ESC Stories

My volunteering experience began in a rather unexpected way, which I think is how some of the most important and fun experiences in life happen. It all started on a typical evening in August. My summer vacation was almost over, and I was eager to get my life back in order. At that time, I was still recovering from an anxiety disorder that had taken a toll on me both mentally and physically. Although I was already quite independent, this also meant a lot of stress and responsibility. I was working full-time, pursuing my degree, and renting my own apartment. In the process of managing everything, I ended up moving several times—sometimes to different islands or cities in Greece—trying to find a balance.

While searching for a new apartment, I realized that what I needed was something more meaningful in my life. That’s when I decided to take a step closer to my dreams and find a way to help and inspire others to do the same. I’ve always dreamed of traveling and volunteering, even as a child. A big part of my life has been about proving to my family and society that I could make my dreams come true, despite coming from a very poor neighborhood where many families struggled with various issues. I never let that hold me back.

I googled volunteering opportunities and stumbled upon the European Solidarity Corps page. In that moment, I created a profile and applied for a project in Romania. Five years ago, I visited the country and was captivated by it. The project involved working at an Afterschool program, and since I was studying to be a kindergarten teacher, it seemed like the perfect match for me. The next day, I received an email about an interview, and by the end of the week, I was preparing to leave my country and head to Romania for six months.

I still remember the reactions from the people I knew—my friends and family. Everyone was scared and tried to convince me not to go. But I wasn’t listening. I had found my calling, and deep down, I knew that this experience would change my life. Everything happened so quickly, and before I knew it, I was standing at the airport, thinking, „I made it.” Little did I know, that was only the beginning.

I was the first to arrive at a beautiful house next to the forest, and I fell in love with it immediately. Soon after, the next two volunteers arrived—Mimi from Spain/Bulgaria and Lola from France. They quickly became my good friends. However, my start was a bit rocky. I lost my wallet with all my money, had to go to the police station, and had to carry an insane number of suitcases with the help of new friends. By the end of the project, the adventures I had experienced were countless. I got stuck at the border of another country and had to turn back, took a friend to the hospital, lost and found my phone, and was even involved in a car accident. It sounds like a lot, but nothing made me quit. Every moment, every challenging situation, was worth it. I would do it all over again. The organization and my friends were there for every part of it. It may sound tough when I describe it, but in reality, it was fun and brought us closer together.

The project officially began, and our first interaction with the kids was amazing! We were a bit nervous because there were only three of us instead of the six we expected. Most of the volunteers had little to no experience with kids, so things were challenging at first. Irina, our coordinator, and later Lili, one of the staff members, came to our rescue, and we soon found our rhythm. The kids were so excited, full of laughter and love, which made everything easier for me. To this day, I can’t stop thinking about all the beautiful moments I spent with them. They made such an effort to learn words in my language, learn about me, and make me feel at home. They and their families welcomed us with open arms, inviting us to birthday parties and celebrations, and always showing us kindness. It was a reciprocal relationship. We didn’t just work for the kids; we were a team. I had never felt so much love and acceptance before. That’s the magic of working with children, I guess. I learned so much from them—lessons for life and for my profession. I realized that I would love to be a youth worker and that I didn’t have to be a teacher to do what I love. My horizons broadened, and my perception of education and learning changed significantly.

Work was always fun for me. There was endless room for creativity and expression. The responsibility was great, but it felt natural to care about the well-being of the kids. We had trips and so many activities. I had the opportunity to implement my own activities and create the schedule from scratch, filling it with all the fun activities I could think of. I also worked with the high schools. To be honest, this was the most meaningful work for me, even though I couldn’t do it as often as I would have liked. It made me emotional because I saw so many similarities with my own community, and I knew I could make a significant difference for these kids. That’s why I tried to spend as much time at the high schools as my schedule allowed. It also motivated me to start something in my own community when I return home.

This project turned out to be more than just a simple volunteering experience. I made friends, some of whom I hope to keep for life. The first two volunteers who arrived with me, Mimi and Lola, were the ones I became closest to. We learned everything together, traveled, partied, and cried together—we did everything as a group. But then there were more volunteers from other NGOs, people who have since visited my family home on vacation and who I’ll meet again in their countries. By the time Christmas arrived, I knew I still had more to give and learn. I wasn’t ready to go back home. Apparently, neither were the other volunteers. Two of us extended the project to 10 months, and one stayed for an extra month.

We had already formed strong friendships and built relationships when three more volunteers arrived—Chiara from France (my new roommate), Laura from Spain, and Carolina from Portugal. It was interesting to have six people in the house! Before, each of us had a room to ourselves, but suddenly, we all had roommates. The mood in the house was good, and I felt like we clicked well. All these languages and cultures combined! Soon after, one of my best friends here, Lola, left. I took the opportunity to visit her in her country. That’s one of the great things about these types of projects—you have friends all over the world, and you can always go and see them. I also met many Romanian people, who were closer to my culture, and we became friends easily. This gave me the chance to experience the country more like a local and less like a tourist. I discovered amazing places to eat and relax. Again, time passed quickly. I’m convinced now that no amount of time would have been enough for me. Out of the six of us, only three made it to the end—Mimi, Carolina, and me. I think Carolina was a great fit for us, too. Toward the end, we became so close, which made everything even more enjoyable.

And it was a lot of fun until it was time to say goodbye. I was the first to arrive and the last to leave. I watched my friends leave one by one, and new people came to take our place—to live in our house, work in our roles, and continue providing love and care to the kids I love with all my heart and soul. Writing this story is so hard for me because all the memories of this beautiful year are flooding my mind. I couldn’t be more grateful for how much I’ve changed. I’m not the same person who first arrived in Romania, and my love for this country, where I’ve grown so much, is immense. I get goosebumps as I try to put into words the feelings and experiences that I know I can never fully explain. I’m holding back tears—tears of joy. With the end of this project, I hope to start a new chapter of my life, where the friends I’ve made here remain a part of it, where volunteering becomes my new reality, and where I, the person I’ve become, will continue to evolve and thrive.