Month: July 2021

Several months have passed since we arrived in Romania to volunteer with the ESC project Youth Centres UP 2. Since then, the experience, which is still intense, has gone through different phases. We arrived in Timisoara without many expectations but with a great desire to give the best of ourselves. We found ourselves in a country of solidarity, open and full of young people wanting to change things. 

After a year of pandemic, in which fear and uncertainty paralysed us, being part of a youth movement in a country that has historically been as undervalued as Romania allows us to grow and see beyond.   

It is necessary to admit that it is difficult to imagine yourself in a project that requires solidarity and unity while going through a dark period like the pandemic. However, Romania has demonstrated to be a resilient country, where people always support each other when it comes to develop and improve. It is a real pleasure to work shoulder to shoulder with them as change-makers.  

Furthermore, Romania is a great country, diverse, with potential, and committed to young people -you just have to see the number of projects, activities, and events that are taking place now-, and we are lucky to be part of them. In addition to this, the number of local people involved and with whom you can share work, experiences, and time is unbelievable. The best way to get to know a country in depth is through its people. In this sense, we could not have been more fortunate.  

In addition, long-term projects with ESC allow you to live and work with people from other countries. They are also an excellent opportunity to learn and adapt yourself to different cultures. Although it sometimes seems a complex challenge, these experiences as volunteers let you grow and broaden your horizons. In our case, being change-makers encompasses all this.  

In the end, the best thing about volunteering is realizing that you are surrounded by people who were strangers at first, and they are now an essential part of the experience. At that moment, you wonder why you have not done it before. 

Esther, Miriam, and Burak

This is the story of the three musketeers, namely Armando, Fatih, and Alperen, or Alpi, as known by many. We three met in Timisoara, Romania, a month and a half after the first of us, Alpi, came here. When we first met we did not know what we might have encountered and undergo altogether. After bounding up on a surface level, we also got to know and observe each other at the working place. We also realised that we got each other’s back during the challenging atmosphere that we went through altogether after some time of bonding.

Our volunteering time here included working with young people, contacting and communicating with locals and learning the authentic, local cultural elements. Looking at the months we had together here in Romania; we see that we acquired a lot; the culture, the language, working methods, communication style, and overall, working as a team.

On the other hand, our experience does not only encompass the socio-cultural aspects. Before our time in Romania, all of us had not lived in a country abroad for a long time, experiencing the live-on-your-own situation before. Therefore, taking care of yourself, cooking, shopping, and basically being a fully-fledged adult was one of the best things we, the three musketeers, have had as a teaching experience and something we would be grateful for ESC and Romania.

Finally, for the young people out there thinking about being a volunteer for the ESC program, having an experience abroad, and impacting the communities in need all over Europe, we suggest and encourage you to go on and do it, and let the experience make you a better you for your future!

With all fun and respect.

The Three Musketeers