My name is Polina, and I took part in the European Solidarity Corps project in Arnaia, Greece, from July 8 to September 3.
It was my first time in Greece, and it turned out to be truly special. I lived and worked together with seven other international volunteers, and we also collaborated with Greek volunteers while organizing different activities.The main focus of the project was social media and podcasting. I had the pleasure of being the English voice of our podcast in Arnaia. Thanks to this, I not only improved my speaking skills and learned how the podcast recording process works, but I also discovered many fascinating stories about Arnaia that I would never have found anywhere else.
We also created short videos for TikTok to promote our project and podcast, organized movie nights both in Arnaia and in nearby villages, and hosted basketball, volleyball, and ping-pong tournaments. Seeing children’s happy smiles during these events was one of the most rewarding experiences.
But the project wasn’t just about work. In our free time, we shared moments with our Greek friends. I learned bits of the Greek language, enjoyed local food, dances, and music, and of course spent time at the beautiful beaches.
We also organized intercultural dinners, where everyone cooked something from their home country. Thanks to that, I could taste the flavors of many different countries in one place.
On my days off, I even managed to visit eight other countries, something I could hardly imagine before joining the project.
After these two months, I feel as if I’ve lived many different lives. Therefore, without doubt I can say that taking part in this project was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Thanks to all people who made this possible!
~ Polina Hopta
I took some time to reflect on the project as a whole. It was such a great experience that I found it hard to summarize in just a few words.
Together with volunteers from different countries, we spent nearly two months contributing to the local community of Arnea through cultural, environmental, and creative activities.
We prepared daily movie nights, creating a space where locals and volunteers could come together, relax and watch a good movie. We renovated parts of the local architecture, giving new life to places that could be enjoyed by the local community and future visitors. We shared our homeland cuisines, parts of traditions and cultures. We also organized sports tournaments and activities for younger people, giving them an opportunity to connect, have fun, and feel included. Additionally, we created a podcast together with local voices, sharing stories, cultures and experiences from Arnea. One of the most memorable events was the preparation of International Youth Day, in which we made sure everything would be perfect down to the smallest detail.
All of those activities show what we achieved as a team, but for me the project wouldn’t have been the same without the participants. Our mentor Marianna always made sure the volunteers felt at home and introduced us to local culture. The coordinators, Evangelia and Alex, were perfectly organized and supportive in daily activities. They became wonderful friends, which I will always keep closely to my heart. I also can’t forget about the other volunteers, both local and international, who are one of the best people I have ever met. They are incredible friends that I hope to cross paths with in the future. Together we built a strong team and made lifelong friendships.
After just the first week, Arnea felt like a second home to me – something much more than just a place to be in.
~ Mikołaj Adamczyk
