What brings Greenpeace volunteers together? We asked them…to ask each other. 

 

Lexi from Slovakia is 17 years old, she’s in high school. At 10, she dreamed of becoming a Greenpeace volunteer. At the age of 16, she became a leader of her local greenpeace volunteer group. Peter from Hungary is 53 years old, and works for a food company. He is one of the most engaged volunteers in the country and is known for making top-notch volunteer team building videos. You might be wondering how these two, seemingly different, people ended up volunteering for the same organization and cause? 

 

Lexi grew up hearing about climate change and other environmental issues. She was 8 when she asked her mother why they had to sort out the trash. A few years later, she started to think that while sorting out your domestic waste is important, it was not enough, and so she sought ways to become more environmentally-friendly. She stopped using single-use plastics but even that didn’t seem enough. She needed a way that would not only affect her life but that of others as well. Something with a bigger impact. Something that would contribute to a systemic change.

 

“I thought if I become more engaged in volunteering, that would help the planet more. Because then, it’s not just for me but for others too, it’s more impactful. And I can even help raise awareness about environmental issues.” 

 

Peter remembers the first Greenpeace info day he attended, 7 years ago. “I was shocked by the images we saw. The destruction that was affecting nature, animals,... I just felt like I had to do something. I also loved the diversity of Greenpeace’s actions and wanted to be a part of that.” But it’s not only the diversity of actions Peter loves, he also likes that of the people working with Greenpeace. 

 

Lexi has been a volunteer for 5 months now and Peter for about 7 years. One of Lexi’s best memories volunteering is a Summer festival where she got to spend a lot of time with Greenpeace friends. She felt a strong sense of community. For Peter, it was the clean air campaign, “With the climbing team, both Hungarian and international participants, we climbed up the Liberty statue, and I got to drop the banner. It was epic.”

 

Peter at the Clean Air action in Budapest
Peter at the Clean Air action in Budapest

 

But every story has a funny moment, Peter recalls it was after a 3-day action, as he was going back home to Kecsmet by train from Budapest. Waiting for that last train at 11pm, he dozed off as he was very tired, and naturally, he missed his train. He giggled as he told Lexi he had to wait 4 hours for the next train, “but Budapest is beautiful at night. So that was okay. It’s a funny story to tell now, but it wasn’t funny at the time.”

 

For Lexi, it was more of a proud moment, when she was participating in a Greenpeace info session. “There was this small group of people, who had questions about climate change and environmentalism and I was happy to discuss with them. And that sparked a debate but then some of their arguments weren't factual at all. I remember debating with them with facts and I was really proud of myself at the end of it. I hope I helped plant a thought seed in their minds.

Lexi at a summer festival with other GP volunteers
Lexi with other GP volunteers at a summer festival in Slovakia

 

Lexi and Peter were talking about their experience with such passion, I had to ask, what keeps them going? When many people around them say we’re all doomed and there is nothing we can do, what makes these volunteers continue their work?

 

For Lexi, it’s knowing that she’s doing the right thing. And that her contribution matters.  “I feel useful. Even when people say, it doesn’t matter, we’re all doomed…I know there is still enough time to do something about it and I like that hope and contributing to it. I like being engaged in big things and big events.” For Peter, it’s the diversity. Being able to work with different people on different actions and programs for a shared cause, a green safe future for everyone.