It feels like just yesterday I was writing my very first post – the one where I proudly said, “I’ve just become a volunteer!” And now, somehow, I’m already writing the last one, trying to fit ten unforgettable months into just a few paragraphs. Ten months sounds like a long time, but in Youth for Equality it went by faster than I could ever imagine.
So, let’s start with the basics – my name is Kristina, and I was a local volunteer at Youth for Equality in Trnava. But believe me, volunteering here was never “basic.” It wasn’t just about taking part in activities – it was about growing, learning, laughing and finding a second family.
When I first joined the organisation, I was honestly nervous. I wasn’t sure how I would find my place, and I was especially afraid of speaking English. But that fear didn’t last long. From the first day, I felt surrounded by support and encouragement. Our team was full of people who believed in me – who reminded me that mistakes are part of learning and that trying is what really counts. That kind of energy changes you.
Working alongside other volunteers was another highlight. Together, we were like a small, international family – each person bringing something unique to the table. We contributed ideas, supported one another and shared endless inside jokes over coffee breaks. Some days were chaotic, others calm, but there was always laughter and teamwork.
During my time with Youth for Equality, I had the chance to explore many different activities and discover where my interests and skills could contribute. I supported communication and social media by helping create posts, stories and other content documenting our projects and activities.
My background in political science actually came in handy – I got to contribute to Youth DemocrAID, one of the projects I became especially connected to, focused on youth civic engagement and democracy. With guidance from the team, I contributed to content and gradually became involved in preparing and co-facilitating workshops and discussions.
Co-facilitating workshops was something completely new for me at the beginning. I first joined colleagues and supported them during the activities, learning by observing and participating. As I became more confident, I gradually wanted to take a more active role in facilitation and had opportunities to share my own knowledge and perspectives with participants.
It was amazing to connect what I had studied with real community and educational activities and, at the same time, develop skills that I could never have learned only from university.
But volunteering wasn’t only about communication and workshops. As the months passed and I became more confident, I also had opportunities to bring some of my own ideas into the volunteering programme.
One of them was our monthly Quiz Night, which became a fun way to bring people together, learn something new and enjoy friendly competition. With support from the Youth for Equality team, I developed the idea and gradually took an active role in preparing and facilitating the evenings. Seeing people return, meet new friends and simply enjoy spending time together made this initiative especially meaningful to me.
Another important part of my volunteering was supporting the coordinators with the activities for Ukrainian women who had to move to Slovakia because of the war. Those meetings were full of stories, strength and empathy. Together with the team, I helped with creative and community activities and had the opportunity to spend time with women whose experiences taught me so much about resilience and community.
I also had space to explore my own interests and develop a small initiative connected to sustainability. With guidance and support from the Youth for Equality team, I could turn an issue that interested me personally into something creative and meaningful, experiment with different ideas and learn what it takes to develop an initiative from an initial idea into concrete activities and content.
Every project, every event, every workshop and every small conversation with people from different backgrounds made me realise how powerful connection can be.
Through Youth for Equality, I met so many inspiring individuals – some became friends, others mentors, and all of them shaped my experience in a unique way.
Looking back now, I can honestly say that these ten months gave me more than I ever expected. I learned to believe in myself, to take initiative and to see challenges as opportunities.
Perhaps the biggest change was that I gradually became more confident. At the beginning, I needed more guidance and was nervous about trying unfamiliar things. Over time, with support from the team and through learning by doing, I became comfortable contributing my own ideas, speaking in front of groups, co-facilitating workshops and taking more initiative in activities that were meaningful to me.
I found creativity in the small things – in designing a post, contributing to a workshop, developing an idea or simply bringing people together.
Volunteering at Youth for Equality wasn’t just a chapter in my life – it was a whole book filled with learning, laughter, friendship and growth. And as this story closes, I’m already curious about what the next one will be.
Working alongside other volunteers was another highlight. Together, we were like a small, international family — each person bringing something unique to the table. We planned events, supported one another, and shared endless inside jokes over coffee breaks. Some days were chaotic, others calm, but there was always laughter and teamwork.
During my time with Youth for Equality, I had the chance to explore so many different roles. I was helping with social media, creating posts and stories, and helping the organization show its personality online. My background in political science actually came in handy — I got to contribute to one of our biggest projects, Youth DemocrAID, which focused on youth civic engagement and democracy. It was amazing to connect what I had studied with real projects that made a difference.
But volunteering wasn’t just about working behind a screen. I also organized local activities — like our monthly Quiz Nights, which became a fun way to bring people together, learn something new, and enjoy friendly competition. And one of the most meaningful parts of my volunteering was to help coordinators to run a women’s club for Ukrainian women who had to move to Slovakia because of the war. Those meetings were full of stories, strength, and empathy — they taught me so much about resilience and community.
Every project, every event, every small conversation with people from all over Europe made me realize how powerful connection can be. Through Youth for Equality, I met so many inspiring individuals — some became friends, others mentors, and all of them shaped my experience in a unique way.
Looking back now, I can honestly say that these ten months gave me more than I ever expected. I learned to believe in myself, to take initiative, and to see challenges as opportunities. I found creativity in the small things — in designing a post, organizing an event, or simply bringing people together.
Volunteering at Youth for Equality wasn’t just a chapter in my life — it was a whole book filled with learning, laughter, friendship, and growth. And as this story closes, I’m already curious about what the next one will be.
