Evropska solidarnostna enota ESE (ali European solidarity corps) je del evropskih programov na področju mladine in solidarnosti. Mladim osebam ponuja priložnosti za udejstvovanje v prostovoljskih in solidarnostnih aktivnostih na različnih področjih, kot so vključevanje migrantov, okoljskih izzivih, preprečevanju naravnih nesreč, mladinskih dejavnostih in humanitarni pomoči. Mladim ponuja izkušnjo, ki zagotavlja navdih in opolnomočenje mladih, ki želijo pomagati, se učiti in razvijati.

Bendeguz prihaja iz Madžarske in se nam pridružuje kot prostovoljec z izjemnim navdušenjem za delo z lesom in ustvarjanje izdelkov iz različnih materialov. Ob prihodu smo mu zastavili nekaj vprašanj, da ga bolje spoznamo in vam približamo njegovo zgodbo.

1. How would you describe yourself (where are you from, and what are your hobbies and interests)? Can you share an interesting fact about yourself?

I consider myself an outdoorsy person. I love sports, and I have a huge interest in nature, from plants to animals and from the oceans to the plain deserts. I love hiking and biking in the forest, that is the time when I can relax and connect with nature. When I am in Hungary, in my hometown I usually go and hang out with my friends in a pub or just on a bench in the park.

2. What made you choose to do an ESC volunteer project at KNOF?

The idea in my head popped up when I was still in high school. At that time everybody was applying for university. I was thinking if I could take a gap year, while everybody else started their higher education. I concluded that I could. So I started looking for jobs to fill out my time during the gap year, but I did not succeed. After some time, I found out about ESC volunteering. I looked at several opportunities, but when I found KNOF I knew that this was the place where I should hand in an application. When I had my first conversation with Doroteja and Mojca, the feeling got even stronger in me, that this was the place where I could belong…

3. What do you hope to learn or experience over the next 8 months?

I want to learn much more about working on wood, furniture renovation, and about the whole picture of the circular economy. I have been here for only one month but I already learned so much.

4. KNOF works in sustainability and the circular economy. Which area interests you the most?

Circular economy, because my contributions to a green planet are mainly focusing on that.

5. What were your first impressions of KNOF?

On my first day, I met the members of KNOF, and I spoke with everyone. I felt safe in this environment and figured that everyone was open. I was amazed at how big of a space we could use to practice and work.

6. Where does your interest in sustainability and the circular economy come from?

About a year ago I got a book as a gift, which was about circular economy. When I started reading it, the first few pages really caught my attention and I could not put the book down. I also started to learn more about the topic on the internet, because I wanted to see the big picture, but as time went on I figured that there was still a lot to learn.

7. How do you personally contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle?

Well, I can not say I am living a fully sustainable lifestyle but I think nobody can in this world. In the shops, I mainly buy products from smaller local businesses and I think I am mindful with the materials I use. In my hometown, we recycle our waste that me and my family produce. I also wear second-hand clothes which contributes to a more sustainable lifestyle.

8. Which book or movie has inspired you most in the work you do?

Zoltán Pogátsa: Fenntartható gazdaság vagy társadalmi összeomlás (Sustainable economy or social collapse)

9. What is your vision of an ideal community? How could volunteering help achieve it?

The ideal community for me cares for each other, return favors if given, and is open with each other.

1. Kako bi se opisal (od kod prihajaš, kakšni so tvoji hobiji in interesi)? Ali lahko deliš kakšno zanimivo dejstvo o sebi?

Sem človek, ki je rad na prostem. Rad se ukvarjam s športom in zelo me zanima narava, od rastlin do živali in od oceanov do puščave. Rad hodim na pohode in kolesarim po gozdu, takrat se lahko sprostim in povežem z naravo. Ko sem na Madžarskem, v svojem rojstnem mestu, grem običajno s prijatelji v pub ali na klopco v parku.

2. Zakaj si se odločil za projekt prostovoljstva ESE v KNOFu?

Ideja se mi je v glavi porodila, ko sem bil še v srednji šoli. V tistem času so se vsi prijavljali na univerzo. Razmišljal sem, ali bi si lahko vzel leto premora, medtem ko bi vsi ostali začeli z visokošolskim izobraževanjem. Ugotovil sem, da bi lahko. Zato sem začel iskati službe, da bi si zapolnil čas, vendar mi ni uspelo. Čez nekaj časa sem izvedel za prostovoljstvo v ESE. Pregledal sem več priložnosti, a ko sem našel KNOF, sem vedel, da moram oddati prijavo. Ko sem imel prvi pogovor z Dorotejo in Mojco, sem dobil občutek, da je to kraj, ki mu lahko pripadam…

3. Kaj se želiš naučiti ali doživeti v naslednjih osmih mesecih?

Želim se naučiti veliko več o delu z lesom, prenovi pohištva in o celotni sliki krožnega gospodarstva. Tukaj sem le en mesec, a sem se že veliko naučil.

4. KNOF deluje na področju trajnosti in krožnega gospodarstva. Katero področje te najbolj zanima?

Krožno gospodarstvo, saj so moji prispevki k zelenemu planetu osredotočeni predvsem nanj.

5. Kakšni so bili tvoji prvi vtisi o KNOFu?

Prvi dan sem spoznal člane KNOFa in se z vsemi pogovarjal. V tem okolju sem se počutil varno in ugotovil sem, da so vsi odprti. Presenečen sem bil nad tem, kako velik prostor lahko uporabljamo za testiranje in delo.

6. Od kod izhaja tvoje zanimanje za trajnostni razvoj in krožno gospodarstvo?

Pred približno enim letom sem za darilo dobil knjigo, ki je govorila o krožnem gospodarstvu. Ko sem jo začel brati, je prvih nekaj strani resnično pritegnilo mojo pozornost in knjige nisem mogel odložiti. Več o tej temi sem se začel učiti tudi na internetu, saj sem želel videti širšo sliko, vendar sem ugotovil, da se moram še veliko naučiti.

7. Kako ti osebno prispevaš k bolj trajnostnemu načinu življenja?

No, ne morem reči, da živim popolnoma trajnostno, vendar mislim, da tega na tem svetu ne more storiti nihče. V trgovinah večinoma kupujem izdelke iz manjših lokalnih podjetij in mislim, da sem pozoren na materiale, ki jih uporabljam. V mojem rojstnem mestu recikliramo odpadke, ki jih proizvedemo jaz in moja družina. Nosim tudi oblačila iz druge roke, kar prispeva k bolj trajnostnemu načinu življenja.

8. Katera knjiga ali film te je najbolj navdihnila pri delu, ki ga opravljaš?

Zoltán Pogátsa: Fenntartható gazdaság vagy társadalmi összeomlás (Trajnostno gospodarstvo ali družbeni zlom)

9. Kakšna je tvoja vizija idealne skupnosti? Kako bi jo lahko prostovoljstvo pomagalo doseči?

V idealni skupnosti skrbijo drug za drugega, vračajo usluge, če so dane, in so odprti drug do drugega.