When Anhard von Thüngen began his Federal Volunteer Service with Mission Siret a year ago, he knew nothing about Euro pallets, customs documents, consignment notes or donation receipts. Twelve months later, he has become an expert in logistics and a specialist in hands-on projects. As a Federal Volunteer Service participant, known in Germany as a “Bufdi”, Anhard had the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the work of a humanitarian aid organisation while supporting us with a wide range of organisational tasks.
For many donors, he was a reliable point of contact in Bielefeld, sorting Christmas parcels, receiving donated school bags, checking hospital beds and overseeing deliveries of stoves and generators.
Looking back on the past few months, he says that he has gained a wealth of experience, been entrusted with responsibility and learned to remain calm and look for solutions even when things do not go according to plan.
All this knowledge and experience will serve him well in his new role with the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe (JUH) home emergency call service in Bielefeld.
The Federal Volunteer Service position at Mission Siret was made possible through organisational cooperation with the JUH district association in Bielefeld and financial support from the Provinzialsächsische Genossenschaft.