Hello! It’s me, Abdullah from Türkiye.
This is my moment to reflect on my volunteering journey, a journey that began in February and continued until December. Looking back, so many things have changed. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of this experience.
I never imagined that a single year away from home could shift my perspective on life so deeply… but that’s how life works. We keep changing, and the only thing that never changes is change itself.
My experience started with the On-Arrival Training, meeting other volunteers from all around Slovakia. I arrived as a newcomer, just like everyone else – unsure, curious, and excited.
We learned, we explored, we supported each other, and months later at the Mid-Term Training, we saw how far we had come. I met amazing people here, people I will stay connected with long after this project ends. They shaped me, inspired me, and helped me see the world through new eyes.
SO WHAT DID I DO THROUGHOUT THIS VOLUNTEERING YEAR?
A lot – but what changed the most was how I participated in these activities.
At the beginning, I mostly joined activities together with our coordinators and youth workers, observing, supporting and learning how things worked. As the months passed, I became more confident and gradually started contributing more of my own ideas and taking a more active role.
I regularly supported weekly English conversation classes, which brought together participants of different ages and backgrounds. These meetings gave me a chance not only to practice communication but also to learn how informal activities can create connections between people who might otherwise never meet.
I also joined monthly hiking activities, where we explored Slovak nature together. For me, hiking became another simple but powerful way of bringing people together and creating space for conversations and new friendships.
One of the biggest learning experiences was supporting workshops for high-school students. I initially joined our youth workers and helped them with energizers, team-building exercises and different parts of the programme. By observing experienced colleagues and receiving their guidance, I gradually learned more about non-formal education and facilitation.
As my confidence grew, I became more actively involved in co-facilitating parts of workshops and discussions. I contributed to activities connected to topics such as digital skills, AI, soft skills, civic engagement and youth participation.
Standing in front of a group of students was not something that felt natural to me at the beginning. Over time, however, it became one of the experiences that showed me how much I had developed during my volunteering.
I also regularly joined and supported our coordinators with activities for children, young people and different community groups. These experiences taught me how different every group can be and how important it is to adapt, listen and communicate.
Another important part of my experience was contributing to team volunteering projects such as City Health Week and Mobility Week. Together with other volunteers and the Youth for Equality team, I supported activities, contributed ideas and helped during public events. Being part of larger activities showed me how much preparation and cooperation happens behind the scenes and how important every person in a team can be.
I also had opportunities to represent Youth for Equality together with colleagues and other volunteers at public fairs and community events, where we shared information about volunteering opportunities and our activities.
Another meaningful experience was being involved in an integration programme for foreigners and immigrants in Trnava. I joined meetings and activities and had an opportunity to learn more about the experiences of people building their lives in a new country.
As I became more confident, I also had space to develop an idea that was personally meaningful to me – an initiative focused on connecting foreigners and creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds to meet and interact.
With guidance and support from the Youth for Equality team, I could explore how this idea might work in practice and contribute to activities where people could meet, communicate and feel more connected to the local community.
For me, this initiative was closely connected to my own experience of living abroad. Being a foreigner myself helped me understand how important even small opportunities for connection can be when you arrive somewhere new.
One of the most meaningful parts of these ten months has been meeting people from different cultures, languages, and backgrounds. This made me realize how much connection can grow from even the smallest interactions.
Beyond all the activities, this year became a personal transformation.
I strengthened my communication, organization, facilitation and digital competencies. I discovered new interests like cooking, content creation and exploring AI tools. I learned to trust myself more, to adapt, to take responsibility and to keep moving even when things felt unfamiliar or difficult.
Most importantly, I learned through experience.
At the beginning of my volunteering, I often needed guidance and preferred supporting others while learning how activities were implemented. Over time, I became more comfortable contributing ideas, communicating with groups, supporting and co-facilitating workshops, and taking more initiative.
Every workshop, every event, every conversation taught me something.
Today, I continue to grow, learn, and look forward to the future with excitement. I believe deeply in community, creativity, and learning through real experience.
And I’m ready for whatever comes next – new experiences, new people, new stories.
For now, dovidenia, Slovensko.
