In July, we travelled to the beautiful town of Visegrád in Hungary, where we took part in the Mid-Term Meeting for European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteers.
The trip became one of the memorable moments of our volunteering experience. Spending several days in Visegrád gave us a chance to step away from our usual project routines, change our surroundings, meet other volunteers, and reflect on everything that had happened during the previous months.
The meeting brought together ESC volunteers from Hungary and other countries. Everyone came with a different project, background, responsibilities, experiences, and stories to share. It was especially interesting to hear how different international volunteering experiences can be, while at the same time discovering how much we have in common.
An important part of the meeting was dedicated to sharing our experiences as ESC volunteers. We talked about our projects, host organisations, daily activities, and what it is like to live and volunteer in another country.
Of course, we did not talk only about the positive moments. Volunteering abroad can also bring challenges: adapting to a different culture, communicating in another language, taking on new responsibilities, being far away from family and friends, and learning how to feel at home in an unfamiliar environment.
Although our projects and situations were different, we quickly realised that many of us had faced similar difficulties.
During the sessions, we discussed real situations from our projects, exchanged opinions, and tried to find possible solutions together. Sometimes, hearing another volunteer’s experience was enough to see your own situation from a completely different perspective.
Meetings like this are important because they remind you that you are not alone. There are people around you who are going through similar experiences, asking similar questions, and facing similar challenges. Having the opportunity to talk openly, listen to each other, and offer support can make difficult situations feel much easier to handle.
The Mid-Term Meeting was also a good opportunity to slow down and reflect on the journey we had already made.
When everyday life is full of activities, responsibilities, new people, and new experiences, it is easy to forget how much has changed since the beginning of the project.
During the meeting, we thought about the expectations we had when we first arrived and compared them with the way we see our volunteering experience now. We reflected on what we had learned, what had surprised us, what had been challenging, and which moments had been the most meaningful.
Over time, we have become more independent, gained new skills, met people from different countries, learned how to adapt to unfamiliar situations, and discovered more about other cultures — as well as ourselves.
The meeting helped us appreciate the journey we had already completed while also thinking about what we would still like to experience and achieve before the end of our projects.
Another important topic was the future.
As our projects continue, sooner or later we all start thinking about the same question: what comes next?
We shared our plans and ideas and talked about education, work, travelling, future international opportunities, and personal goals. Some volunteers already had a clear idea of what they wanted to do after their projects, while others were still exploring different possibilities.
And that is also part of the journey.
ESC gives us much more than experience in a particular organisation. During volunteering, we develop communication skills, learn how to work in an international environment, become more independent, solve unexpected problems, and learn how to connect with people from very different backgrounds.
We do not always notice these changes while they are happening. Taking some time to reflect on them helped us understand how valuable this experience can be for our future.
Of course, our days in Visegrád were not only about training sessions, workshops, and serious discussions!
Between the activities, we had plenty of time to talk, laugh, share stories, and get to know each other in a more informal atmosphere.
We explored Visegrád, enjoyed the beautiful surroundings, took photos, went for walks, and simply spent time together. These moments outside the training room became an important part of the whole experience.
This is also where you can really feel the international spirit of ESC. People from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds meet in one place as strangers, and only a few days later they are sharing jokes, stories, ideas, and plans to meet again.
The new connections were definitely one of the best parts of the trip. ESC is not only an opportunity to live abroad and gain new experience — it is also about the people you meet along the way. Some encounters become wonderful memories, while others can grow into friendships that continue long after the project is over.
The days in Visegrád passed quickly, and soon it was time to return to our volunteering projects.
But we came back with much more than before: new ideas, new perspectives, useful advice, new friendships, and fresh motivation for the months ahead.
The Mid-Term Meeting showed us how valuable it can be to stop for a moment and share our experiences with others. It allowed us to look at our own projects from a different perspective, find possible answers to some of our questions, and feel the support of the wider ESC community.
Our July trip to Visegrád left us with many warm memories — inspiring conversations, beautiful walks, laughter, new friendships, and moments that we will remember for a long time.
A big thank you to everyone who was part of the meeting for your openness, support, ideas, conversations, and the wonderful atmosphere!
This meeting became another important chapter of our ESC journey and reminded us of something simple but meaningful: every volunteer has their own path, but the journey becomes much more special when there are people around you to share it with.
