ESC Health Week 2024

Volunteering can be a transformative experience, offering more than just an opportunity to help others. It can also be a chance to step out of your comfort zone, gain new perspectives, and grow both personally and professionally. We recently participated in a European Solidarity Corps project in Trnava, Slovakia, during City Health Week for three weeks, and we would like to share our journey and the impact it had on our lives

Mariella’s experience of living and working in an international environment 

When I saw the list of participants for the first time, I was super fascinated to see which countries the other volunteers came from: Finland, Turkey, Armenia, Poland, Italy…

I was very fascinated, but also worried about what it would be like to work and live with people from different cultural backgrounds.

However, these concerns quickly evaporated when I met my three other flatmates in the apartment. I felt very comfortable with them right from the start and I quickly got used to living together, even though I had never lived with anyone other than my family before. We often sat down on our couch after work and just talked: about life, the peculiarities of our home country, our future and so on…

Having just left school, I found the lives and plans of the other volunteers super inspiring and I was able to take a lot from our discussions for my own plans for the future. 

Also during the workshops, I always had the feeling that we were working together. Of course, there were sometimes problems with understanding, which was also due to the fact that English is not anyone’s mother tongue here, but we overcame these too by asking more detailed questions. While I was preparing a workshop with three other volunteers, I first had to get used to the approaches of the others, as they were completely different from the ones I had learnt at school. It was a challenge for me to engage with the different approaches at first, but we still managed to reconcile our different ideas.

For me, these three weeks were a super intensive and above all inspiring time, during which I learnt a lot about life in other European countries. The project helped me to be more open to other views and to approach other people with curiosity.

Living in slovakia and side activities by Irene

Before leaving home I was scared because I didn’t know what to expect from this project. But now that I have completed this journey, I am very happy to have experienced so many new adventures.

The program was structured so that every day after work and every weekend, we volunteers had free time to relax or explore new parts of Slovakia or the city. Trnava is well connected to other cities thanks to its train and bus stations. Getting around was very easy, especially with the help of apps that indicate which transport to take. Due to the country’s safety, I always felt secure, even when traveling alone.

Trnava is a green and clean town, hiding unexpected attractions like the „Synagogue Café,“ a café situated inside a synagogue. Every weekend, there is a market in the historic center where you can buy beautiful plants and delicious local specialties, such as „halusky,“ a type of pasta similar to gnocchi, which can have various toppings, both sweet and savory, and is really tasty!

Bicycles are widely used in Trnava, and Youth for Equality, the volunteer agency, generously provided us with bikes, making it quicker and easier to get around, thanks to the numerous bike paths.

Besides exploring, we were given many opportunities to spend our afternoons, such as Spanish courses, art therapy, dance classes, and other activities that allowed us to get to know each other better and enjoy fun afternoons. Having a united group made the experience more enjoyable. For many, it was their first volunteering experience away from home, but finding a team of kind people ready to help each other made everything more beautiful and fun. We tried to stay together outside of work through outings and evenings, like when we all watched Eurovision together.

This experience was very formative; it helped me become more independent and open with others. It’s something I would highly recommend. If you feel like challenging yourself, discovering new places, and being ready to help others, this is an experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories.

Bogna’s experience

I would like to share my personal experience about participating in the project. I came here to take a break from my daily life and think more about my career choices. As a pediatric physiotherapist who provides individual treatments for kids, I have really missed something: working in an international team, developing soft skills, doing projects, and creating them with other adults. I got all of these here, and I can definitely see myself in this type of work. It gives me a new perspective, opens my horizons, and makes me think more about how I could use all of that in the future.

I feel like this is a good start for changing my career and choosing a job that lets me actually use my other skills. The game changer for me was that, thanks to the project, I was able to test myself and make sure that I could see myself in this environment. I have become more confident with my English, and I have developed team-building and communication skills. Luckily, we had workshops about creating CVs, which was really helpful for me to improve mine and make it more professional.

The biggest inspiration for me was the people that I met here. When it comes to life choices, the best eye-opening experience is just talking to others. It was amazing to hear all of their stories and get inspired by them. Being surrounded by young and motivated people makes you feel like you want to act, explore, discover, and just live life to the fullest.My next step will definitely be searching for other projects and opportunities that will help me grow as a person. I have the idea of starting new studies and maybe trying to apply for jobs that are outside the field of education.

Volunteering abroad in a health project in Slovakia offers a unique opportunity for individuals to contribute to the well-being of local communities while gaining valuable experience. Volunteers in Slovakia typically engage in various health-related activities, assisting with public health campaigns, and supporting local healthcare initiatives. This experience allows volunteers to develop their skills in a real-world setting, understand different healthcare systems, and immerse themselves in the local culture. Additionally, volunteering in Slovakia provides a chance to make a meaningful impact on the health and lives of the local population, fostering both personal and professional growth.

Mariella, Irene and Bogna