Jorge Beltran

How did you get involved with ArrivalAid ?

I was at the volunteer fair in Gasteig at the beginning of the year. I had wanted to get involved socially for a long time and since the new year had started anyway, I was able to implement a New Year's resolution straight away. That motivated me and then I thought, I'll do that now. I immediately noticed your stand there and you made a super positive and professional impression. Then I met Sofie and we talked about ArrivalAid 's mentoring program, which I immediately liked. I found it very interesting, it was exactly what I was looking for. I immediately registered for the training the next day. It can happen that quickly.  

How long have you been volunteering at ArrivalAid ?

My first training was at the beginning of February 2019 and I really started at the beginning of March. So far I've done two runs, because mentoring takes place every three months.

Is this your first voluntary work or have you already been involved in social work before?

I have been involved in Mexico before, but that was a very long time ago. In Mexico it started at school and we did social projects in poorer neighborhoods to support children. I didn't do anything during my studies, so I thought it was time to get active again.  

How many hours a week do you volunteer?

At the beginning it was a little more, now it has become a little less because I travel a lot for work and that's why it didn't always work out. But usually around 1.5 to 2 hours per week.  

Why are you involved with ArrivalAid ?

I come from Mexico and there is a lot of poverty there. I was lucky enough to receive private training and thanks to this training I was able to easily come to Germany to study here. I can make a nice life for myself here and have good prospects for the future. And I always thought to myself, I want to share this happiness with the people who don't have it. And these are mainly the people on the run. People who have no security at home, let alone prospects of a good education that would allow them to come to Germany the normal way. So I thought, if I can do a little bit to help them, then I've done my job. I really liked the job mentoring program because you can help people so sustainably. And ArrivalAid were the only ones I saw at the show offering this kind of help.

Which positive experience do you particularly remember?

I think it's nice that there's always an exchange. What I personally find very nice is that most people still have very nice memories of the country from which they fled. You can always say really nice things, for example how happy the people there are, how good the food is or how nice the weather is. What I also remember very positively was the very first time my mentee opened up to me. He told me he's worried about his buddy because the Anhörung didn't go well and he's afraid the buddy will have to leave the country. His own situation was also completely uncertain.

Would you recommend that others volunteer? Would you recommend that others get involved with ArrivalAid ?

Yes, of course, definitely! Well, it's always the same thing: you actually want to get involved and in the end nothing happens. That's how it felt for me too, so it's best to just do it and decide spontaneously, like I did. Because you always find time and we have too much free time anyway. You can always do something good with this free time. At ArrivalAid anyway, you are a great organization and a really nice and super open team. There are always cool events where you can learn from professionals and of course also from mentees.

What does your involvement with ArrivalAid bring you on a personal level?

In general, the exchange with people from other countries and with different origins is always enriching. Above all, I have always admired the strength of people who have to flee. For example, the Mexicans who cross the border into America. These are people who are willing to risk and sacrifice everything for their future. This is something I've never been through before and I don't know if I would be able to do it myself. And being able to handle such a difficult situation and still remain positive is something I admire!

And that might also help us to appreciate what we have here. That we live in such a beautiful country, in such a wonderful city. And that everything we have here cannot be taken for granted.