PHILIPPINE (FRANCE)

Volunteered From JANUARY 2023 TO MARCH 2023

2023 The two months I spent teaching at Habibi Center will be forever printed in my mind. The fact that it was challenging was the best part. It was my first time as a teacher and my first time being involved in refugees lives. I had to constantly reconsider the way I was thinking and thus my teaching method. Surprisingly, teaching came pretty easily, maybe because of the fact that it is actually something that I’ve been facing my entire childhood, and still today, through my studies. Even though I found a way for them to learn and really understood the lessons, I constantly had to adapt and rethink my European references and believes. (The first time I was telling my students about theatre I told them about Shakespeare, of course they don’t know him, they have other references. I had to deconstruct this easy way to represent theatre. I think It brought a different way to consider human dialogues.) The experience with Habibi Center is also the experience of being part of a family. At least that is how I felt it. The discussions with the other teachers helped me a lot to improve my teaching methods and to get what was needed for the refugees. The time spent with the crew helped me feeling at ease. It helped me to get more confidence and allow me to be more creative during the lessons. Regardless of all that I’ve learnt, I feel that I still have a lot to learn, Habibi Center showed me that my experience as a teacher is not yet finished neither as being part of refugees lives. I think there is definitely a before and an after Habibi Center. I don’t know If I realise it yet but I can catch a certain feeling. To see the students evolving was the best reward. Their kindness and their want to learn made every lessons unforgettable. Thank you to Habibi Center for giving the opportunity to refugees to learn English and for giving me the opportunity to be involved in their educational path.