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Hello! Welcome to the Wild Vibes recap. Since February 2025, we hosted 7 young people for 3 months and more in Mrachenik, rural village in the Sredna Gora region. All working together to renovate an old school into a volunteering and training center while connecting with rural life and locals.
We currently have two volunteer staying for 6-12 months and nine others staying for 3 months this summer!
If you wanna join, all the details are HERE
You can already apply HERE
We will cover weekly progress through the so-called “Weekly Recaps”. Here we will give a brief overview of what is happening in this little village called Mrachenik and report on our experiences.
A Week of Challenge, Teamwork, and Creativity
The week began on Monday, 29 June, with the final stage of an unforgettable hiking adventure, where participants from the Into the Wild project and the volunteers hiked together to complete a journey that had started on Sunday at 4:00 a.m. Monday brought two different routes: one group completed a shorter walk, reaching a total of 35 km, while the longer route challenged hikers with an impressive 46 km. Beyond the distance covered, the experience became a lesson in perseverance, teamwork, and connection with nature.
After returning from the hike, everyone gathered to reflect on the experience. Stories were shared about the challenges faced along the way and the importance of working as a team rather than as individuals. Nobody was left behind—everyone waited for one another, offered support whenever it was needed, and celebrated each achievement together. Time spent observing nature also reminded us how rushing through life often causes us to miss the beauty and small details surrounding us.
Tuesday marked the return to practical work around the project site. Activities were divided into two main groups: one continued working on the roof, while another focused on restoring the doors. Careful preparation came first, including cleaning and sanding the surfaces before applying several coats of paint to give the doors a fresh, new look.
By Wednesday, participants and volunteers were working side by side across several tasks. While the roofing team continued its steady progress, others split into groups to clear weeds around the bridge and central stairs, as well as remove branches and sticks from the road. In the afternoon, painting work continued with additional layers added to the doors and the start of restoration on one of the windows. The day also included a shared activity around flowers and herbs, where roses were collected for syrup and tea, while dry mint and thyme were sorted and prepared. More mint was bundled for drying, and some flowers were collected for seeds to be planted later in the garden, adding new life and decoration to the space.
Thursday brought even more creativity to the project. Roofing work continued as usual, while another group focused on transforming the doors and windows with colorful designs that brought the space to life. Above one of the doors, the small window received special attention as damaged wooden pieces were repaired, carefully measured, nailed into place, and painted. The day also included a unique personal challenge, with several volunteers and participants taking part in a full-day silence challenge, communicating without speaking and discovering new ways to connect with one another.
Friday combined creativity with practical improvements. Artistic work on the door and window designs continued, while another group learned crochet techniques to create decorative coverings for the tops of the curtains. Others worked outdoors, digging and leveling the ground to create a pathway leading to the entrance of the barn. Throughout the day, the roofing team continued its dedicated work. As evening arrived, everyone gathered for one final dinner with the participants before celebrating the week together with music, laughter, and a small farewell party.
Saturday was filled with goodbyes as the participants departed after an inspiring and productive week. Although one chapter came to an end, another was just beginning. The participants continued on to new adventures, while the volunteers remained to continue the journey.
The story isn’t over yet—it’s simply turning the page. Stay tuned to discover what the next chapter of the volunteers’ adventure will bring.
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.
This program is co-funded by the Erasmus+ / European Solidarity Corps program of the European Union.
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.
