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. 

Dziękuję Ci

ESC story from Lithuania - Tatia Meladze

 Gamarjoba / Labas

I am Tatia, 24 years old, from Georgia and I’m volunteering for European solidarity corps project in Vilnius, Lietuva.

Volunteering in “Covid-19 Era” is quite challenging and it is accompanied by many difficulties, but at the same time, it is once in a lifetime experience, which gives you a good lesson about life, especially during pandemic.

To make life-changing decision, as it is moving to another country for 1 year, isn’t always easy and it was just as hard for me to decide participating in a long-term project. However, I’m in Vilnius, already for 3 months and I’m very happy and proud to be here.

I am a volunteer at Day center for adults with mental and physical disabilities in Vilnius. Because of Covid-19, there is a lockdown in the country and volunteering is also very challenging. Because of restrictions, I can physically join works, at my center, just 2 weeks in a month, so going back to organization, every time, feels like starting everything from the beginning.  

My main responsibilities as a volunteer are: to help center visitors in every day needs, to help them during their classes, give them some personal attention (talk or play some games) and on their spare time we usually have some fun activities together, like: drawing, walking, listening to music, assembling puzzles, playing checkers and etc.

 

The visitors of the center, are the most loving, warm, open-minded, honest and kind people I’ve ever met. They love to spend time with workers and with us, volunteers. They are always ready and want to share their feelings, thoughts and especially their works, they’ve done during the day. Usually I get some presents from visitors. They love to give gifts, so I frequently get some paintings from them, to decorate my room.

I feel very excited and I think I am very lucky, that I have an opportunity, to spend 9 more months in Vilnius, to work with people, who love and appreciate their jobs and learn from them and to spend time with the loveliest center visitors and help them as much as I can.

Although my volunteering is going quite well, I still hope the pandemic will end soon and I will be able to explore more of the country, meet some local people, travel, work and enjoy my full-time volunteering experience.

With lots of love from Lietuva,

Tatia

ESC Story from Poland - Irma Bolkvadze

Hello, my name is Irma Bolkvadze, I’m from Georgia and right now I’m doing my ESC volunteering project in Poland. 

My host organization is Stowarzyszenia Akwedukt an amazing place managed by incredible people, who always ready to support you anytime!

I do my project in the special school for kids with different disabilities, and so I help school students to improve their interpersonal and social communication skills there. It’s such an amazing place that gives me an opportunity to  share my knowledge and experiences, get to know different people, their culture and language.

I would also like to mention that we have amazingly caring, empathetic and friendly teachers at the school who are always ready to help. We all began to be an ‘European family’!

We all are different, having so many different life goals and experiences, and, however, we still found so many common things ground and fell in love with each other! Let this not finish!