ESC Stories

My name is Chiara, I’m 21 years old, and I had the opportunity to take part in the A4ACTION ESC Program through the European Solidarity Corps. My project lasted five months, from February 1st to June 21st, 2024.

In September 2023, I found myself at a crossroads. After two unproductive years in college, I worked as an au pair in Tokyo earlier that year. Upon returning, I continued working with children as a babysitter, which made me realize my passion for working with kids. I decided I wanted to return to college to study Sociology and work in social departments, aiming to improve the world for children. However, I had to wait until the following year to enroll. In the meantime, I remembered the European Solidarity Corps, which I had registered for after a friend’s recommendation. With a year to spare, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to join a long-term volunteering project focused on working with kids. That’s when A4ACTION in Romania reached out, and after a few meetings, I was accepted into the project—on my birthday!

Before arriving, I had a positive outlook but no particular opinion about Romania. I was excited to learn that Romanian was a Latin language, which interested me as I love linguistics. I also liked that the project was located near Bucharest, but in a more rural area. Above all, I was most eager to meet the other volunteers. I imagined it would be an exciting experience, living with five others in the same apartment, sharing bedrooms, and working together. Of course, it turned out to be more challenging than I expected.

When I arrived on January 29th, I met the three volunteers who had been there since September: Lola, Mimi, and Olga, who I shared a room with. They showed me the ropes, and a few days later, the remaining two volunteers, Laura and Carolina, joined us. The six of us formed a close-knit group, which was a huge support. I often wondered how the original three managed before we arrived.

The first month was relaxed, filled with school holidays and an On-Arrival Training session. We took weekend trips, thanks to Lola, who was an expert on Romanian trains. Later on, weekends became more about resting and recharging from our work with the kids.

As the months passed, we settled into a routine. I appreciated the flexible but structured schedule. Even though the activities followed a pattern, every day was different when working with kids. Our day started at 10:00 AM with cleaning and preparing activities. At 11:30 AM, the kids arrived, and we began with a calm activity to help them unwind after school. After lunch and quiet time, we helped with homework, followed by arts and crafts or a physical game like dodgeball. We’d then head to the park and finish the day with a more relaxed activity, such as reading, theater, or a group game. The day ended with „The Rocket,” a self-evaluation tool that the kids loved. They could move up on the rocket if they met certain criteria, with a chance to reach the „stars” by the end of the week.

Living with five other people was a new experience for many of us. While it was comforting to never be alone, it was also difficult because we were constantly in each other’s space. When one of us was feeling down, it was hard to find the personal space needed to recharge. I didn’t expect this to affect me, especially since I got along well with everyone. I learned the importance of alone time and found my little retreat in the backyard—a chair where I’d listen to music and gaze at the trees. Yet, there were days when being surrounded by people was exactly what I needed. I learned to open up more and became more comfortable with small talk, which had always been difficult for me.

The most valuable part of this experience was discovering more about myself through others. While it was challenging to live for five months without someone who fully understood me, I found that even with cultural differences and varying beliefs, I could always find common ground.

When I returned to France, everything felt surreal, but as I wrote this story, many wonderful memories resurfaced—some extraordinary, others beautifully ordinary. I am deeply attached to the daily life I had in Romania, knowing how unique and unrepeatable those circumstances were. Even the fights, bad moments, and challenges were incredible opportunities to grow and accept myself more.