Month: August 2021

In the 3^rd week of the project, we got our positive vibes volunteer, Yogesh Kumar, back. We started working as one team rather than splitting into four groups. As a solo team, every volunteer helped his or her colleague and tried each group’s task. In this way, we tried each kind of work without getting bored by one work. However, the work was more physical, but being energised by our committed and diligent coordinator, Alex Foale, it became more convenient.  

The tasks that we did this week are the following: 

• Fixing the roof
• Scratching the garden walls
• Making furniture for garden through pallets
• Painting windows
• Scratching and painting of some walls
• Community engagement

With persistent progress, we finished some works this week, like fixing the roof, scratching the garden walls and the walls of the rooms. The roof was renovated by removing extra still rocks and filling holes with cement. Moreover, in the garden we did the scratching of walls, clearing out the excess branches, and setting up the furniture made through pallets. Moreover, we finished the scratching of all room’s walls. These were the first achievements that we received after continuous hard work. Everyone was happy and we got the treat of some delicious ice creams from a school.  

In addition, as the walls were being scratched completely, we started painting on them. But before that, we cleaned profoundly all the rooms so that dust cannot spoil the paint. This painting part was so fun and exciting that made everybody dance. Also, this work was not that much hard as compare to others, as it was under shadow and not that much physical.  

Equally important, this week we did two community engagements with some new ideas to distribute the flyers and that resulted in the addition of three new local volunteers. They brought new energy to work and that boosted us to work more and more.  

To conclude, this week went with lots of accomplishments and achievements; we finished almost 50% of the whole work. This all happened because of our solidarity and incessant struggle. Furthermore, the local community is also energising us by contributing their part, either by donating useful things or by helping us as volunteers.    

Lately, I have been thinking many times about how I want my future to be. Although things have changed a lot since the last time we could go out without a mask, and we did not have a curfew, life goes on, and we have to adapt to new circumstances.

For this reason, after finishing my university studies last year and realizing that my professional career could not start as I had planned, I decided that volunteering in Europe was the best option. I have always wanted to do volunteering, and due to lack of time and other excuses, I have postponed many times. 

The last months have not been easy for anyone, we have had to learn how to deal with certain challenging situations with fear and uncertainty, and we have witnessed how our freedom was reduced day by day.  However, when in January I proposed to my friend Esther to apply to ESC, we did not doubt it. “It is now or never,” we thought.

Surprisingly for us, the whole selection process was pretty quick, and in a month and a half, we were getting ready to come to Romania. I know we are so lucky to have the chance to live this experience together. We are friends since we were just three years old. I think, Romania is a beautiful country, which is sometimes so underrated, and getting involved in a valuable project like Youth Centres Up 2 is a great chance. 

Besides those mentioned above and after my Erasmus in Finland in 2015, which was an incredible experience that opened my mind incredibly, I discovered the European Solidarity Corps. That’s when I thought that any opportunity to live abroad gives you a priceless experience that takes you out of your comfort zone and forces you somehow to improve yourself every day. Hence, one way or another, we feel like we should make the most out of this adventure. 

In this case, the level of responsibility is high, but we have to commit to our decisions. If not, progress will never happen. Now we need to work side-by-side with other young people on a joint project that will unite us, with which we will explore new things, and learn a lot. Undoubtedly, although challenging situations will come, this experience will enrich us in many aspects. 

Finally, after a few months here in Timisoara, I feel comfortable, proud of the decision I have made, and welcomed by a group of extraordinary people.

Apart from that, I realize that whenever we think we know the future, even for a second, it changes. Sometimes it changes quickly and completely, and we are left only with the choice of what to do next. We can choose to be afraid of it, to stand there, trembling, not moving, assuming the worst that can happen, or we can choose to go on with the best possible attitude. 

In the end, I think it is just about taking a step forward into the unknown and assume it will be brilliant. 

The first week of the project Solidarity for Lugoj aimed to build the team and learn teamwork and lots of things necessary to accomplish the work.

So in the 2^nd week, we gathered in the youth centre and the president of FITT divided us into 4 groups and assigned tasks for building renovation. I would rather say building the youth centre rather than renovating, as some tasks really demand real construction.

The teams started work and did their assigned tasks, which include:

According to statistically significant data, we almost finished 30 per cent of the entire work in the first week, which was more encouraging for all team members. In addition, we also did community engagement in person as well as on social media and we got two friends from the local community who helped us a lot during our work.

Furkan, member of group 1

I wasn’t expecting it to be so hard but I find the roof work the most difficult part because we were working under the sun and we clean it thoroughly. My teammates cleaned the room and took out all the old stuff from the roof. We also scratched some parts of the wall and cleaned the floor. The tasks were difficult but as a team, we helped each other and finished most of the hard parts in the first week.

Bidzo, member of group 2

The first day, I felt it is difficult and we took out all the old stuff from rooms like shelves, piano tables and chairs.

We cleaned the rooms and scratched the walls and we almost finished the painting of the walls in the first week. The group was energetic and all members were enjoying at the same time while working together. It was an amazing experience working with friends from different countries.

Simon, member of group 3

We were eight people, the task was difficult but when I saw my friends working hard shoulder by shoulder I forget the hardships and started working with my full energy. We cleaned the room, broke the wooden floor, and scratched the walls and ceiling. We filled the holes with cement paste, cleaned the room and made it ready for a new painting and floor finishing.

Galandar , member group 4

I was excited on the first day, our task was to clean the garden and cut the bushes and extra grass. Our group members divided the tasks and some started scratching the boundary wall of the garden. Others cleaned the garden. It wasn’t that difficult for us and we almost finished half of the work in the first week. The work became more enjoyable when we played music and while working we were dancing as well. That helped us not to feel tired during work.

We are looking forward to the next challenges!

Sometimes, I wonder how something as simple as a single question can change your life that much.

-Shall we go? –Let’s go!

This is how my conversation with my friend Miriam ended the day we decided to go somewhere else to be volunteers.

I have always been a girl who has thought that we all “have´´ to follow a standard life path for my background and surroundings. Fortunately, or unfortunately, 2020 came to our lives to change them at all. It has given us bad days, and it was, in my case, a rollercoaster of feelings though, I have lived through moments that if it hadn’t been for the pandemic situation, I would not have probably.

There will always be people telling you it is not a good time to have this kind of experience due to the world situation but, on the contrary, it was the best one for me.

I started my professional career in events management and marketing (what I studied for) when the Covid-19 appeared. Then, I went back to my hometown for almost a year (I left it when I was 18). I have excellent memories of what I did and who I spent my days with “there is nothing like being home ;)´´

I guess at some point, we all have felt lost this weird year. That was when I realised I had to do something else (because nothing ventured, nothing gained).

I have had two other experiences abroad, and I have always had the feeling to do it again. I do not know what the future has to offer me, but I am sure that it was the right idea to come to Timisoara.

Firstly, everybody doubts what will happen when it comes to an abroad experience, and I was not far. If I am honest, my expectations were not high. I think it was because the selection process was speedy, and I was not aware of the reality yet (I got my flight ticket one week after the interview).

Flights to Timisoara

After a one-day trip (and a few goodbyes), I arrived in Timisoara ready to have one of the best experiences in my life.

I am willing to work, learn a lot from everything and everyone, discover a new country and new people I will live and work with, have fun, and, one of the things I value most, grow personally and professionally.

Every part of the project has exceeded my expectations so far, and I am looking forward to seeing what has to come.

I always remember a phrase which says: ‘You win some, you learn some’. In this case, my insight is you do both, though.