My name is Evgenija, and right now, I’m living one of the most rewarding chapters of my life: volunteering in Aruba through the European Solidarity Corps. I chose this volunteering project because I wanted to combine my passion for youth development with gaining new cultural and professional experiences. At the school where I volunteer, my…
Being a volunteer has been a goal of mine for a very long time. I’ve heard some stories that make the idea intriguing. So I thought, what kind of experiences will I bring home? This project took me to Gdańsk, Poland, a city I’ve wanted to visit for years. However, as I had no experience…
If you told me a few months ago I’d be here - teaching English in a Turkish coastal town, sipping tea stronger than my willpower, laughing with students and teachers around campfires - I probably would’ve laughed. But here I am. And it’s the best decision I’ve made all summer. The gig? Volunteering in a…
Picture this: you're sitting at home, staring at an opportunity, thinking: Should I go for it? Is this a crazy idea or the start of something amazing? If only we had a crystal ball back then! Knowing what we know now, we wouldn’t have wasted a second doubting ourselves. We would've jumped in headfirst. And…
Exactly one year ago, I gave all the documents to the Macedonian embassy in Poland and was waiting to receive temporary residence to go to Macedonia. I felt contradictory emotions about moving abroad for one year and volunteering at Volunteers Centre Skopje (VCS). On one hand, I felt excited to change my life, meet new…
If you told me five years ago that I’ll live in the Balkans for a year, I would probably assume you’re joking. Not only Balkans, but Macedonia out of all places – a country I never really heard much about, maybe apart from the characteristic red flag with yellow sun and location on the map…
Three years ago, I arrived in Bremen for the first time. The sun was shining, a beautiful flower market filled the streets, and I instantly fell in love with the city. During my Erasmus+ exchange, we had time to explore. On our last day, while clearly lost and trying to find something, a kind lady…
Let me take you on a journey across the Mediterranean sea, on the coast side of the Iberian Peninsula, arriving at a colorful school in the beautiful barrio of Cabanyal, in the city of Valencia. It is not just any school, it is a Learning Community. At this school, students and parents are closely intertwined…
The first four months of our six-month European Solidarity Corps (ESC) program in Aruba have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Marija and I, from Macedonia, Despina from Greece, and Pascal from Germany were welcomed with open arms by our hosting organization - CEDE Aruba. The four of us, along with other local and international volunteers, got…
I was catching up online with a friend who lives in the Netherlands one day and I had expressed to her how exhausted I was of my day to day life back in Skopje. After comforting me with some affirming words, she mentioned Olde Vechte Foundation, this place she had recently been to for training…
Hello everyone. My name is Jovan Terzioski - Joki and I am an ESC volunteer in Riga, Latvia in the Youth Studio BaMbuss. My volunteering experience started six years ago when I did my first EVS short term volunteering project in… well the same studio I am at the moment, Youth Studio BaMbuss. This time…
Being a volunteer has been a goal of mine for a very long time. I’ve heard some stories that make the idea intriguing. So I thought, what kind of experiences will I bring home? Like many of my travel stories, this one also started very spontaneously. I had a one-month gap when I didn’t plan…
The past six months spent in Italy represent one of the most significant chapters of my life. This unique opportunity opened doors to new horizons, cultures, and perspectives that will undoubtedly remain etched in my memory. The volunteering project and activities Thanks to Volunteers Centre Skopje, I successfully applied and was selected for a volunteering…
Biljana and Sara from Kumanovo had the opportunity to be part of the volunteer team for the project "Solidarity in Community," which took place in Izvoarele, Romania, and lasted for a month. Below, we share their impressions: We were accommodated in a beautiful wooden house in a mountainous area. We shared the house with sixteen…
We can assume that you have often heard that one person alone cannot do much. And that this statement is not entirely true is proven by teacher, Ramona Babos, from the city of Arad, Romania, who is a true heroine – not only because she is our interlocutor in this interview, but because she manages…
Sorry, this entry is only available in Македонски.
Sorry, this entry is only available in Македонски.
Sorry, this entry is only available in Македонски.
Happy about life Spending two months volunteering in Aruba was a transformative experience that left a lasting impression on me. The island’s natural beauty, vibrant culture, and time spent with the hosting organization and the local people made for an unforgettable journey of personal and professional growth. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed…
Chapter 1 Even before I finally finished packing for one year abroad (which felt like cramming a circus into a shoebox), I was already imagining what I’d write in this first report. I had been reading all the other articles from volunteers, thinking of what I’d say when it was finally my turn. Now that…