U DKolektiv nam je stigao novi međunarodni volonterski tim Europskih snaga solidarnosti. Devetero mladih ljudi iz Njemačke, Moldavije, Latvije, Ukrajine, Italije, Gruzije i Španjolske naredno će vrijeme provesti u Osijeku, upoznavati naš grad i zajednicu te kroz volontiranje dijeliti svoja znanja, iskustva i ideje.

Zajednički projekt nosi naziv RISE - Reinforcing Inclusion and Social Engagement, a zajednička tema njihovog volonterskog iskustva je Community Wellbeing - dobrobit zajednice.

Za nas dobrobit zajednice počinje od ljudi i njihovih međusobnih odnosa. Od prostora u kojem možemo razgovarati, upoznati nekoga novog, podijeliti vlastito iskustvo ili jednostavno provesti vrijeme zajedno.

Kroz volontiranje ćemo istraživati kako se takvi susreti mogu poticati i kako različite aktivnosti mogu pridonijeti zajednici u kojoj se ljudi osjećaju povezano, uključeno i prihvaćeno.

Naši će volonteri tijekom projekta surađivati s različitim organizacijama i skupinama u Osijeku. Posjetit će osnovne i srednje škole, gdje će s učenicima razgovarati o volontiranju, zajednici i mentalnom zdravlju, sudjelovati u aktivnostima s korisnicima Doma za starije, surađivati s udrugom Aktivni umirovljenici i drugim organizacijama te se uključiti u aktivnosti usmjerene na dobrobit i mentalno zdravlje, uključujući i utrku za mentalno zdravlje.

Poseban dio njihovog iskustva bit će upravo susret s ljudima različitih generacija i životnih iskustava. Kroz takve susrete želimo otvoriti prostor za razgovor, razmjenu priča i bolje međusobno razumijevanje.

A tko su zapravo ljudi koji će narednih tjedana biti dio naše svakodnevice?

Prije nego što ih upoznate kroz njihove volonterske aktivnosti, odlučili smo im prepustiti riječ. Svaki od njih napisao je nekoliko rečenica o sebi, svojim interesima, očekivanjima i onome što ga je dovelo u Osijek.

Upoznajte naš RISE tim.

Giulia, Italija:

Hi! I’m Giulia, I’m 24 years old, and I come from Northern Italy. I have just completed my Master’s degree in chemistry, and at home I’m an active community member, volunteering with local rescue services. ​I decided to come to Osijek because I wanted to step out of my comfort zone, support others, and discover new cultures through a short-term volunteering experience.
​During my time here, I hope to find a welcoming, open space where I can express myself freely without fear of judgment. To me, international volunteering is all about facing our fears, connecting with people from completely different backgrounds, and breaking down prejudices.
 

Halosha, Ukrajina:
I am a health science student and this year i also started my fashion design bachelor’s degree. Besides that I am a youth worker and a founder of 2 NGOs. For me this opportunity in Osijek is a place to grow, share my knowledge and experience and create an impact. I want to learn more about NGOs in Osijek, meet new people and work on something together. Intercultural volunteering opportunity for me is a place of growing, learning, helping and cooperating with people with different perspectives but the same purpose. 

Jana, Latvija:

I am a creative, empathetic and open-minded person who genuinely enjoys connecting with people and learning from their experiences. I am curious about the world around me and always willing to step outside my comfort zone, try something new and find different ways to connect, communicate and include others. I am currently studying Occupational Therapy where I am learning how to support people in becoming more independent in everyday activities that are meaningful to them and how to make everyday life more accessible and inclusive. 
So, coming to Osijek feels like a chance to experience something completely new, share my own perspective, and see how much we can learn from each other. I hope to take home not only new knowledge, but also good memories, new ideas and a few stories to tell.

Jemima, Njemačka: 
I finished my Abitur in July and will start studying to become a teacher in April. Before that, I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and gain real experience as a young woman: seeing different perspectives, different life situations, and learning what it truly means to help others, even in small ways. Coming to Osijek is my chance to grow, to listen more than I speak, and to build genuine friendships across cultures. I believe international volunteering isn't just about giving; it's about being changed by the people you meet. I'm excited, a little nervous, and full of hope.

Lika, Gruzija: 
Hi! I’m Lika, from Georgia. I’ve always been the kind of person who looks for opportunities to learn and share. Meeting new people, creating connections, having memorable adventures and trying something I haven’t done before makes me feel I’m alive. My background is mostly connected to youth work, social entrepreneurship, volunteering, and project management. 
I’ve been involved in non-formal education and youth projects since I was 11-12. Over the years I’ve participated in and led different local and international projects, including Erasmus+ experiences. I came to Osijek because I wanted to experience volunteering in a new environment, meet people from different backgrounds, and challenge myself outside of what is familiar to me. Croatia is amazing place that accepts people as they are, and somehow manages to make them better. Here I feel like I belong. For me, international volunteering is much more than travelling. It is an opportunity to become part of a community. Understand different perspectives, contribute something of your own, learn from others, and share your experience at the same time is opportunity that always brings us together. I believe young people can discover a lot about themselves when they step outside their usual environment and comfort zone. During my time in Osijek, I hope to learn new approaches to youth work, develop practical skills, understand how people from different cultures work together, try new ways to contribute. But I also want to bring something with me - my own experiences from Georgia, my ideas, my energy, and a little bit of Georgian culture along the way. 

Saba, Gruzija:
Hi! I’m Saba, 22 years old, from Georgia. I’m currently studying architecture and working as a personal tutor, mainly with children in mathematics and physics. I enjoy helping others, meeting new people, and learning from different perspectives. I believe every new person is like a different galaxy, and I love exploring those galaxies, even if just a little bit. I also feel very connected to nature and animals, and I enjoy the simple moments they bring. I’ve been to Croatia before, volunteering at a summer school for children, and that experience made me fall in love with Croatia and Croatian people. That’s one of the reasons I was happy to come back. For me, volunteering is about both giving and receiving - sharing what I can, learning from others, and creating meaningful connections. If I can make someone smile or bring something positive to their day, I’m more than happy.

Simone, Italija:
I’m Simone. I’m 28 and I come from Italy. I have a Master’s Degree in languages and I am currently applying for PhD programmes in linguistics. I chose to apply for an ESC volunteering project in Osijek because I had never visited Croatia before and I wanted to learn about the culture of this country and explore this beautiful region. Through community volunteering, by working with people of different ages and generations, I hope to find a sense of purpose and to contribute to making even a small impact on this community. Indeed, I believe that international volunteering is a valuable experience on many levels. As a matter of fact, it allows you to discover different cultures and languages, and it’s a great chance to meet interesting people. Moreover, it is an opportunity to contribute to projects that can have an impact on people’s lives. Furthermore, by helping others you can always learn something that did not expect.

Vlad, Moldavija:

I'm a youth worker with a passion for graphic design and art. I wanted to learn about Croatia and to help the community improve. I want to meet new people with the same goals and values and to build trusting connections. International volunteering is a great opportunity for young people to explore the world and learn about themselves as well.

Unai, Spain: 
Hi everyone! My name is Unai, I’m 23 years old, and I’ll be representing Spain during this wonderful experience. I’m currently studying the final year of an International Double Degree in Law between the University of Granada, in Spain, and the University of Ferrara, in Italy. In my free time, I love practising sports, especially martial arts, reading, and, above all, spending quality time with valuable people and sharing meaningful experiences with them. The reason why I decided to take part in this volunteering experience is because it brings together so many things that define me: my desire to discover new experiences, spending time with kind and generous people, supporting those who are in need, and growing both personally and professionally in an international environment. And, of course, there are many other things waiting to be discovered along the way - things that, thanks to God, I don’t even know about yet. I’m really looking forward to meeting all of you, learning from this experience, and seeing where it takes us!

 

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