The Price of being a humanitarian volunteer

When I spent another three weeks on the rescue vessel Aquarius during winter time, christmas and new year, i felt doing the right thing – again. People from everywhere have sent me messages saying “respect” and “so good that you do this”.

Respect for what, I ask myself. Respect, that somebody does something, they feel needed to do? Respect for something, they would like to do, but would never do? Respect for giving up your own life a bit to save those, some even maybe do not want really to have in their countries? I do not know.

Respect is for the team I was working with, because mainly they do the rescue work. Staying for more than 12 hours permanently under stress and rescue one by one out of an overcrowded rubber or wooden boat on a wavy, dangerous Mediterranean Sea until everybody is safe on board the Aquarius. And not a single one is pushing him or herself to the front calling them a hero. No. They simply do it, again and again, day by day, night by night. That needs respect.

I am a part of the team, but mainly only communicating what we do. Anyway we do not distinguish but work as a team where everybody has his/her role, and in this combination of expertise it works. More than 11.000 humans save on board. Good.

Now the question is, why are we doing it as we are all doing it as volunteers. Yes we get some money that is enough to waste during a  port call after a stressful rescue mission but not enough to say it covers your life expenses. Why are we leaving things behind to volunteer saving lives? As I want to speak here only about my case, is it something egoistic? Is it the need of an adventure? Is it irresponsibility? Is it stupid? Is it needed? Is it what?

It is simply the own commitment to something you like and feel that is needed because other mechanisms do not work. It is a kind of contribution for humanity and human behaviour in this world of ignorance. It is a bit of support of the right thing of an organisation funded by civil society – you and me. It is easy to do but difficult to include in this normal life.

If you find yourself in a situation, after these three, six or nine weeks supporting this humanitarian organisation on sea, that you cannot pay your bills anymore, not your insurances, maybe the small private pension thing to try to save, not anymore the commitments you have for your children and so on – is this the price you pay to be a humanitarian volunteer? Or was it irresponsible to do all this when this is the result for your private life? Maybe. Cases are different.

But this is also the reality. And the question is, if those, who express their respect for those being on a rescue vessel during winter time, respect also this price some of us pay. And do they want to know about it or do they know? Or is this kind of life completely different from their lives? Anyway it is ok but also part of all these stories.

The price to pay being a humanitarian volunteer is ok. For me. It is not easy but acceptable. To do something, that is fundamentally needed and nobody else is doing, is wonderful. To give all these commitment and energy to save single lives, who all deserve to be saved, is wonderful. To give up a part of your life and then after your mission to find your way, to get back on track, to get support of friends, financially and emotionally, is probably part of the whole thing.

But remember, it is not easy but it is the price some of us humanitarian volunteers pay, to simply do what is needed and we stay for.

Blog ends her.