1. MY STEP FROM WORKING LIFE TO ACTIVE VOLUNTEERING FROM: Mari Luz Llamosas

2. I am Mari Luz Llamosas. I am a teacher and my life was developing in teaching. The last four years I was teaching only in the mornings, leaving my afternoons free. Then I joined the University of the experience, where I started going three days per week. I keep the best memories of the teachers of different subjects we’ve been taught, of the activities and cultural visits and of the colleagues with whom we created a close friendship. When I stopped teaching, I had the opportunity to do series of courses at PROGESTI@ and “going so the pitcher to the source finally left there...” Mari Luz Llamosas

3. Here I have done personal development courses, social relations workshops, excursions... and here we have continued to maintain a beautiful and fruitful relationship discussing specific issues, essays, computer introducing and so...…until meeting the project TRANSAGE where we were engaged the last year. That has opened a range of possibilities for collaboration and active participation at the City Council, Senior Centers, Civic Centers, Nursing Homes, Gardens, in leisure and travel activities as well. We were lucky to visit the beautiful city of Tallinn and meet other participants in this European project from Germany, Italy and Estonia. And we’re continuing filling the gap, preparing the next international meeting in our city of Valladolid. I also go to a relaxation-meditation course that I consider essential for my knowledge and personal development. I also attend a Faith and Development group at the Jesuits weekly.

4. And the activity that fills and satisfies me fully is the volunteering work that I’m doing at the NGO "Help to the Seniors" and consists in calling on the phone to elderly people who are alone and make them company; the most gratifying thing is feel their happiness that someone remembers them and is listening to them. I even get to know better some of them and I’m helping them with some paperwork and medical consultations. The truth is that you get much more than you can give...