Tijekom svibnja 2026. godine DKolektiv je u Osijeku ugostio međunarodni tim od deset volonterki iz Francuske, Gruzije, Portugala, Španjolske, Češke, Azerbajdžana i Ukrajine u okviru projekta RISE: Reinforcing Inclusion and Social Engagement, koji se provodi kroz program Europskih snaga solidarnosti.

Cilj projekta bio je potaknuti uključivost, društveni angažman i aktivno građanstvo kroz zajedničko osmišljavanje i provedbu volonterskih aktivnosti u suradnji s lokalnom zajednicom. Kroz dva i pol tjedna volonterke su sudjelovale u različitim aktivnostima koje su povezivale građane različitih generacija, promovirale europske vrijednosti i solidarnost te pružale podršku organizacijama civilnoga društva u Osijeku.

Tijekom boravka održavale su radionice i razgovore o volontiranju i europskim vrijednostima s učenicima Osnovne škole Višnjevac i Medicinske škole Osijek, sudjelovale u međugeneracijskim aktivnostima s članovima udruge Aktivni umirovljenici Osijek, pružale podršku udruzi MOGU u aktivnostima terapijskog jahanja i uređenju prostora za korisnike, volontirale s Gradskim društvom Crvenog križa Osijek tijekom Norijade 2026. te organizirale interkulturalne aktivnosti koje su povezivale lokalne i međunarodne volontere.

Osim što su svojim angažmanom doprinijele lokalnoj zajednici, volonterke su kroz projekt razvijale brojne osobne, društvene i profesionalne kompetencije. Rad u međunarodnom timu omogućio im je unaprjeđenje komunikacijskih, organizacijskih i prezentacijskih vještina, jačanje timskog rada, kreativnosti i sposobnosti rješavanja problema. Istovremeno su kroz susrete s različitim društvenim skupinama razvijale empatiju, interkulturalne kompetencije, prilagodljivost i bolje razumijevanje društvenih izazova s kojima se susreću pojedinci i zajednice.

Iskustva koja slijede svjedoče o tome kako volontiranje može biti snažan proces osobnog razvoja, učenja i stvaranja veza koje nadilaze nacionalne, kulturne i generacijske granice.

 

The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) became one of the most transformative experiences of our lives. What started as a volunteering opportunity in Osijek turned into a journey of personal growth, intercultural learning, and self-discovery. Through ESC, we stepped outside our comfort zones and learned how to adapt to completely new situations, people, and environments. Living abroad taught us independence, confidence, and resilience in ways that no classroom ever could.

During our ESC experience, we developed important professional skills such as teamwork, communication, project planning, facilitation, and problem-solving. Working in multicultural environments helped us become more open-minded and empathetic while improving our ability to collaborate with people from different countries and backgrounds. Every activity, workshop, and project brought new lessons and unforgettable memories.

Of course, the experience also came with challenges. Language barriers, homesickness, misunderstandings, and unexpected situations were sometimes difficult to handle. However, those moments became valuable learning opportunities that made us stronger and more adaptable. We realized that growth often happens when we feel uncomfortable or uncertain.

Osijek itself also played a huge role in our journey. The peaceful atmosphere, kind people, beautiful sunsets by the Drava River, and everyday moments with friends made the city feel like a second home. ESC showed us that cultural diversity is not something to fear, but something to celebrate and learn from every day.

Looking back, ESC did not just change our CVs - it changed us as people. It gave us new perspectives, lifelong friendships, unforgettable adventures, and the courage to keep exploring new opportunities. We would encourage every young person to try an ESC experience, even if it feels scary at first. Sometimes the best decisions begin with a simple “yes” to something unknown.

Osijek became more than just a city for us it became a shared experience, a meeting point of cultures, ideas, and friendships. As a group of ten volunteers coming from eight different countries, including Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Portugal, Georgia, France, and the Czech Republic, we arrived in Osijek with different backgrounds but a common purpose: to volunteer, learn, and contribute.

Volunteering in Osijek introduced us to a different rhythm of life. The city welcomed us with its calm atmosphere, green spaces, and strong sense of community. Through our activities, we worked together on projects that encouraged social engagement, cultural exchange, and support for local initiatives.

Every task became more meaningful because of the diversity within our group. Each person brought unique perspectives, traditions, and experiences that enriched our work and helped us understand one another better.

Living together taught us lessons that went beyond volunteering. Daily life became an exchange of languages, recipes, stories, and customs. Some evenings were spent cooking dishes from our home countries, while others turned into conversations about differences in education, lifestyles, and future dreams. Despite our different origins, we discovered how much we had in common.

Osijek itself played an important role in shaping our experience. Walking along the river, exploring the city center, and meeting local people allowed us to connect with Croatian culture in a genuine way. The slower pace compared to larger European cities created space for reflection and deeper human connections. We learned to appreciate small moments sharing coffee, cycling through the streets, and enjoying local events together.

This experience reminded us that volunteering is not only about giving time to a community, it is also about personal growth and building bridges across cultures. Through cooperation, challenges, and everyday moments, we became more open-minded and adaptable.

When we think about Osijek now, we do not only remember the places we visited we remember the people, the conversations, and the feeling of belonging created among ten volunteers from different corners of the world. This journey became a story we will carry long after leaving the city.

Nargiz Asgarzade

My name is Tsitso, I am 24 years old and I come from Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia. The RISE project is a volunteering programme held in Osijek, Croatia, run by DKolektiv as part of the European Solidarity Corps.

Growing up in the village, I always felt drawn to people and to local community. That is what led me to volunteering early on, first as a youth leader working with children, then contributing to NGOs, standing in front of rooms and learning how to speak, connect, and lead. When the opportunity came to join RISE in Osijek, it felt like a natural next step. What I did not know was how much it would give back to me.

I remember arriving in Osijek and looking around at a group of people I had never met before, from different countries, different cultures, different ways of seeing the world. There was that familiar mix of excitement and nerves that comes with any new beginning. I told myself I was ready. And in many ways I was. But readiness and growth are not the same thing.

During the two weeks of the project I had to present ideas in front of the group, coordinate tasks, and make decisions together with people whose opinions sometimes differed from mine. There was one moment in particular where I felt the tension of disagreement rising and I had a choice to make. I could push harder for what I believed, or I could listen, adjust, and find a way forward together. I chose to listen. And somehow, what came out of that moment was better than what either of us had started with. That small decision reminded me of something important: cooperation is not about giving up your ideas. It is about trusting that something better can come when two people move in the same direction. That was also when I discovered something I had not expected to find, which was how good it feels when leadership is shared. I had always imagined that leading meant standing alone at the front. But working side by side with another person who carried the same sense of responsibility, who brought different strengths and filled the gaps I could not see in myself, changed that idea completely. It was comfortable in the truest sense of the word. Not easy, but right.

The day we visited the day care centre for elderly people is something I will carry for a long time. We danced together, played games, crocheted, and shared our ideas and stories with one another. I sat down next to an older women who wanted to share emotions and in that hour I understood something about volunteering that no programme description had ever quite captured for me. It is not about the activity. It is not about the hours or the project goals. It is about choosing to be present for another human being. She did not need me to solve anything. She just needed someone to sit with her. Human for human. That is the part that stays

Before RISE project, I was not new to European programmes. I had taken part in Erasmus mobilities and I had some understanding of how ESC programmes work, what they look like on paper, what they are designed to do. After RISE project, I explored more what it means to be part of something that connects young people across borders and gives them space to grow, contribute, and discover themselves in the process. I am grateful to DKolektiv for building that space in Osijek and for making these two weeks possible.

I am leaving Croatia with my backpack full of more confidence, more openness, and a deeper understanding of why volunteering matters. Not as a line on a page, but as a way of being in the world.

Tsisana Robakidze

 

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Europske Snage Solidarnosti (ESS) je program Europske Komisije koji financira razne projekte i inicijative. Program je sufinanciran sredstvima Europske unije.