During my volunteering in Poland, I visited over 40 schools and conducted more than 100 workshops. With my experience, I want to highlight my personal reasons why I enjoyed conducting workshops and why I can recommend it to everyone!
- Excitement
Presenting workshops is exciting for me because it was something that I had never done before. It combines various skills at the same time, for instance, talking in front of students, preparing interactive activities, and answering spontaneous questions. But for me, excitement means even more. While conducting the workshops, I was able to share and present something that I was passionate about to other students. I was spreading enthusiasm, and this is something I felt in the interactions with the students.
- Interaction
Interaction is very important and, for me, an additional reason why workshops are fun. Workshops are different from regular lessons in school because they include a variety of nonformal learning methods. In my workshop I used quizzes and games, which led to high participation. Workshops give room for creativity, not only for me conducting the workshops but also for the participants, allowing them to experience something different, something unique. It is about breaking the habits, connecting with the students, and learning from each other through interaction.
- Adaptability
Organising workshops can be unpredictable. What happens if the internet connection is bad? What happens if the group is bigger than expected? An important skill that I developed throughout this journey is adaptability. It is a good idea to be prepared for several scenarios, but you can’t be prepared for everything, and that is fine! In situations like this, it is important to stay calm while, at the same time, keeping your energy levels up. By that, I mean coming up with creative solutions on the spot.
In a nutshell, workshops are amazing! I have acquired skills that I can use for the rest of my life, and I have wonderful memories from every workshop! And to everyone who still has doubts about conducting workshops: go for it; you will love it and eventually miss it!
Kris Schneider, Schuman Volunteer 2025/2026