For the past year, we have had the pleasure of having Johana Reim, a young volunteer from Germany, who despite her not being fluent in Spanish, has brought all her enthusiasm to put into action her desire to help children and elderly people in vulnerable conditions at the different sites of the Fundación Proyecto Unión and the allied foundation for children with cancer: Dharma.
Some of the activities carried out by Johana are: accompanying the children during lunchtime, reading stories, as well as educational activities and pedagogic outings. During this year she had time not only to help the needy, but also to learn from them, cook, dance, travel and enjoy a different culture.
On the other hand, she gradually strengthened her Spanish speaking skills, as she spent time teaching English and German to some of the young beneficiaries of the two foundations.
Dharma was an invaluable experience for her as she had the chance to share with the mothers of the home, who shared with her their life stories and she also participated in hospital classroom activities with the teacher and the children.
“The openness and love with which they are there for the children and for their colleagues is something incredible and something I would like to take back to Germany. I learned how important it is to meet people with an open heart and that a simple smile can make a big difference,” Johana expressed wistfully during her farewell.
Johana, our volunteer angel arrived with a smile every day to serve in whatever was needed. She demonstrated her great personal qualities, as well as the abilities that allowed her to strengthen the feelings of friendship and affection for the children, mothers, elderly and collaborators of the foundations that she visited daily. Thank you, Johana for being part of this great team of “Volunteers in action that is changing the world”.