The Motivational Power of Boroume # 18

The driving force of Boroume remains its volunteers. For many people volunteerism is a way of life and the way to leave their own positive mark on society.

Maria Stefanouli has been with us over the last three years and every week she participates in the “Boroume at the Farmers’ Market” program saving and offering surplus fruits and vegetables for a good cause.

A few words about you: My name is Maria Stefanouli and I am a member of the volunteering team of the "Boroume at the Farmers’ Market" program for 3 years. I come from Larissa and for the last few years I have been living and working in Athens as an engineer. Apart from volunteering, I enjoy walks, dancing, theater and reading.

Why did you decide to become a volunteer? I had my first contact with volunteering as a student and since then it has become a part of my life. For me volunteerism is a way of living as well as an effort to leave a small but positive footprint. When I came to Athens, I started looking for voluntary organizations whose purpose I was interested in. While searching I found Boroume. Boroume had activities in the farmers’ markets, such as the one I participated in for a couple of years in Larissa in another organization. So it was only a matter of time for me to contact the organization.

How easy / difficult it is to talk to someone about volunteering? I would not say that it is difficult to talk to someone about volunteering, but I do not think that you can easily convince someone just with words, as most people are not familiar with the concept of volunteering. I prefer to spread the message of volunteerism by setting an example or by highlighting the good things from offering. 

What reactions do you get? The reactions, as far as I can remember, are always positive and there is always interest to learn more for Boroume. For its purpose as well as the way the organization operates. 

How easy it is not to throw food? At first its’ not easy enough. It requires some conscious changes in daily habits, such as cooking, shopping, etc. But then, when you have acquired new consumer habits, it becomes easier. After all, without any change, none of the existing problems can be resolved… 

How would you describe the Boroume team in three words? Vision: a world without food waste. Offer: charitable institutions that benefit. Collaboration:when the wheels of the shopping trolley full of fresh fruits and vegetables, go their own way and the volunteer who is with you tries to keep them on a straight path because of the weight… And all this uphill!

Share with us an incident from your participation in Boroume that impressed you: I think that the large amount of products we collect is impressive every time we participate in the "Boroume at the Farmers’ Market” program. And even if the older volunteers are not so impressed, the new volunteers remind us of that wonderful feeling, since they get excited from the first bag of products they collect and cannot believe that in the end a whole van is filled with fresh products to be offered to people in need.