Author: Fatih Kaymakci

Here we are on our way to renovating the next Youth Center for the YCUP2 project. For a month, we will make our best to design a welcoming place for the youngsters around the Dacia market.  

But this project is not only about renovating, this is also about building a team, our team.  

Some of us are here for a long-term experience, some for a short term. Some also were already here last month and decided to stay longer to continue this experience. All of us are coming from different countries, have different backgrounds and reasons to be here. Eighteen volunteers will work, live, eat together for the next weeks.  

The first step is then to get to know each other and build a bond between us in a respectful and open-minded space. To do so, every member of the team took part in activities and games to learn about solidarity and cooperation. We shared here a bunch of meaningful and funny moments. 

And now it’s time to get our hands dirty. The former heating space is huge and has a lot of potential thanks to the big windows and the high ceiling. To reveal it, a lot of work needs to be done and organized within the next weeks.  

– Cleaning and recycling the furniture; 

– Making a welcoming facade and entrance; 

– Cleaning the outside areas; 

– Cleaning and repairing the bathroom; 

– Scrapping and repairing the walls (inside and outside); 

– Levelling the floor; 

– Painting the walls. 

In this cloud full of dust, our work is changing the place hours after hours. Inside and outside are both stormed by our hands. Everyone finds his way to participate in the team effort. To make things easier we are divided into three teams (Boom, Shaka, Laka). Each one has a team leader with who we can discuss our tasks.  

Sharing is the watchword: advice on how to do the work, ideas, how to organize the effort. But also, and not the least, to hold the ladder for another to safely make a change. All this proves that we need each other competencies and energy to actually do something. And it is exciting to wonder what we will be able to achieve in such a short time until the opening event on the 11th of December.

Before I came to Romania, I thought that one year was too much, but now when I look back, six months have passed so quickly. Even when you move from one place to another in your city, many things change your life. Some of them are conscious, some of them not. So moving to another country is a challenge itself. Putting everything aside and starting a new life for one year it’s like intensive life school.

I am learning by experiencing living with people from different countries. When you get to know more people, you also discover what you are doing, true or wrong, good or bad.

A lot of things have changed in my life. First, I met new people, and some of them will stay special for me. Secondly, you can see yourself more precisely what have you done or what haven’t you done in your life.

We did a lot of different kinds of activities, from cleaning the space to organising activities, collecting signatures, or making videos. Maybe I didn’t give my best in some of the activities, but I had enjoyed them a lot. 

We had some difficult times like everyone during this period. It has taught me a lot: how to be more tolerant, more patient, but also more critical. If you can see or evaluate yourself objectively, you can get the results if it’s worth it or not spending time in another country with many people in the same house.

Last but not least

I wanted to be here because I didn’t have anything to do better and I do not regret it at all. On the contrary, I am glad I am here because I am in the middle of my ’20s and I have time to be part of this team. It’s an excellent experience because when I turn 30’s, I will not have time and motivation for this kind of activities.

Maybe Romania is unknown to many people but it was not the same for me. I have been here before; moreover, my father has been here for a long time ago.

Let’s see what time will decide for me. I already have passed my six months. I hope the next six months will be better than these. 😊

Ciao, I am Fatih from Turkey, and this is my first post during my volunteering experience!

They say that every person shapes their destiny. But I think sometimes we just can’t. At least the part of my life in Romania is happening out of my control.

My family’s story with Romania began in 1996. I was six months old and my father worked in a gum company in Turkey. When the company moved to Romania, he had to leave us for six months and embark on his first experience abroad.

After a very long time in 2017, it was my turn to meet Romania. I discovered the EVS (now ESC) program and participated in a short-term volunteering program in Arad. Just like my father, my first abroad experience was in Romania. My volunteering experience in Arad had taken only five weeks. I took a role in organizing sports activities such as public running and football. Still, I tasted the Romanian culture and then I came back to my country and got my bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration in 2019 but I couldn’t have a chance to work in my field. Then I got a job in Customer Services. After seven months, I felt that it was not what I needed, so I quitted.

I started searching online for volunteering projects and found a 1-year project from FITT. I liked the idea of building and reshaping youth centres for the community, so I decided to take action. I thought that this would be an excellent opportunity for me, so I applied to the project. That’s how I met FITT.

My application process with FITT was very fast. I got my visa in one month. During my university period, I took part in some volunteering projects, but I didn’t have much time for volunteering after graduation. Now I have a whole year as a volunteer, and I want to use this opportunity as much as I can.

Today I am in Romania. I have stopped making plans. Let’s see what Romania will decide about my destiny!