Week 5 in Chios, Greece
This week volunteering at Offene Arme was a mix of different activities, events, and experiences! We continued many of our main projects for Summer 2026, including the ongoing "summerization" of the clothes in the free shop, and now we are in the final stages of the summer distributions. This week we also completed a variety of smaller projects including some gardening work, updating signs and decorations in the shop, working on landing packs for the new arrivals on the island, and general maintenance work. We recently said goodbye to three of our other colleagues who will return back to France and Asia after staying on Chios for a month. Additionally, this week had a more fluid structure and ended up tackling a lot of spontaneous projects. This required me to be more comfortable with changing plans and my expectations on the fly. This is something I have struggled with in the past but I found myself becoming more adaptable and understanding when we had to change directions, and especially when we realized that a alternative path was more viable. I also experienced growth in my collaboration skills and the "team mindset," as I found myself repeatedly helping out others if they were struggling and volunteering myself to do tasks that may be "less enjoyable" or require creative thinking. This is something I was also hoping to work on through this experience so it felt meaningful and fulfilling to be able to lend a hand and contribute greatly to the team's goals. The week also included a variety of volunteer excursions including a couple group beach trips and the first ever "Chios Night Run" which I raced with another colleague at Komi Beach last Saturday. Overall, this race was a fun cultural experience, especially as someone who loves running, and the first place finish was also a great added touch to the night. I look forward to my last week volunteering at Offene Arme and will make the most of the limited time I have left on the island, which is very bittersweet!
I am a senior at Brown University who aspires to learn and grow as a student and person. Through completing an Urban Studies and International & Public Affairs double concentration, I aim to pursue a fulfilling career that works with people and has a positive effect on the global community. Throughout my time at Brown, I have worked with a variety of community organizations, conducted extensive research projects in the humanities and social sciences, and served as a leader in student spaces that mean a lot to me. These experiences have strengthened my communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills, while also allowing me to apply my academic learning to real world scenarios and communities. My interests extend across cities and development broadly, and include human rights, transportation, and cross-cultural relations. I am also passionate about migration, affordable housing, and environmental science. I am an intentional leader who values connecting with and learning from others.
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Congratulations on the race, Hayden! I can't believe you're on Week 5 already. It shows in the way you're taking on more challenging tasks and helping to orient newcomers to the organization.