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Hello everyone, my name is Apostolos. I’m 25 years old and from Greece. I have an MSc in Food Science and Nutrition, which I completed in Greece and in a few months, I’ll be starting my second one at the University of Copenhagen.
I have a curious and playful side — I love traveling, watching movies, getting into a good board game and listening to music. I also enjoy spending time with friends, especially over a glass of ouzo and staying active with volleyball and track and field.
This year, I decided to take a gap year because I wasn’t sure what direction to take after graduation. That’s when I found an opportunity with the Smokinya Foundation — an experience that completely changed my perspective in many ways. Although I stayed for about five months, I had the chance to work in an intercultural environment that helped me grow personally and professionally.
I interacted with people from many different countries — not only from Bulgaria, but also from Germany, Spain, Russia, the Netherlands, France, Kurdistan and more. It was a valuable experience that opened my mind and helped me better understand both myself and the world around me.
During my time at Smokinya Foundation, I was also involved in hosting local events, including a clean-up initiative and our weekly Smokinya Clubs — gatherings held every Thursday with a different theme each time. These events created a space for learning, sharing and community building. I’m especially proud that we organized a Greek Mythology Night, as well as an International Evening, where I had the opportunity to present and share aspects of my culture and traditions from Greece. These moments allowed me to connect with others on a deeper level and celebrate cultural diversity.
During my time with Smokinya Foundation, some of my favorite moments were the trips with other volunteers around Bulgaria and Greece. I also really enjoyed the fun times at the office and living together in our flat. One special place was a village called Mrachenik. As someone who grew up near Mount Olympus, I loved the nature and quiet there — it felt like home.
As part of my personal project, I created a cookbook called “52 Weeks of Fig”. My love for food has always inspired me—not just cooking, but also understanding the science behind ingredients. While volunteering with the Smokinya Foundation in early 2025, I was inspired by the meaning of their name (“fig” in Bulgarian) to create a cookbook featuring recipes from across Europe that include figs in every dish. The book celebrates the rich diversity of European cuisine, with 52 recipes that tell stories about different cultures and flavors. I hope it inspires others to enjoy cooking and exploring new tastes.
I would definitely recommend ESC to other young people! It’s a great chance to grow, learn new things and explore places outside your usual life. This project showed me that life is about much more than just school or work — it’s limited, and experiences like this help you appreciate every moment.
As my time here comes to an end, I’m going back home with new motivation and a mindset to keep learning and improving myself. I’m also taking with me so many great memories and friends that I’ll always treasure.
This program is co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps program of the European Union.
The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an
endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be
held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. //
Подкрепата на Европейската комисия за изготвянето на настоящата публикация не представлява
одобрение на съдържанието, което отразява гледните точки само на авторите и не може да се търси
отговорност от Комисията за всяка употреба, която може да бъде използвана за информацията,
съдържаща се в нея.
