Volunteering was something I’d wanted to try, and when I discovered the European Solidarity Corps project “Think Like European – Act Locally” with Teatro Metaphora – Associação de Amigos das Artes, I knew it was the perfect opportunity. I always wanted to connect with artistic minds as I love drawing and creating myself.
Being on the beautiful island of Madeira, Portugal, surrounded mostly by banana trees, palms, high cliffs, restless ocean and, most importantly, smiling friendly people willing to help and join me while doing the activities, was such an amazing experience! I was eager to step out of my comfort zone, contribute my skills, and create something meaningful for the local community, meanwhile exploring a new culture and enjoying summer weather during winter time.
From the very beginning, I was actively involved in various activities and initiatives. One of the most exciting experiences was participating in the “Talking Objects” Exhibition. It was a truly creative task: I had to design an object and craft the story behind it. However, there was a twist – my story had to be written in Portuguese, a language I had never spoken before. Thankfully, with the support of my new Portuguese speaking friends, I pushed through. After days of practice, trial and error, I finally recorded my story in what I would call “understandable” Portuguese (at least for patient listeners). In that moment I knew everyone is capable of things they would never expect to do. And let me tell you, mastering Portuguese wasn’t easy at all! The story itself was stored on the cloud, so the exhibition visitors could listen to my story recording via QR-code, which was placed next to my art object. It was an interactive format, I liked the idea a lot.
Another rewarding experience was assisting with an upcycling workshop at a local school, where I encouraged students to give old shoes a second life to help reduce waste and protect the environment. Additionally, I took part in the Paper Recycling Project, where I learned how to transform waste paper into new materials, looking into a process from the very beginning to the end of it, when new paper is born. It was also nice to spend this time with my new friends, the other volunteers.
One of the most fulfilling experiences was helping to organize and facilitate a youth exchange “Goals in motion”. I helped designing icebreakers, team-buildings, a city game, and non-formal learning activities based on the European Youth Goals, the main topic. The whole process of preparing, planning, discussing and arranging the schedule was a very practical guide. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to share my knowledge on equality, inclusion, and sustainability with young people from Italy, Albania, and Kosovo, which was an inspiring and educational exchange for all of us. The most rewarding and, for me – the most valuable thing, that I had during all my work for the hosting organization, was connecting with people from different countries, learning about their cultures, and making new friendships, that will last very long time.
Apart from the activities, I helped my coordinator researching information on the upcoming projects, i.e. exploring issues of the greenwashing in Portugal. My task was to prepare some objectives for the application form, find data and make it more structured. I have also assisted with social media and content creating for the side initiatives like The Phoenix Project aiming to empower young artists. Additionally, I enrolled to the online language course via OLS platform, so it was a handy way to learn some basic understanding of Portuguese.
During my free time, I discovered the laurissilva (20-million-year-old subtropical rainforests!) and levada trails, witnessing a breathtaking natural beauty of Madeira. Trees in here have something mystical, they hide their ancient secrets under the layers of moss and fog. Hiking under cover of their crooked brunches allowed me to truly, like never before, connect with nature and clear my mind. I also discovered some remote villages, reaching it by the most serpentine roads one could ever imagine. Apart from my hiking trips, I enjoyed relaxing at the seaside, watching stunning sunsets, and spending time together with my new friends.
This project helped me grow in many ways. I developed new skills and had a chance to test them in a practical way, during workshops and public speaking, event organization and so on. My experience in Madeira was unforgettable, and I would highly recommend volunteering through the European Solidarity Corps program to anyone looking for personal growth, skill development and cultural exchange. I am deeply grateful for this experience, and I hope more young people will enjoy the opportunities that ESC offers. It is truly an exciting journey filled with learning, friendships, and exploring.
~ Tetyana Halyelo
