Author: Miriam Rubio

I find it incredible that a year has passed since I decided to come to Timisoara to do a European volunteering project. After a year of feeling lost and unmotivated, this experience came at the perfect time to give me back the desire and enthusiasm to do different things.

During this year, I have done more things than I can remember, and I have learned in so many aspects, that I still need time to process it. From construction and DIY, through marketing and social networks, to community engagement and facilitating activities for young people…

But it has also been a process of learning and personal discovery that has given me a lot. Living with 15 people in the same space has made me realize how important respect, patience, and empathy are. The multicultural environment in which we have moved here has made us more tolerant and aware of our weaknesses and strengths. We have experienced what solidarity is and we have learned a lot from each other. Despite some moments of chaos or small conflicts, there have been good vibes at Casa Tineretului all the time.

What, without a doubt, has made this experience something special and unrepeatable has been the people. Friends (who are already family), coordinators, youth workers, colleagues, locals… people who have inspired me and given me their time and love selflessly, and with whom I have shared everything. People who have made me feel at home from the first minute, and who have shown me that the bonds you create in experiences like these are much stronger than you can imagine at the beginning. They have made this something more than volunteering.

It is indisputable that what volunteering brings you goes far beyond the mere work you do in the host organization. But it is not only the project itself that makes this experience something remarkable that you will remember all your life. It’s all the extra hours you spend with colleagues, the talks that make you be more open-minded to new realities and points of view, teamwork, commitment, and dedication to a project that can have a very positive impact on the community… and, of course, all those fun moments you spend with your people.

Despite fatigue, improvisation or doubts, all this has been very worthwhile, and as much as I try to explain what all of this has meant for me, few people can understand it.

I have shared so many things, enjoyed everything so much, and received so many from others and from this experience… it excites me to know that I have been part of something so great that it has inspired, motivated, or encouraged other young people.

This will be with me forever and I hope to remember with pride that together with FITT and YCUP2, a group of international volunteers made magic.

I am back home exhausted but happy, grateful for the opportunity, proud of everything we achieved and looking forward to being back in Timisoara soon and seeing my dear adventure partners again.

So much has happened in such a short time that my head cannot assimilate them all. The permanent roller coaster I am riding on does not give me much respite to stop and think about everything that happened. But I have been in Timisoara for six months now, and the truth is that they have not been indifferent.

During these months, we have made practically everything: activities, events, trips, training, renovations, community engagement… and through all this, I have learned to be more decisive, to adapt myself to changes that may arise at the last minute, to be more patient…

Thinking that I have already passed the project’s halfway point gives me vertigo and a bittersweet feeling. I sincerely believe that I am making the most of every day here, and I always try to do my best. Although we have also gone through some difficult times, positive things are much more significant than negative ones.

In addition, the learning process at all levels is so great that I am not aware of everything that I have changed in just six months. And that is just thanks to all the people I am surrounded by, who inspire me and help me improve every day.

Living this experience is allowing me to see beyond and be aware, more than ever, of my limitations, strengths, concerns and goals that I want to achieve. It is, without a doubt, an intense, imperfect and full of ups and downs adventure that is giving me lessons that I am sure I will never forget.

Because being a volunteer is much more than what I initially imagined. It is to be willing to do anything, help without expecting anything in return, give your best, and know how to do it with humility and respect. Being a volunteer is learning how to listen, not judge and contribute as many things and ideas as you can. It is opening your mind and heart without fear of the unknown and being willing to create bonds that overcome any problem or barrier. And definitively, it is to be aware that your small actions can generate significant changes in society and that the impact on the community may be possible.

Maybe when I decided to apply to this project, I did it because I did not have many other options then. But now, six months later, I can assure you that it is the best decision I could make, and, somehow, I am proud of that.

Being outside the great famous “comfort zone” allows me to test myself in many aspects and gives me the chance to know myself deeply, in a thoughtful way.

I know that I am where I need to be, and given the rapid passage of time, I can only make the most of the opportunity to be here and make this an unforgettable adventure.

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. 

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

We are looking for new local volunteers for the second edition of Youth Centres UP.

Youth Centres UP 2 is a long-term project organised by Timis County Youth Foundation (FITT) through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), in which 10 international volunteers from different countries and local volunteers are involved in setting up 10 new youth centres in the neighbourhoods of Timisoara. Through this project, we promote the participation of young people, as well as social inclusion, human rights, and solidarity. 

The project is a follow-up to its first edition organised by FITT in 2019, which had a real success, resulting in 5 new Youth Centres in the municipality of Timisoara: Calea Aradului, Calea Martirilor, Calea Șagului, Lipovei, Dâmbovița. It was one of the biggest projects organised ever in the county and in Romania: more than 90 international and local volunteers were involved in the renovation of the spaces for the Youth Centres. 

This is an incredible opportunity for the community and the youth of Timisoara and Timis county, an initiative that seeks to make them participate in the development of their neighbourhoods.  

For this year’s edition, they are the volunteers that are already here, ready to break the ground and build the best Youth Centres in your neighbourhood: Burak, Alperen and Fatih from Turkey, Esther and Miriam from Spain, Armando from Albania, Charlie from France and Ion from Moldova. You can meet them all on the 16^th of June, in our  Youth Centre in Sagului.   

As we will start the renovation and preparations to open the new youth centres, we will need more help, especially from the people that live in the area of the youth centres and understand the needs of the local youth, their mates and colleagues. If you are interested in being a part of our amazing team and help us organise the best activities for the local youth and spread the word of the new safe spaces, you can always apply on our website and be a local volunteer. 

And if you are not sure whether this is what you want, come to the Youth House (Str. Arieș 19) to find out more about us.