown initiatives in tandem with the international program.
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