Nino's story from Poland

Hello,   I am Nino Dvali, 25 years old. Last year in April I decided to apply EVS/ESC project. To be honest I was a little bit scared to make moves to start life without friends, family, and my country. But on the other hand, it was kind of challenge for me and I was going straightly  for my desire to make something new in my life. To change my lifestyle, develop my skills, and make an experience in international fields. In this period in my body was living two Nino, first who wanted to stay, because of fear and second,  who wanted to try new things. To cut a long story short, I decided to go and be a participant of this great family, which is Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps.

  

Since  May 2019 I have started a new life with new challenges in Gdansk. I'm very lucky, that I have chosen this amazing city, which is located next to the Baltic Sea in northern Poland. I have chosen the best city in  Poland with a great hosting organization Caritas. 

In the first two weeks of my Polish life I was exploring and getting familiar with the different cultures, cities, and places where I had to stared working and volunteering. Caritas is a Catholic church organization, which is helping every kind of person, regardless of belief. They have facilities where they are helping the children from difficult families, seniors, disabled people, and so on. I have chosen to start working with kids in one facility which was located close to my home. It was my first experience working with kids and I have to be honest and say that it was amazing. They are very open and helpful in any situation, despite of, the language barrier.

While my EVS/ESC project I had two training, one on arrival training located in Warsaw and second, mid-term training in Torun. Both of these training were so helpful and interesting in my voluntary life. There I met so many volunteers from other organizations from other parts of Poland. This training was a place where so many cultures were changed by volunteers from different counties. Besides the EVS/ESC project’s training's and events, my hosting organization was making events with other local volunteers and we were helping people altogether. 

While this one year, I have learned so many new things, got familiar with different cultures, tasted food from around the world, made new friends and met so many interesting people and finally I fell in love with Poland and I stayed more than one year!

"The Sun kids" project - Story from Latvia

Hello! I am Salome Zoidze, 22 years old, a volunteer from Batumi, Georgia.

In Latvia I arrived on 7th of February for the ESC project "The Sun kids". In this project I and children will explore more about nature, will learn more basics about physics, biology, chemistry. During this short time till today, I collected a lot of unforgettable emotions.

I’m working in PII "Saulīte" • Kindergarten "The Sun". I’m participating in one group aged 3-4 years. It is very interesting and special for me to work with children. They are very individual and different from each other, with contrasting interests and desires. Some of the children know Russian language - that helps me to communicate with them. In addition, I study Latvian and English languages, explore Latvia and its culture. I am happy, that I was chosen for this opportunity to participate in this project. With the help of this project, I can realize my skills and abilities. I wish you a lot of success and health.

Nika's story from Lithuania

Hello, I am Nika Javakhishvili, 22 years old. My project started on September 1, 2019 and will be completed by the end of August 2020. I am a volunteer in Telsiai, Lithuania. 

My activity is about the work of young people who have an entertaining and cognitive character. Our main task is to keep young people engaged in sports and active life. We have one building in the city where the main activities take place, and we also have outings in a building near the city where several day camps are held, which also has an extreme look. We also often hold culinary days where I share my experience and prepare Georgian dishes. At the center we have both table toys and musical instruments for them and we use them if we wish. It is a great experience for me and this project gave me a chance to improve my English. However, the majority of young people do not know well and we are trying to establish an English club for them as well. We also have various events related to the holidays. I had training where I met other volunteers from different countries who had a lot of experience in communication and English. 

For the summer we have planned several camps for young people where we will use bicycles and I think it will be very interesting. I also conduct training on organization and introduce Georgia. I am very happy about this project  because I got a big experience in my life. It was my first fly to different country, I meet a lot of people and now hey are my friends.

IN SUPPORT OF NATURE CONSERVATION

All around the world, thousands of birds and their habitats are endangered. For that reason, it is important to preserve bird populations where they naturally come. The organisation I’m volunteering in is called „Biom“, It’s non- governmental nature protection organisation that is based in Zagreb in Croatia and has several project related to animals’ conservation and research. The name of the project I take part in is „Island birds project“.

It’s about the conservation and research work

of three locally endangered bird species that breed on isolated islands in Mediterranean sea in Dalmatian region of Croatia. We are trying to find out the problems that have a negative effect on our target birds’ populations and do our best to help them to increase their breeding success. The aim of the project is to find out more about what are the main problems of the protection

of three marine bird species: The Audouin’s Gull, The Scopoli’s Shearwater and Yelkouan Shearwater. The project is planning to set up a base for the recovery of marine bird populations in Special protected areas in southern part of Croatia. I have already spent three months here and had many memorable moments. 

We were working several small islands that are on the territory of Lastovo Natural Park. Did some conservation work to help previously mentioned bird species to have a successful breeding year. Now they are already on their eggs and waiting for their chicks that will born very soon. We have also done nest searching and found more nests of our target birds than other researchers last year, so it is a positive news and sign of the success of the project. We do more than 10 sea transects every month to find the resting and feeding territories for our target birds in the Mediterranean sea and find out which bird species use the sea routes during the migration. For the next months as planned according to the project I will go to another town and volunteer in the local office of the organisation Biom and do some different kind of fieldwork in the mountains. We will look for Eurasian lynx and other mammals and birds which need to be scientifically understood better.

Tallinn Meelespea Kindergarten 2019-2020

I am Nana from Georgia and I am very happy that I am volunteering at Meelespea Lasteaed in Tallinn.

Before starting this project I never been in Estonia, but I always wanted to explore this part of Europe. Many of my friends were studied at the University of Tallinn and they were totally in love with Estonia. Based on their recommendations I decide to choose Tallinn as my next destination and one of its best kindergartens – Meelespea. I am really glad I did it. From the first days when I came here I found that Estonians are really friendly towards Georgians and many of them know Georgia really well. Volunteering at Meelespea kindergarten is a big experience, but at the same time also a big challenge for me. Kindergarten administrative and teaching staff are really high-

professionals. The environment is colorful and modern. Everybody is open for new suggestions and initiatives and I am always free and independent to do whatever I want in the frame of my work responsibilities. Daily activities are very well organized and interesting. I spend my working day with many kids, who are incredibly smart and friendly, but also each of them is an individual and specific, therefore I have to deal with each of them in a way which will meet their needs. This time I also learn how to be their friend and when necessary their teacher, who will give them advice. Recently I also notice that I am able to communicate with children in Estonian, which makes our mutual understanding even better. Every day we spend time together, they often ask me to play with them and do different activities. There are lots of things to explore together: Museum visits, Zoo, botanical garden and many more. We don’t have time for boredom!

Besides my work activities, there are lots of things to do and to explore. For example living in an international environment with new friends, new cultures and languages. Sharing amazing moments together, having fun, travelling, gaining more self-confidence and unforgettable experience.

My rainy days in Tallinn

My name is Juna Dzagania. I am a 24 years old.  I start my ESC project 2nd of  October 2019 in  Käo support center. They offer various welfare and care services adults with disabilities (severe cognitive/developmental and multiple disability). 

When I start my project it was first time, when I meet persons which have disability, and  it was hard, but slowly I get used to this situation. My working place I have freedom I can do any project or activities what I wanted. I made few project.

First was Georgian song. In my group was girl which can sing well I decided to learn for Her Georgia music “tetri cidan fifqi cviva” and  after few day’s we can sing this song together. We add this song in New-years concert and sing as my Working place  also different center in “juks”. It was one of the best feeling when I watched this girl How she sing Georgian song and how happy she was this time.

Next project was Georgian writing. Me and my client was  writing in Georgian alphabet some envelope and also once we made “welcome” in Georgian language, because we had Georgian guest and we put this Georgian welcome in main entrance.

Third was portrait project. Employees  me and client  paint each other. First when I had this idea worker was little unbelievable, but when we start everyone enjoy this process. We needed almost 3 week to finished this project but when we saw final result we was so happy and really don’t expected this result. And they decided to make gallery in main hall with this portrait, I made little description in Estonian and In Georgia language on each paint.

Also of course during Esc I learn how to cook. Mostly I cooked with client khachapuri, khinkali and e.t.c.

My free time I was able to learn so many new thing. For example yoga, latin american dance and Ice skating.

I meet here so many good persons and had unforgettable moment.

As everything this project also have struggle and was nostalgic because I missed my family but thank 21 century and internet. I had every  day  call to my family and friend and so many screenshot.

Also good thing was when i discover how i change, how many thing i learn, I developed.

Suddenly u realize u get used to everything rainy days, winter time short days, summer time long days, foreign language and country but now is time to go home. This is second hard part because u miss everything and everyone in your ESC country. Last but not least this is an opportunity which every one need to use. This words belong this girl which have Esc project during pandemic, but who cares i use all my possibility wan there was not pandemic and also use so many free time which i had because of pandemic. Use possibilities and carpe diem.

Take everything that ESC gives you and enjoy more

One previous volunteer said: "The experiences that you gained, the people who you met and the time that you had to go through being away from your family and friends all these things are going to stay here in Georgia. You can share your memories with those people who are interested to hear it but even they, I truly believe that, will not understand you properly. But one thing they will notice immediately - your behavior and thoughts. Sooo take everything that ESC gives you and enjoy more! "

I can be honest with you that Georgia became my second home and I am not lying 🤪 Seven months already passed since I arrived here and I’ve got many maaaaaaany new things that I had to deal with. For example, the culture differences which are completely unusual for European people, the country currency which has different value than euro, the language barrier that you must jump over for being able to communicate and be understood by others. Moreover, to face with adult life that it’s not actually so funny how it seems through many teenager’s eyes🤩. It actually would be better to use words as a student life or a life period when you are becoming independent from your parents. What I want to say with all of this is that you are going to make muuuuuch more your own decisions than you did before. Of course, it is not a special challenge for many volunteers in their ESC but for a nineteen years old girl it’s something new. Aaaaaand  by the way I’m going to celebrate my 20 birthday this summer in Georgia 🤩! I feel old now 😂

My mum wasn’t really happy with my idea to leave immediately after finishing the high school to a country like Georgia 🇬🇪 The fear arises when we are facing a situation that we haven’t had  before and we don’t have any clue how it’s going to end. Thus, I kinda understood my mom on this point but I didn’t agree with her to stay in Lithuania. And you know what, I am super glad that I did not change my opinion and choose to do ESC in Georgia. I was afraid as well but my excitement to show people that a shy girl as I am can make it was much bigger than a SILLY fear how it seems of the moment☀️.

Since I’ve been here for more than half a year I’ve met a lot of interesting and unique people. I had pleasure to meet with Polish , French , Germans  , Belgians , Norwegians , Latvians , Estonians  and of course Georgians  ❤️.  Moreover, I had the vacation and some trips with some of these people together. We visited beautiful places in Georgia and I definitely want to see more! 🚞🕍

Continue talking about my skills that I acquired  during the ESC. Activities with children that I had to lead ( Nobody didn’t say exactly what I should do. How to spend time with kids in an interesting and useful way was my task to think about and prepare for). I was leading the English for beginners and dancing clubs. To add, I organised the orientation game in Rustavi city. I took 14 fun photos for different places and some of them were a mystery even for locals game participants😎. I was included in Georgian and Lithuanian project. I had high quality training specialized for current volunteers how are doing their EVS from 2019 autumn to 2020 summer.

Currently, while we must stay at home l lead English conversations online with cool young people who were interested in making meetings together with me. At least me, I’m having a good time with them and I really enjoy it. Anyway I hope that in summer I will be able to join some projects in Scout Center and have some good moments before leaving Georgia☀️.
Stay at home, wash your hands and be safe!

The race for tolerance - 2 month volunteering in Romania

Couple of months ago, when me and my friend were walking as usually, talking, she told me she was going for volunteering project in Romania. I told her it was a good idea and thought to myself I would go to if there was a place in another one. Bless my luck because after one week she said, someone refused and there was a place for me. I immediately applied, got invitation letter, went to see our coordinator, signed and waited for the departure date and detailed information. I didn't need to wait long. After everything was settled, I informed my family, friends, we went to a goodbye party, packed a suitcase and went to airport.

We were ten, the great ten. Nine girls and one boy who soon became our best friend. From the very first moments I knew who would be living in my room and I did everything to make that happen. The flight was short and nice. After a road trip we were in the student's dormitory where we would spend two beautiful months together.

 

First week was the best. We met other people from our group: two Italians and ten Jordanians. Next day, we went to the office where we worked during the project, walked around the city, took millions of pictures, went to parties to check out the nightlife in Craiova, the town where we lived. It was awesome. Meanwhile, we had the introduction and brainstorming sessions with our mentor, got tips on how to work on the project and soon, step by step, we started.

Everybody had different background of education, culture and personal skills. That was the thing that was most attractive during the whole time. I was amazed how we could be so different yet so close to one-another. Some of us knew very little English but even that was not a problem because we would help in translating and I also discovered that friendship was like a Lingua Franca, a common language that kept us together.

During the project we participated in two major events: 1st December the 100th anniversary of Romania's independence and  Volunteering night on 5th December. The last one was very interesting, with lots of interesting people, organizations, volunteers, workshops, music, dancing and sharing experiences. Me and my friends did a workshop. We made bookmarks with printed design and gave them out free. It was nice because people liked and appreciated our work.

After the official working days were over, we got our second month allowance and some of us went to travel in another city, Brasov. It is an old town in Transilvania. We went to see Dracula's palace in Bran. Brasov was very beautiful. We kept walking and walking and couldn't get enough of that beauty. After that we came back to Craiova and spent there few more weeks , being young and carelessly free until we would say goodbye to one-another and went back to our home countries.

During that two months we grew a lot. For most of us, it was the first experience living abroad, living independently and volunteering too. We met amazing people, like our mentor, a girl who was even younger that us, incredible photographer and person; Our trainer, who shared so much light and positive vibes during just one week that we will probably remember her forever.

Well, of course we had some bad days, little problems but we were helped and guided by one-another to overcome obstacles and help ourselves become better, stronger individuals. I think, every one of us changed a little bit in a good way. As for me, a very introvert person, it was an amazing experience to help me open up, come out of my shell and learn how to adapt to unusual surroundings, factors, people. I learned how to be more adequate and less radical while dealing with people and work.

Now, it is almost one month since we left Romania. We, the members of the group still chat in our group chat every day, sharing all kinds of thoughts, pictures and videos, mostly saying how much we miss one-another. Some of us live in the same city and we meet on weekends to have coffee. I sit and write this story and if you ask me, was all this worth my time? Hell, yes it was. Would I try and go again? Oh, yes I would, I would for sure!

Dodo Bakuradze

Hosting organisation: Asociatia Explorator, Romania

Project funded by European Solidarity Corps

Adventures continue

Hello again, here’s another update about my ESC in Georgia. It has been 7 months since I first came to Georgia. I have learned and seen a lot more.

First of all, the language. I learned it for about 3 months with my coordinator. But I droped it. Don’t get me wrong, it is a beautiful language. I know how to read the alphabet and a few basic words, but I  think that’s enough for now. There are only 5 months left before my project will end and this language will be of no use to me. So I decided to focus on something that I can actually use in the future - Spanish. Now I have lessons every week with a very dedicated teacher. I only just started recently and still have nothing to show, but I have hope that soon I’ll be able to at least understand a little bit.

Also, I traveled quite a bit. Georgian winter is very strange to me. Around the capital Tbilisi there is no snow, but if you travel outside of this region (to the mountains for example), in some places snow can reach your knees. I learned this by traveling to Gudauri with a few friends. Together we climbed and hiked on a mountain that for me (I’m from a very flat country) was a high one. We just chose a random mountain close to a skii resort, but the view that opened up at the top of the mountain, on the other side of it, was truly breath-taking. Our next destination was a monument. A beautiful monument that is near a very deep valley. It is officially one of my favourite monuments I have ever seen. Next - Stepantsminda. It’s a town that has nothing special at day-time. But when the sun is setting and all the lights are turned on, watching it from far away is very magical. It might sound delusional or exaggerated to some people because of my choice of words, but I feel like these experiences deserve it. 

I have also visited Sighnaghi, Bakuriani (twice), Sioni lake and Dashbashi canyon. I have made truly dear memories with people that were with me. And I am forever thankful for it. I really hope that I can travel some more, because there are so many places that I haven’t had a chance to visit yet. Places like Ureki, Kutaisi, Racha and Svaneti regions and etc. But that’s for latter.

Since now volunteers are busy with leading clubs and preparing lessons online, we have a fair amount of time at home. I use this time to experiment with food and crafts. To learn how to make something I have never tried before. I share my good and bad food experiences with my flatmates. We even created a quote: “You burn - you learn“. Unfortunately, I use it pretty often.

I’m sure there are a lot of things I forgot to mention, but for now that’s it.

Best wishes and see you latter!

-Erika