And here we are, at the end of this chapter! It feels like just yesterday I was starting my ESC journey, trying to understand German, getting to know everyone, and figuring out how everything works. Looking back, I realise how much has happened, how many people I have met, and how many memories I have collected along the way. My German has improved, my friendships have grown, and my bicycle has definitely seen more of Bremen than some people who have lived here for years!
Looking back at my volunteering experience, I can say that life was never just about the activities at Freizi Gröpelingen. It was also about everything that happened outside the youth centre. I spent countless hours biking around Bremen and northern Germany, exploring nature, discovering new places, and enjoying the freedom of simply getting on my bike and seeing where the road took me. Sometimes I had a plan, sometimes I had Google Maps, and sometimes I just trusted my instincts. Not all three always worked together, but that was part of the adventure!
Another big part of my journey was learning German. I studied a lot, practiced whenever I could, and slowly became more confident. There were moments when I understood everything, moments when I understood absolutely nothing, and moments when smiling and nodding felt like the best language strategy available. But every conversation helped me improve, and I learned that making mistakes is part of the process. Sometimes they even make the conversation more interesting!
I also participated in a demonstration for the second time in Germany, adding another experience to my growing collection of memories. During these months, I made many new friendships with people from different backgrounds and shared countless conversations, laughs, and experiences. It is amazing how people who were strangers at the beginning can become such an important part of your everyday life. Some friendships start with a simple hello and end up giving you stories that you will be telling for years.
At Freizi Gröpelingen, I learned so much through working with children and young people. I learned about patience, teamwork, responsibility, and the importance of creating a place where everyone feels welcome. Of course, working with young people also means being ready for the unexpected. You can prepare an activity, make a plan, and organise everything perfectly, only to discover that the young people have completely different ideas. And sometimes, their ideas are actually better!
What made this experience truly special was the people. The team, the young people, and everyone I met along the way made my time at Freizi meaningful in ways that are difficult to put into words. It was not only about what I learned or what I did but also about the small everyday moments, the shared jokes, the conversations, and the feeling of being part of a community.
A heartfelt thank you to NaturKultur and Jugendfreizeitheim Gröpelingen for giving me this opportunity and making this chapter of my life so memorable. Thank you for your trust, support, kindness, and for creating a space where I could learn, contribute, and grow. I am grateful for all the opportunities I received and for the friendships and experiences that came with them.
When I look back, I realise that this ESC experience gave me much more than I expected. It gave me new skills, more confidence, a better understanding of German culture, and memories that I will carry with me for a long time. It reminded me that some of the best experiences happen when we step outside our comfort zone, say yes to something new, and allow ourselves to be surprised.
And if there is one thing I have learned, it is that personal growth requires patience, learning German requires practice, and exploring northern Germany requires a reliable bicycle!
Thank you for everything. This chapter will always be a special part of my story, and I will remember it with a big smile, a grateful heart, and probably a few funny stories that get better every time I tell them.
With gratitude and warm wishes,
Naim Mutiev
Naim has done his voluntary service at Jugendfreizeit Gröpelingen ; his project was co-financed under the European Solidarity Corps program.
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