Want to learn about the benefits of our courses? Click here: https://smokinya.com/testimonials/
Hello, unknown readers!
I hope you are doing well. My name is Batoul Khaled, and this is my little story from Smokinya
Foundation.
Technically, this should be a midterm evaluation, but honestly, for me, it feels more like a pre-
midterm reflection because I have only been here for about a month. Even in this short time,
so many things have happened that I already feel like I have learned a lot.
I relocated from Italy at the end of June. I arrived later than expected because of some
unexpected circumstances, and somehow, I arrived on the exact same day as the participants
of the Into the Wild project.
Imagine walking into a place full of strangers, hearing different languages everywhere, trying to
remember names, and not even knowing who was a participant and who was a volunteer.
That was me. I was overwhelmed.
Everything was new—the people, the tasks, the culture, the village, and even the rhythm of
everyday life.
The first week was definitely the hardest. Back home, I had a very comfortable life. I was
honestly treated like a princess. During university, I lived in a small room where someone
helped with cleaning and cooking. Then suddenly, I found myself carrying wood, cleaning
shared spaces, helping with daily responsibilities, and living in a small village where good
internet became a luxury.
The change was huge.I was used to spending most of my days indoors—studying on my laptop,
scrolling through my phone, watching series, and relaxing in my own room. But deep inside, I
knew I didn’t want my life to stay like that forever. I kept asking myself:”When I’m older, what
stories will I have to tell?” I didn’t want my answer to be: “I spent my life inside my room.” I
wanted adventures.I wanted challenges. I wanted memories. That is why I came here—not to
stay comfortable, but to discover the world around me and the person I am becoming.
At first, almost nothing felt easy. Building wooden constructions, cleaning, working on social
media, sharing spaces, and adapting to a completely different lifestyle all felt difficult. I won’t
lie—I struggled. But little by little, every day became easier.I started opening up to the
participants. We shared stories about our countries, cultures, dreams, and struggles. I quickly
realized that talking about your difficulties makes them feel lighter. Everyone was carrying
something, some people missed home, others struggled with communication, and others were
trying to understand themselves. Listening to their stories made me realize I wasn’t alone. Even
though our challenges were different, we were all growing together. Then something
unexpected happened.I found myself wishing the participants could stay longer. Only a week
earlier, I was wondering how I would survive living with so many people. Now, I didn’t want them
to leave. It’s amazing how quickly strangers can become people you genuinely care about.
A Second Chance
The second week felt calmer. I slowly understood the routine, and
everything started feeling more natural.Then came an activity that
surprised me: CORCHETTTTTT !!!!
Last summer, I decided I wanted to learn crochet, but I gave up
after only a few days because I thought I wasn’t patient enough.
So when I had to crochet here, I expected the same result, but this
time, I loved it. Maybe I became more patient, maybe I stopped
expecting perfection. Seeing something slowly take shape in my
hands made me proud. It reminded me that sometimes failure is
not the end of the story. Sometimes it just means the timing wasn’t
right.
Smokinya has become more than just a volunteering experience. It has given me time to
reflect, discover myself, and try things I never expected. One example is my fear of animals. I
used to be afraid of cats, but slowly they became part of my daily life. This showed me that even
small changes can represent big personal growth.
I am also learning to understand people better. Everyone has their own story, and sometimes
we need to be patient before judging others. The volunteers who were strangers a few weeks
ago have now become people I work, laugh, and share moments with.
Of course, not every day is easy, but I am learning to see challenges as opportunities to grow.
After only one month, Smokinya has already taught me to be more open, patient, and brave
enough to step outside my comfort zone.
Want to learn about the benefits of our courses? Click here: https://smokinya.com/testimonials/
Should you have a question, contact us: info@smokinya.com.
Финансирано от Европейския съюз. Изразените възгледи и мнения обаче принадлежат изцяло на техния(ите) автор(и) и не отразяват непременно възгледите и мненията на Европейския съюз или на Европейската изпълнителна агенция за образование и култура (EACEA). За тях не носи отговорност нито Европейският съюз, нито EACEA.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
