Hello everyone!
My three months as an ESC volunteer in Mrachenik with the Smokinya Foundation
have come to an end, and it is time to look back at this incredible journey.
When I first arrived, everything was new, but adapting to the environment and the
community rhythm became a beautiful process. For the first two months, everything
went incredibly smoothly. We worked hard on a wide variety of activities, because
volunteering is all about flexibility and diverse experiences. We focused heavily on
community development, helping the local village and supporting its inhabitants.
Among our practical projects, we did maintenance work at the school and built new
benches for the community. We also had the chance to travel and explore, which is
another beautiful and essential part of the volunteering experience. It was a time of
pure productivity, meaningful connections, and positive energy.
However, a real volunteering experience is not just about the easy days; it is also
about how you face challenges. The last two weeks of the project were quite tough
for our group. We hit a rough patch when almost everyone got sick at the same time,
which led to a bit of a collective emotional crisis. It was a difficult period to handle,
and spirits were low.
But this is exactly where the true spirit of the European Solidarity Corps showed up.
We supported each other through the hardest days, shared the workload, and looked
after one another. Thanks to this deep mutual support, we managed to overcome the
crisis and finish our project successfully.
This experience taught me a lot about myself. I discovered a deep sense of
resilience and learned how powerful teamwork and empathy can be when things
don’t go as planned. I am leaving Bulgaria with a grateful heart, new skills, and
meaningful bonds with the other volunteers and the beautiful people of the village.
Thank you, Smokinya, for this unforgettable learning chapter!
Best regards,
Flavia
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 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.
