Volunteering with American Spaces in Tallinn

In Tallinn, learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. That’s why we offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities for all our students. One of these opportunities is volunteering with American Spaces, a dynamic program that connects Estonians with American culture, education, and values. Jayden Pautz, one of our alumni, actively participated in American Spaces projects, and here’s her story to inspire others.

When I arrived in Tallinn, I knew I wanted to spend some of my time volunteering, but I did not
know where. This is when Mari (the CIEE Program Manager) asked about volunteering with
American Spaces at Tal Tech. When I took this opportunity, I did not know what I was getting
myself into, but I quickly fell in love with American Spaces. Below, I will talk about the people
involved, what to expect, and what volunteer opportunities American Spaces offers.

First, there are two employees of American Spaces at Tal Tech, Epp and Eha. Both are super
sweet and have been doing this work since American Spaces opened in Tallinn. They are the
ones who organize all the events and work behind the scenes with schools, volunteers, and
Fulbright scholars to ensure everything runs smoothly. They are honestly just excited that you are
here and want to participate!!!

One volunteer opportunity is to present at a bi-weekly club called the American English Club.
These meetings are every other Monday from 6-8 pm, and talk about everything American. Here,
you would spend your time sharing information and your experience as an American citizen. I
presented on topics like my home state, football, hunting and fishing, Thanksgiving, just to name
a few. The topics are for you to choose and can be targeted toward your interests. This club is
mostly about getting club members to talk in English, so you would also be facilitating group
work, games, and so on, but it is really fun, and you can join in on the games as well! Others will
be there to help you, like Jae (a previous intern for American Spaces who regularly volunteers)
and Fulbright scholars. I found this as the best way to prevent homesickness since you have a
dedicated time to reminisce about back home!

Another opportunity you have is to present on education systems in America (both high school
and college). These presentations are through Education USA, but the umbrella organization is
American Spaces. This allows you to connect with a lot of different people all around Estonia
and really experience the culture. These are less of a time commitment, as you will be asked to
present about a week before, and they are not a weekly thing. I also really enjoy these
presentations since you help the students think about their future. It is fulfilling to know that I
helped someone in their path to higher education. This is also a great opportunity if you want a
career in education, social work, or something similar. They usually ask for presentations to
cover things like culture, liberal arts, double majoring, and career opportunities, but these can be
personalized.

With Education USA, they really enjoy having a student presenter because it gets the kids
engaged more. Many times, they rely on the US Embassy to present, which has good
presentations, but lacks the enthusiasm and relatability of a college student. You can tell in the
presentations that these students see you more as a peer than an authoritative figure, which helps
the Education USA program overall.

While these are just a few examples of how to get involved, there are plenty more ways you can
help at American Spaces. Epp and Eha would love to hear your ideas and help you make the
most of your time with them!