ESC Story from Lithuania

Labas! Me and my flatmate, Tamo, made a handmade poster "Don't talk about Covid-19 in this house" and we hang it on your door. This is how we tried to focus on good things and not on the global pandemic. But it's still hard to be a volunteer these days because everything is different and we all are just studying how to deal with it.

For me, my host organization is making this easier. Aiste and Vladas are doing almost impossible things. They have a lot of activities and they can give that motivation and energy to you too.

For example, we celebrated "happiness day" last week. We thought that it was international day, but next, we found out that Aiste "created'' it. We did a lot of funny things: danced, had interviews about what makes us happy, took pictures with balloons, etc.

I am working at Marijampolės Sūduvos gymnasium and we, me with Spanish Rodrigo, are the first volunteers at our school. We do activities, mostly online, but still, I feel like I am a member of their community and this is a thing, I am grateful for. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to talk to that bright, smart students, share a lot of things with them, share the history, culture of my country and listen to their stories too.

I always thought that phrase: happiness in small details was so boring. But now, in this month in Lithuania, I realized that it is how life works. Even rainy, grey days can be brightened by the smallest details: for example, when your Lithuanian guests like your Shkmeruli. When students are asking you interesting questions on the lesson. When you are playing Uno with other volunteers (even though I am losing it every time) Having local friends and walking around the town with them. sunshine, which we missed a lot.

Participating in ESC project is so unique and truly most amazing experience for me. and Lithuania is a country where I feel like I am at home.

ESC Story from Poland.

Hello everybody! It’s been five months since I started volunteering in Suchowola, a beautiful small town in North Eastern Poland. The project that I’m a part of is mostly about ecology, zero waste and healthier life-style and throughout promoting it, along with working with an amazing team, I became more self-aware and sophisticated in the subject. I started noticing little things that lead to the bigger problem and what I can do personally to reduce the waste, carbon footprint etc.

In my town, I work with cultural center, which is responsible for the cultural events, workshops and projects that are going on here, so my main job is to offer assistance and other ideas which will lead to us sharing cultures, exchanging languages, form friendships and also distracting us from the hard times for the whole world. Which is why, for everybody’s safety, I’ve been working through my online platforms as well, sharing and communicating by content on social media is helping me to keep working and promoting.

I’ve also had a chance to make a presentation about Georgia in middle and high school, great opportunity to share where I come from and to introduce this country to those, who didn’t know about it before. And with Georgian dessert “Gozinaki” I contributed to the charity auction as well.

To sum up, I’ve had wonderful and life-changing five months, here’s to five more!

ESC Story from Gdansk, Poland.

Hello, I am Salome Chochua, 22 years old. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and I’m planning to study educational sciences for Masters.

Now I am volunteering in Gdansk, Poland. I am participating in European Solidarity Corps project in Caritas. The project is developed in response to the needs of children and youth, who attend Caritas daycare center. I am here to support the project, to plan, implement and evaluate programme events, seminars and other national/international events, provide input and support with creative ideas for strategic development of the center. I take part in implementing outdoor, cultural and educational activities.

Gdansk truly is one of the most interesting and beautiful cities not only in Poland, but in whole Europe. With rich History, incredible, colorful architecture and the BEACH (most important thing for me).

I love experiencing new cultures, connecting with new, international people with common interests. I believe this project will help me to develop cultural awareness and open-mindedness. I’m sure I’ll gain enormous growth in confidence and independence, a sense of achievement, and will became aware of possibilities (both academic, career-related, and social).

ESC story from Romania

Buna! I am Nino Vibliani, 18 years old. I am studying at the Faculty of Business Administration, but for now, I have temporarily stopped studying because I have to rediscover myself and gain various life experiences. I am currently in Romania and together with local volunteers in my hometown, I am preparing various educational activities for the little ones who are going to the youth center.

A volunteer exchange visit primarily helps me to discover myself, a new environment, new people, and cultural diversity work well for me, make me feel like an independent person and that, I like it very much.

It is also very interesting to live in the same house with volunteers from different countries.  Different sense of humor, traditions, and different cultures, in general, make everyday life very interesting and at the same time raise your awareness.

Onest, city where I live, is full of courageous people who are ready to lend a helping hand at any time, it has helped me a lot in solving the problems that come with changing the environment. You will meet many old architectural buildings in the city itself, it creates an even more vintage environment and makes living here more interesting.

I am slowly leaving the comfort zone and I feel that this leads to positive results, new opportunities, and a new environment that help me to discover new or dormant talents in myself. I started my life from a new, clean sheet, I try to be active, and most importantly I do what gives me happiness.

I have not been here for a long time, but I am analyzing that I have changed my goals and now I am going to return to Georgia with larger plans. Realizing that I can do something important motivates me and makes me more eager to learn more and use those 7 months productively.

The center where I work is fully tailored for young people and minors. Working in a modern style environment is more efficient and at the same time comfortable for people of any age. I am happy to have taken this step and today I am where I am doing what I have always wanted to do.

ESC story from Poland

Cześć! My name is Geno Kutashvili, I am originally from Akhalgori, Georgia but currently being in Poland as an ESC representative at the NGO Internationaler Bund Polska. In 2020 I graduated MA program of the Public Policy and Management school at the Corvinus University of Budapest. Before that, I was studying at the University of Georgia, and at the University of Lodz, Poland, where I got my BA degree in the field of Journalism. 

Volunteering is not a new thing for me, and I have always obliged myself to do some activities and tasks for free because I believe that helping each other is very important - especially now in the pandemic of Coronavirus. After I had seen   ESC project in Poland, I realized that this project was for me and immediately decided to apply for it, because it is the project where I can get a lot of knowledge and information about volunteering, where I can improve my skills and use my experiences. 

Poland is my favorite country because 4 years ago, it was the first country where I travelled and since that time, I have loved the country. Our culture and traditions are very close to each other and I consider it as a second home. 

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