ESC Stories

My name is Chiara, and my ESC project with A4ACTION lasted four months, from the beginning of March until the end of June 2025.

When I decided to leave for Romania with the European Solidarity Corps, I didn’t have a clear idea of what to expect but I felt a strong need to do something different. I was going through a particular period in my life, and I needed to discover new realities and environments to regain the energy I had lost over the past year.

When I found out about A4ACTION’s Afterschool project, I immediately thought: This is exactly what I need. I love working with children, and I enjoy interacting with them because their light-heartedness reminds you not to take life too seriously.

I remember that everything happened very quickly, my departure was arranged within a week. I was the last volunteer to arrive; the other girls had already been there for a few months. I still remember that day perfectly: an overweight suitcase, a little fear in my stomach, but also so much curiosity.

The first month was the most intense. Learning to live together, sharing spaces, cooking for several people, organizing activities for the children… everything was new. But step by step, I managed to integrate into the wonderful balance the girls had already built.

A beautiful bond with the children formed right away. I remember their smiles, their curiosity, and how excited they were every time we introduced a new activity but also how disappointed they could be when the idea didn’t appeal to them (hahaha).

During the project, I had the opportunity to lead my own activities. I organized an “Escape Room” with different challenges that had to be solved in order to be “set free.” I was a bit nervous the first time and I worried they wouldn’t like it. But they absolutely loved it. Some of them would often ask me, “Chiara, when are we doing it again?”

The biggest challenge was definitely the language. Speaking English every day wasn’t easy at first, but over time it became natural. By the end of the project, we were mixing English, Romanian, Italian, Croatian, and German at home, it was a lot of fun.

Communicating with the children was also difficult at the beginning. I always tried to use simple, direct words to make myself understood. It wasn’t always easy, but I realized that there’s a language beyond words, a language made of looks, smiles, and hugs.

These four months flew by, and now that the project has ended, I look back and see how much I’ve grown. I’m no longer the somewhat lost girl who left in March. I have more confidence in myself, I know better what I want, and above all, I’ve learned that stepping out of your comfort zone is often essential to finding yourself again.

I would recommend this experience to anyone. A4ACTION is the perfect place to grow while always feeling at home. Romania is a country waiting to be discovered, just like its wonderful people.

Mulțumesc, A4ACTION. Mulțumesc, fetelor. This experience will forever stay in my heart.