Curious to see what an exchange experience is actually about? What adventures expect you when you decide to step outside of your comfort zone? If yes, check out the story of Helena Ermeiro, and find out more about his volunteering experience with AIESEC in Indonesia!

My name is Helena Raquel Ermeiro Baptista and I decided to go on a journey abroad with AIESEC to get a chance do more for our earth and #LiveTheExperience.

About the project

I went to Indonesia between July and August 2017 to participate in a project called “Morning Sunshine 2.0”, that teaches children about life below water and the importance of protecting our environment.

My main tasks were to work on development in schools, as well as contribute to environmental activities, like taking care of mangrove plants and cleaning the beaches. Since the very first day I felt so thankful to be there, because I got the opportunity to learn so much more than I was expecting.

In love with the earth

One of the best part of my project was having had the possibility to understand more about a culture so different from mine: the food, the language, the religion, the music and the customs. But more than anything, I loved getting to know people who take saving our planet seriously.

It’s so rewarding to see how individuals from different cultures can be so similar in so many ways. I found out that our backgrounds are just details because, in the end, we’re all humans, most of us with the same purpose: saving our home, our world. Thus, we can teach and learn so many things from each other.

My own learnings

Ever since I arrived at the airport in Jakarta, I felt that this decision was the best of my life. I saw three beautiful smiling faces waiting for me and since that moment, I felt like everything made sense.

This experience changed my priorities, my way of looking at the world, because now I want do more to help, I want travel and find more opportunities like this one, know more about people with the same goals as me. I discovered my purpose in life.

Right at this moment, I can only feel like the luckiest person in the world; my heart is full of love, full of beautiful memories, of good energy.

If everyone would experience this at least once in their lives, I’m sure that the earth would look very differently, so I can only invite you to give it a try – it might end up changing your life!