I have two chapters: My life before ESC and after ESC

Hello. I'm Gvantsa, from Georgia. I have a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in special education. I’ve always been interested in working with children with disabilities, that's why I've been working in this field for 5 years. I have never stopped learning in my profession. I always wanted to do more for my students and to get to know to foreign countries’ practice. During this period I thought about what I could do to develop myself in my profession. When pandemic period started in Georgia it was very stressful. COVID-19 has changed our daily lives, but even in these difficult circumstances, unexpected good news happened. I missed active life and live communication with children and people, because I worked online. That’s why I decided to participate in European Solidarity Corps Voluntary project.

To be honest, I was a little scared at first, but I also was excited to participate in this project. For me it was a new challenge. I thought that it would be a great chance to gain some experience, living in a foreign country, getting to know to new people and culture. Also, I was happy that I would be able to share my opinions, points of view, knowledge and would broaden my horizon.

When I started living in Poland, it was very delightful and exciting. As a foreigner, I would be happy to share Georgian traditions to people. I would meet a lot of children and teachers here at school, collaborate and cooperate with them, as well as learn many fun and useful activities. For instance: supporting children in learning process, handmade craft and zero waste activities, cooking, dancing and language classes, sport activities, preparing workshops: New year, Easter, Georgian and European weeks, and etc. I learnt new methods, which I’ll use with my students in my country. I’m sure that this experience will undoubtedly improve my professional knowledge.

Besides, this project was the great way to learn a lot of things about myself because I’m really getting out of my own comfort zone with meeting and living with other people. I’ve finished my volunteering project. This period has really fulfilled me with positive emotions and unforgettable moments including my travelling with other volunteers in Poland and in different countries. During the project, we had a lot of interesting and significant activities connected to the main topic. Also our hosting organization “ANAWOJ” was kind, hard-working, hospitable and really supportive throughout the project. 

Now I can say without doubt: ESC has changed my life and I am so glad to have had this opportunity. My expectation about this project came true. I really believe that ESC is an experience that no one ever forgets. It happened to my life and I believe, this can happen to your life also, if you never give up on your dreams and do your best to participate in this project. ESC is really one of best opportunities, if you want to change your life. Now I can boldly say, I have two chapters: My life before ESC and after ESC.

ESC Story from Poland -Kristina Tsereteli

Hello, I’m Kristina Tsereteli. It was a usual day in September, when everything started. Someone called me and said that I was invited for the interview. That time I didn’t realize this interview would change my life. Surprisingly, I was chosen for an exchange program. It was so hard to believe, because I had tried for the first time and epidemic situation wasn’t so good in the world, though however this attempt became successful.

So, I went for living my new life in Poland, Bialystok, that is amazing with its fantastic nature, all green and fresh around. My voluntary job was at special school, that is quite closer to my profession, because, I worked as a special teacher in Georgia as well. Besides, the school where I worked was also dormitory.

There were some different special classes for kids and also for adults, I saw how psychologists, occupational therapists and speech therapists work with children with special needs, also I had the opportunity to become a direct participant in the learning process, that was much interesting to interact with students, make some friendly relationships with them and with people who worked there, that also made me easier to learn Polish language, because I had to remind the words and sentences that I really needed while communicating. Sometimes the students and me had to exchange roles, sometimes they were teachers for me, and sometimes I was as a teacher for them, we also cooked together some Georgian cookies, and Polish as well, during that time we had much funny stories.

Honestly, my expectations really justified. I really wanted to get to know how special teachers worked here, new technics, new strategies, maybe also I could share my experience for them, that we really did. On the other hand, what I love about Erasmus+ projects the most is that in the beginning we are all strangers to one another but by the end of the project we all become really close friends (which btw makes it really hard to say goodbye). The world feels so small when you gather around people from different parts of the world in one room sharing their stories and giving you the pictures of what it feels like to be a person of their nationality. This is the type of learning which broadens your horizons and makes you see the world from a different perspective. We always planned some tours together, almost lived together and these ten months we became as a big family. Frankly speaking, it wasn’t so easy from the beginning, because there were some different attitudes about different topics, and cultural dissonance, but for sure, later it became challenge in all of our lives, that really taught us a lot, made much stronger and the result is this big family, how we really feel now

Overall the project it was really successful both on a professional and personal level. I am truly grateful for the life-long friendships that I have made and memories I have collected during my time in Bialystok. I want to thank ECS for giving me this opportunity and ANAWOJ our hosting organization in Poland for making this project possible.

My volunteering year - Ana Nemsadze

 

Soon to be over?

According to the initial plan 10 days from now I should be on a plane leaving Georgia. I can’t possibly imagine this scenario and that’s why I decided to prolong my project here for 2 more months. 

So what are my thoughts after almost 300 days of living in Rustavi? 

At this point I am really ‘used to’ to the lifestyle, cuisine, people and culture. I humbly accept many things that I maybe still can’t fully comprehend, like cars never stopping on the pedestrian crossing, usual lack of schedule for anything etc. It was difficult to switch from my European attachment to order, planning and organization to Georgian spontaneity and impulsiveness. I am trying to take and learn as much as I can from the differences that I’ve encountered. To be more patient and worry less. To celebrate and appreciate every day a little bit more – I love seeing Georgian men playing backgammon like the world besides them doesn’t exist. I want to be more hospitable and “pay back” all kindness I received from people here. 

Time of ESC was crucial to my growth as a person. It was (actually still is) a chance to reflect on my life, values that are important to me and I want to share with others. I am grateful that I could do all of it here, in Georgia. 

I am a bit afraid that after going back to Europe life will be boring and predictable. However, I am sure that at some point I will be back here, again, to surround myself with mountains, wine and wilderness of this place, that has a special room in my heart now.

Meri Tsitskishvili - "Forest Tale" ESC project in Bulgaria

I have heard about the volunteer program a long time ago, I have heard a lot about how great opportunities the experience and knowledge of the volunteer program will give you, but I have never had the courage to take this crucial step. 

However, when I read about the forest tale, ESC project that involved a group of volunteers from different countries began on March 19 and ended on May 17 in Varhovrah, Bulgaria. Project mission was to promote and encourage an ecological and sustainable lifestyle through and intercultural perspective.

I had never heard of Bulgaria before, all I knew was that it belonged to the Black Sea countries. I realized it was my chance. I am from an industrial city where ecology is a major problem. This project gave me the opportunity to learn about ecology and find a solution, the most important of which was to attract people interested in caring for the environment. The project gave me a lot of opportunities to work with the team, plan activities and take care of the environment, but the most interesting was to make a small film that left a small message to the public - take care of the environment. Also culinary and traditional days, which shared many cultures and allowed me to imagine my country, where we prepared many Georgian dishes, as well as prepared Khinkali for sixteen people and taught Georgian dance, which many volunteers wanted to learn. After which many volunteers expressed a desire to see Georgia.

It was unforgettable to discover Bulgaria while traveling to its beautiful cities or villages, I prepared a dazzling traditional Bulgarian cheese that is very tasty. We hosted a fire team with whom we were preparing the scenery and one evening we saw a fire show. The project was loaded with lots of exciting activities, I learned to work with the camera and I learned to shoot the right shots.

I can confidently say that my life has changed dramatically during these two months. I want many young people to experience volunteering, as similar projects offer young people another stage of development and opportunities