It’s already been half a year since I started volunteering with Youth for Equality, and every time I try to reflect on this journey, I realize just how much has happened and how much I’ve grown.
It all started in January. My name is Kristina (but friends call me Kika), I’m from Ukraine and have been living in Slovakia for the past four years. After completing my bachelor’s degree in political science, I wanted to find a place where I could apply my knowledge and continue growing and I found it here.
At first, everything felt a bit new — new tasks, people, social media, projects. But the team welcomed me with warmth, and day by day I started feeling like part of something meaningful.
Soon I had an unforgettable experience — On-Arrival Training in Nová Dubnica for ESC volunteers. It was my first time being surrounded by people from all corners of Europe (and beyond), united by the same goal — to make the world a little better. In a warm, friendly, and inspiring atmosphere, we learned more about volunteering, our rights and responsibilities, Youthpass, and participated in games, training, and workshops that helped us connect and become a real international team. I made new friends, gained valuable insights, and collected memories I’ll cherish forever.
From the very first weeks of my volunteering, I got involved in the Youth DemocrAID project — an initiative focused on civic engagement, democracy, and youth participation. For me, it wasn’t just an interesting task, but something truly meaningful and inspiring. I helped write content, organized and facilitated workshops for the first time in my life, and even co-hosted a podcast where we discussed the role of civic engagement and how young people can take the first steps toward making change. Each activity in this project helped me learn something new, challenge myself, and feel that I was making a real impact.
One of my local activities is organizing the monthly Quiz Night, held every last Wednesday. It’s an event that brings people together — regardless of age or background — for an evening of fun, teamwork, and curiosity. It’s not just a quiz — it’s an opportunity to test your knowledge on all kinds of topics (from history and music to logic and pop culture), meet new people, and enjoy a vibrant, light-hearted atmosphere.
Another local activity I’m proud of is the Women’s Club that I run every Thursday at the Charita Integration Centre. This is a space for Ukrainian women who were forced to leave their homes due to the war. In a warm and supportive atmosphere, we create a safe place where they feel heard, seen, and connected. Through creative workshops — embroidery, knitting, soap-making, painting — they can relax, express themselves, and rebuild their confidence. We also include games and informal Slovak language practice, helping to bridge cultures and build new lives with dignity and joy.
One of the most memorable experiences was the Voices of Tomorrow project, organized by our team with the support of the Visegrad Fund. It brought together participants from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine to explore themes of civic engagement, democracy, international cooperation, media, and podcasting. We didn’t just talk about media — we created content ourselves, held interviews, and recorded podcasts. The project was full of meaningful conversations, new connections, and shared inspiration.
And of course, one of the biggest highlights of the past weeks was City Health Week — a three-week program filled with learning, energy, and shared purpose. We gathered 10 volunteers from different countries to dive into topics like mental health, physical wellness, nutrition, and active living. The highlight was the City Health Week Festival in Bernolákov sad, where volunteers helped design the program, host activities, and create a space of learning and well-being for the public. It wasn’t just a festival — it was a celebration of everything we’d worked on and experienced together.
City Health Week became a space of strength, care, and awareness. It wasn’t just a project — it was a community, an energy, and a step toward becoming the best version of ourselves.
Volunteering has become more than just a project for me — it’s a journey. Into a new society, into teams with incredible people, and most importantly, into myself. It’s an experience that transforms and inspires — and I’m excited to see what the next months will bring!
