Volunteering in Havilah.
Havilah began in 2006.
Havilah is a two and a half hours a day, five
days a week service, open to anyone who is
looking for company and just someone who
would listen to them and don’t judge them.
Havilah offers food and drinks- tea, coffee,
toast, soup. In addition to the support of St
Andrew’s Havilah receives funding from the
Church of Scotland’s Parish Development
Fund and from Angus Council’s Alcohol and
Drug Partnership. We found out about Havilah
when we went to visit Arbroath St. Andrews
Church and the minister of the church was
telling us about how Havilah begun and what
kind of work they are doing. Since then I have
been volunteering there and later on I invited
Ieva to come too. We are volunteering there
once or twice a week for three hours per day.
The beginning was quite scary for both of us
because we were nervous if we would
Kristine Bodniece
Ieva Kuzmaite
understand them properly because they have
really strong Scottish accent and if they would
accept us because we are from other countries.
But at the end there was no point to worry
because everyone was so friendly and interested
in our country culture and language.
We usually just talk or listen to them and most of
the times just have a laugh. They have been trying
to teach us how to play the pool, at least now we
know some of the rules, but we are still rubbish at
it. We have won only couple of times but that’s
just down to our luck not skills, but we are still
trying.
As volunteers we enjoy of giving something back
to community and helping a worthy cause. And of
course making a difference, even a small one.
Sometimes just a smile or hug makes their day
better.