Ola! My name is Palina, and just three weeks ago, I came back from a volunteering adventure in Lisbon. I spent almost seven months working with children in a local kindergarten as part of a European Solidarity Corps project. My hosting organization was ProAtlântico and the project was made possible in cooperation with the Polish sending organization Fundacja Rozwoju Społeczeństwa Przedsiębiorczego. In this article I’d love to share what this experience meant to me and encourage others to explore similar opportunities.
When I decided to leave my corporate job in Poland and move to Portugal for seven months of volunteering, I couldn’t fully imagine what awaited me. First half of 2024 year I was feeling that the fast-paced environment left little room for human connection, personal meaning, or joy. I found myself dreaming about something else — something more soulful. Today, looking back on my time as a volunteer with the European Solidarity Corps, I know that it has been one of the most enriching chapters of my life.
In Lisbon, I volunteered at a kindergarten with children aged 2 to 5. My daily tasks ranged from helping during mealtimes and naptime to organizing creative workshops, outdoor games, and cultural celebrations like Carnival and Father’s Day. Although I didn’t speak Portuguese at first, I quickly found ways to connect with the children through play, gestures, and lots of smiles. Over time, we began to teach each other — they helped me learn new Portuguese words in the most playful ways, and I shared some Polish in return. This mutual curiosity and exchange turned into genuine bonds with both the kids and the staff, becoming a meaningful aspect of my experience.
Life outside the kindergarten was just as colorful and meaningful. I lived in Casa with volunteers from all over Europe, and over time, we became like a family — sharing meals, deep conversations, adventures, and all kinds of emotions. We cooked together, played board games, surfed, and explored Portugal’s charming towns and hidden viewpoints. In our free time, we hiked, laughed, and watched countless breathtaking sunsets over Lisbon. What started as a shared living space turned into a true community, and the memories we created together are ones I’ll carry with me for a lifetime.
One of my main goals during this experience was to slow down and reconnect with what truly matters to me — and this journey gave me exactly that. I let go of a fast-paced routine in favor of meaningful, present moments: helping a child learn to hold scissors, co-creating carnival costumes with fellow volunteers and later watching the children shine in them, learning how to surf for the first time (without catching every wave, but smiling the whole way through), and discovering not only Portuguese culture but also the unique backgrounds of the many inspiring people I met along the way. I found space to reflect, appreciate nature, and embrace simplicity. I also learned how to let go of perfectionism and realized that emotional intelligence, creativity, and patience are just as valuable as any professional skill.
Volunteering isn’t always easy—there were stormy, cold winter days, language and cultural challenges, moments of exhaustion, and the emotional weight of saying goodbye. But it was real, rewarding, and full of learning. I gained resilience, adaptability, new perspectives and formed friendships. And I remembered what it feels like to live from the heart.
Looking back, I’m proud of the decision I made. These months weren’t just a pause, but a powerful chapter of learning, growth, and connection. If I had to choose again, I’d make the same decision without hesitation. To anyone considering a volunteering project with the European Solidarity Corps: go for it. It’s a unique chance to learn, give, explore and evolve.
Obrigada, Portugal. <3
See you again.
By Palina Belayets
