Naši ESS volonteri iz Španjolske, María i César, sudjelovali su na višednevnom treningu za međunarodne volontere u Orahovici.

Trening je bio namijenjen svim novopridošlim volonterima u Hrvatskoj iz različitih dijelova Europe, kako bi dobili korisne informacije potrebne za uspješno volontersko iskustvo. Trening je organizirala Agencija za mobilnost i programe Europske unije.

 

Maríjino iskustvo:

Pokušala sam doći u Orahovicu bez ikakvih očekivanja, a ako sam ih i imala, ona su premašena. Gledajući unatrag, mogu reći da je to bio potpun, nevjerojatan i obogaćujući tjedan.

Što se tiče aktivnosti, one su uspostavile ravnotežu između pružanja znanja i učenja korisnih stvari – kako za samo volontiranje tako i za osobni razvoj – a pritom su bile praktične, zabavne i dinamične. Stoga cijenim rad trenera i sve uključeno osoblje. Snežana i Mirela dodale su svoju iskru ovom tjednu, kao i Martina koja je bila vrlo uslužna i pažljiva u raznim aspektima.

Sada se osjećam staloženije na ovom putu i imam jasnije ciljeve, kao i dublje razumijevanje cijele mreže koju podrazumijeva volontiranje. Ovaj tjedan mi je omogućio da otkrijem nove dijelove sebe i izgradim veze s ljudima iz različitih zemalja i kultura, na čemu sam jako zahvalna. Bilo je smijeha, ali i podrške. Upoznavši ljude koji su u istoj fazi kao ja, osjećala sam se bolje shvaćenom i kao kod kuće. Ostali smo u kontaktu i čak planiramo ponovna okupljanja i putovanja.

S druge strane, samo mjesto je bilo savršeno - unutrašnji objekti imali su sve što nam je potrebno i pružali su nam prostor za razvoj, dok su okolica, selo i priroda bili zapanjujući. Prizor  snijegom prekrivenih stabala izgledao je kao iz nekog filma.

Ukratko, vraćam se iz ovog tjedna kao nova osoba.

 

 

Césarovo iskustvo:

Orahovica je bila više od izleta, kampa, treninga... I istina je da to nisam očekivao. Tada sam mislio da će to biti dobro iskustvo u kojem ću naučiti neke stvari i upoznati neke ljude, ali bilo je puno više od toga. Mislim da ću Orahovicu zauvijek pamtiti i da će zauvijek ostaviti trag na meni, pogotovo zbog ljudi koje sam tamo upoznao.

Nikada u životu nisam napravio ovakve stvari, otišao u selo u drugoj zemlji kako bih proveo nekoliko dana s ljudima koje uopće nisam poznavao i koji su dolazili sa svih strana svijeta. Za mene je bilo nevjerojatno iskustvo biti u mogućnosti upoznati i uspostaviti duboke odnose s ljudima iz različitih zemalja, kao i povezati se s vrlo posebnim ljudima, upoznati njihove priče, njihova gledišta... To je iskustvo za koje mislim da je od vitalnog značaja i pomaže vam da otvorite svoj um puno više, da razmislite o mnogim stvarima i o svom životu. I što je najvažnije, tjera vas da shvatite da zapravo, na kraju dana, nema tolike razlike između ljudi iz zemalja i mjesta koji su potpuno drugačiji od vašeg. Svi smo mi ljudi i mislim da vam to daje puno više samopouzdanja, sigurnosti i nade u pogledu svijeta.

S druge strane, u sebi sam otkrio i stvari koje nisam znao ili za koje sam mislio da ne mogu. Recimo, sada imam puno više samopouzdanja da razgovaram s ljudima koje ne poznajem, čak i na jeziku koji mi nije materinji, što se, mogu vam unaprijed reći, ispostavilo da se može učiniti bez problema, čak i ako se čini kao izazov. Osim toga, otvorio sam se puno više nego što sam očekivao, nešto što je i mene iznenadilo.

Mislim da sve to ima veze i s nevjerojatnom atmosferom koja se stvorila od prvog dana u Orahovici, atmosferom u kojoj ste se osjećali sigurno biti svoji, bez straha od onoga što bi se moglo dogoditi, zahvaljujući i podršci svih trenera i mentora, koji su pomogli u izgradnji tog prostora, i za sve aktivnosti u kojima smo uživali, gdje smo naučili mnogo stvari i pomogle su nam da izgradimo međusobne odnose. Na kraju, rekao bih da je za mene ovo bilo toliko jedinstveno iskustvo da bi ga svatko trebao doživjeti barem jednom u životu.

 

 

ENGLISH VERSION:

Our ESC volunteers from Spain, María and César, participated in a multi-day training for international volunteers in Orahovica.

The training was intended for all newly arrived volunteers in Croatia from different parts of Europe, in order to receive useful information necessary for a successful volunteer experience. The training was organized by the Agency for Mobility and EU Programs.

 

María's experience:

I tried to arrive in Orahovica with no expectations, but if I had any, they were exceeded. Looking back, I can say it was a complete, incredible, and enriching week.

Regarding the activities, they struck a balance between providing us with knowledge and learning useful things—both for the volunteering experience itself and for personal growth—while also being practical, fun, and dynamic. So I appreciate the work of the trainers, and all the staff involved. Snežana and Mirela added their spark to this week, as did Martina, who has been very helpful and attentive in different aspects.

Now, I feel more settled on this journey and have clearer goals, as well as a deeper understanding of the entire network that is volunteering. This week has allowed me to discover new parts of myself and build connections with people from different countries and cultures, for which I am very grateful. There has been laughter, but also support. Meeting people who are at the same stage as me has made me feel more understood and at home. We have stayed in touch and are even planning reunions and trips.

On another note, the place itself was perfect—the indoor facilities had everything we needed and provided spaces for our development, while the surroundings, the village, and nature were stunning. The sight of all the snow-covered trees looked like something out of a movie.

In short, I return from this week as a new person.

 

 

César's experience:

 

Orahovica has been more than just a trip, a camp, a training... And the truth is that I didn't expect that. At the time, I thought it would be a good experience where I would learn some things and meet some people, but it has been much more than that. I think I will always remember Orahovica, and it will leave a mark on me forever, especially because of the people I met there.

I had never done this kind of thing in my life, going to a village in another country to spend a few days with people I didn't know at all and who came from all over the world. For me, it has been an incredible experience to be able to meet and form deep relationships with people from different countries, as well as connecting with very special people, getting to know their stories, their points of view... It is an experience that I think is vital and helps you to open your mind much more, to reflect on many things and on your life. And most importantly, it makes you realize that really, at the end of the day, there is not that much difference between people from countries and places totally different from yours. We are all humans, and I think that gives you a lot more confidence, security and hope regarding the world.

On the other hand, I have also discovered things in myself that I didn't know or that I thought I couldn't do. For example, I now have a lot more confidence to talk to people I don't know, even in a language that is not my mother tongue, something that, I can tell you in advance, can be done without a problem, even if it seems like a challenge. In addition, I have opened up much more than I expected, something that has also surprised me in myself.

I think that all this also has to do with the incredible atmosphere that was created from the first day in Orahovica, an atmosphere in which you felt safe to be yourself, without fear of what could happen, thanks also to the support of all the monitors, who helped build that space, and for all the activities that we enjoyed, where we learned many things and they helped us build relationships with each other. Finally, I would say that for me this has been such a unique experience that everyone should experience it at least once in their life.

 

 

"European Solidarity Corps" (ESC) is a program of the European Commission that finances various projects and initiatives. The program connects volunteering and solidarity, and the goal of the program is to build a solidary, inclusive and democratic society. The program brings together organisations and young people who want to travel, get to know other cultures and languages, develop their skills and contribute to the welfare of society through their engagement.