Hi, my name is Zak Cannar.
During work I fed the donkeys, cleaned up after them, sanded and painted the visitors centre and watered the plants. I enjoyed the work because it was active and useful.
My favourite experience outside of work was becoming close friends with another member of the group. I also enjoyed exploring the beaches and walking up the tallest mountain in Aruba. We lived in a villa in Noord. We take turns cooking meals.
I learnt how to care for donkeys by feeding them correct amounts at specific parts of the day. I gained knowledge of what it’s like to work with animals. Personally I learnt what it’s like being around and living with a group of new people.
Zak Cannar
Project part of A Different Kettle of Fish supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, in partnership with Askham Bryan College and Aruba Donkey Sanctuary.

My name is Simone Parducci and I am 19 years old. I live in Bradford and study Animal Management at Askham Bryan College.
We helped with the maintenance and general caring duties. We also helped out at a local vets and dog groomers.
After work we went to different landmarks and little markets. My favourite thing to do was go to the beach and go scuba-diving. I was living in a shared apartment with other people from my course.
I learnt new techniques with donkeys and their various needs/backgrounds and also how to work with different people. I learnt about travelling and living abroad with other people and how to cope with change and new situations.
Simone Parducci
Project part of A Different Kettle of Fish supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, in partnership with Askham Bryan College and Aruba Donkey Sanctuary.

My name is Georgia, I‘m 21 years old and currently study Level 3 Animal Management at Askham Bryan College.
At the donkey sanctuary I helped with the general care duties such as feeding and cleaning.
The apartment had a pool and barbecue area and was a 10 minute walk from the beach. During free time I enjoyed visiting the beaches and spending time by the pool. I also enjoyed snorkelling and going out for meals.
I learnt about different veterinary procedures and techniques and gained hands on experience handling difficult and mistreated animals. I learnt that I am able to cope well with different situations and have become more confident in different environments.
Georgia Hartley
Project part of A Different Kettle of Fish supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, in partnership with Askham Bryan College and Aruba Donkey Sanctuary.

My name is Dom, I am 18 years old. I live in Bradford and study Animal Management at Askham Bryan College.
For the project I worked at a donkey sanctuary and a vet. The accommodation was a 5 minute walk from the main beach.
For the free time we went to various beaches, restaurants, animal sanctuaries and took part in a number of water sports.
I learnt a lot about how to care for, treat and notice illnesses in animals. I learnt about working overseas and how the welfare standards are much different to the UK. I also learnt about how hard it is to work in the heat!
On a personal level I learnt a lot about a completely different culture and lifestyle. I also learnt how to work well in a team and independently.
Dominic Pickersgill
Project part of A Different Kettle of Fish supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, in partnership with Askham Bryan College and Aruba Donkey Sanctuary.

My name is Connor and I’m 20 from Bradford. I’m a full time student and I’m very family orientated.
In the project we carried out good husbandry on the donkeys and carried out manual labour jobs like digging pipe line holes on the new sanctuary.
We went to lots of places like beaches and different animal sanctuaries. My favourite parts were water sport and ‘scuba diving’.
I was living in the Noord area in Pauline’s Apartments in a group of 8. It can be stressful at times but we manage through it all.
Thanks to this project I have learnt how to carryout manual labour in high heat. I made real connections with the donkeys as they all had their own individual personalities.
Connor Kennedy

Project part of A Different Kettle of Fish supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, in partnership with Askham Bryan College and Aruba Donkey Sanctuary.

With summer slowly coming to an end I think it’s time for a little EVS update. I’ve managed to get myself a busy but balanced schedule knowing where I need to go, when and what’s expected of me. I’m enjoying the pace of activities, language learning and my free time! I’m desperate to reveal all the highlights from the last month of my EVS.

The first experience was another project based in Örkelljunga (the small little town I’m living in). “Your Voice Matters” was it’s name and it focussed on politics and youth participation. My main role was to an “external evaluator” and come in beginning to go through the rules and all the logistical parts of the project and then facilitate the evaluation.

I also was given the opportunity to continue working on a project that I was part of before I started my EVS and was a university intern. I was so happy that this was possible as it is a great project about empowering women. And we’ve really made connections within the other staff, volunteers and women coming from the other countries.
I was able to join the second mobility meeting in Poland where women experienced a floristry course, professional photoshoot and makeup session. As “staff” I was invited to take part in an Accessibility Training and for me it was the best part and most rewarding part. I learnt so much from the guest speaker the Polish organisation had welcomed to lead the session. She herself was blind but was full of confidence and life!

She explained why she had lost her sight and how she was now going about her daily life despite the obvious barriers and obstacles. I loved her proudness and the way she openly explained everything so clearly and openly. I experienced what it was like to blind for just a short time, by wearing these glasses with black lenses. I feel strange when I don’t wear my own glasses so when I put these other glasses on to simulate blindness I was completely out of my comfort zone. I was lead by another staff member within the training and he was helping to guide me. He would funnily lead me to certain objects or ask me to touch certain things and in most cases I couldn’t work out what it was or where I was. The session definitely raised my awareness and desire to learn more about people who are blind or partially sighted.

I felt I was really able to focus on somethings during these last few weeks whether that was something I’ve newly learnt, new experiences or old goals that come back and visited again. To read my full EVS update visit my blog: https://charlottemeletli.wordpress.com/2016/09/21/everything-is-possible-focus/

My first few weeks here in Sweden have been full of learning experiences and new possibilities from an EVS arrival training to a youth exchange in the nature. This has been a highlight so far… “Back to the Nature”. It was a one week youth exchange of non-formal and creative methods within the Swedish nature. It is honestly one of my favourite projects I’ve volunteer in where I was able to take a leadership role surrounded by positive and active young people.
In this project I was given the opportunity to lead a Basic First Aid workshop, you never know what can happen to you outside in the wilderness! Supporting young people with some basic first aid skills could make all the difference. I also facilitated a few other presentations and supported in workshops.

I really learnt a lot about my own leadership style and motivation and I now have even confidence and knowledge to lead different activities in the future.

So, that’s my EVS update. It’s been full of learning experiences so far, new and old friends and plenty of opportunities to develop and learn as a youth worker. I might have got a degree in youth work but I feel now is when the learning really begins! For the full update please clink the link to my blog.

Charlotte Elisha

Discover David’s VET (vocational education and training) project working in a carpentry in Portugal (Erasmus+).

Project supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, in partnership with ProCo and IDEUM.

Discover Ramell’s VET (vocational education and training) project working in a carpentry in Sweden (Erasmus+).

Project supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, in partnership with IDEUM.

Discover Stewart’s VET (vocational education and training) project working in a carpentry in Sweden (Erasmus+).

Project supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, in partnership with IDEUM.