EUSA Insider:
Karolina Hausman
Age: 20
Place of Birth: Warsaw, Poland
University: University of Essex (GBR)
Published: 27 April 2018
Describe how and why did you get involved with volunteering at EUSA events?
I first heard about the EUSA Championships from my volleyball coach last year, as our University was invited to represent England in this competition in Rzeszow. I remember that I couldn’t wait to go, especially that this event was taking place in Poland where I come from. Unfortunately, our team has resigned from the competition, but I was already too excited to miss this opportunity, so I decided to send an application for the volunteering programme. And although this was quite a different experience from what it would be to go as an athlete, I learned a lot about the organisation of international events and it was nice to see how my work has contributed to the success of this event.
"I was already too excited to miss this opportunity, so I decided to send an application for the volunteering programme."
Tell us about your involvement in sport.
When I was 12, I attended my first ‘professional’ volleyball practice. It was still just for fun and I remember having a great time, but knowing that it was at one of the best volleyball clubs in Warsaw, made it feel special. I played for ESPES Sparta Warszawa for 6 years and then I moved to the UK where I received a sports scholarship at the University of Essex. Apart from volunteering at sports events, I really enjoy trying out new disciplines. This year, I joined the Climbing Society at my university and I fell in love with that sport! Although I had to stop playing volleyball professionally, I still like to play with my family and friends sometimes or to watch international competitions at home.
Describe your experience of volunteering at the European Universities Championships 2017. Is this your first time volunteering at an international sports event?
EUSA Volleyball Championships 2017 was the first such big event that I took part in as a volunteer. In the beginning, I was a bit stressed, because I wasn’t sure how it would look like. But the moment I arrived at the sports hall, I knew it was going to be amazing and people that I worked with were really fun, too. I still stay in touch with some of them.
This experience gave me so much courage and enthusiasm for volunteering at such events that a month later I volunteered at the opening game of the Men’s European Volleyball Championship in Warsaw where over 60,000 fans showed up! That was definitely the biggest event I participated in, but I wouldn’t have done this without the experience from the EUSA Championships. And of course, the atmosphere at the Universities Championships is very exciting and cheerful!
"If you genuinely love sports and meeting people from other countries, you should definitely take part in EUSA events, you will not regret it"
In 2018 the European Universities Games 2018 will take place in Coimbra, Portugal, we would love to see you there again! Will you apply for the EUG 2018 Volunteer programme?
Yes, definitely! I heard about this opportunity in July 2017 and I immediately saved the date to make sure that I would apply for this year’s programme, I’m really excited!
This is your chance! What is your message to young Europeans interested in volunteering?
What can I say? Go for it! If you have that nice feeling of excitement when reading the description of the EUSA Volunteer Programme or if you genuinely love sports and meeting people from other countries, you should definitely take part in EUSA events, you will not regret it! I hope to see you in Portugal!
EUSA would like to thank Karolina for her work in Rzeszow, we are glad you decided to come as a volunteer. We hope to see you again in Coimbra for the Games.
