Hasan
Hasan from Turkey joined ESC voluntarism project in Ioannina, at our organisation Youth Center of Epirus. The project was coordinated and supported by the organisation Mozaik Human Resources Development, based in Samsun, Turkey.
His main activities were to implement recreational and non-formal educational activities for asylum seeker children and teenagers, and to work on digital content creation on asylum seeker integration related themes. Below, you can read some of their testimonies and see photos of their experience in Ioannina!
Hasan:
I came from Izmir, Turkey, and worked as a volunteer in Ioannina for 5 months to provide non-formal social and cultural educational activities to unaccompanied minors. This experience has been an unforgettable adventure for me and has added a lot to me both personally and professionally.
The adaptation process in Ioannina was a bit challenging at first. I was faced with a different language and culture. But thanks to the warmth and helpfulness of the local people, I got through this process quickly. I also met a great team at the Youth Center of Epirus where I worked as a volunteer. Together, we organized various educational activities with unaccompanied minors, established art workshops, and organized sports events. Thanks to these activities, I had the opportunity to establish close relationships with young people and better understand their difficulties.
During the 5 months I spent in Ioannina, I not only volunteered but also enjoyed the city. I visited historical and cultural places, tried local flavors, and met new people. I was fascinated by the natural beauties of Ioannina.
This experience I had in Ioannina added a lot to me. I learned to empathize with a different culture, improved my communication skills, and understood the importance of teamwork. I also saw better the difficulties and dreams of refugee young people. This experience made me a more sensitive and responsible person.
My emotions were mixed when I left Ioannina. I was both sad and happy. The reason I was sad was leaving this beautiful city and wonderful people. The reason I was happy was that I learned a lot and improved myself from this experience.
This experience in Ioannina changed my life forever. Thanks to this experience, I got to know myself better and started to look at the world from a different perspective. I would definitely recommend Ioannina to anyone who wants to volunteer. I am sure that you will have an unforgettable experience in this city and make a significant difference in your life.
This project was co-funded by the European Commission.
