Two weeks have already passed since my project finished. And only now, looking back, I can measure the way it changed me. I am back home, but home feels different right now, or is it me?
I believe that this year volunteering in the Parliament of Bremen was just a stepping stone in my future professional life because it has significantly influenced me as a person, having prepared me for new possible obstacles. It definitely taught me to be more resilient, insistent, and flexible. During this year, I conducted more than 16 various events (from debates and tours through the parliament to lectures and seminars) on different topics. Alongside, I managed to get acquainted with a bunch of people who, I am not afraid to say, have become my real friends. Together with that, it also helped to boost different skills such as conflict resolution, critical thinking, etc. I discovered so many communication strategies and other opportunities as well as realised how to work with people properly.
Moreover, when I mentioned the value of the project to me, it wasn’t an over-exaggeration. While my team was preparing one of the offline events for Ukrainian youth in Germany about opportunities in Europe, I myself discovered a few. It motivated me to apply, and as a result, I was accepted to the College of Europe in Natolin to pursue my master’s degree there. And since this year was a gap year for me, that is the best possible outcome. Thus, I can absolutely say that the ESC volunteering project has opened a new way for me and my future. And, by the way, the event we initiated was also quite successful, since we got together in person with more than 55 people who were interested in changes in their lives.
That showed us that here, in Germany, there are so many activists and people desirous of doing and creating things. It was precisely this realisation that helped me and my team organise 15 more similar projects and events online and all across Germany.
For sure, not everything went so smoothly. I faced a lot of difficulties and solved a number of problematic situations during the year: if people happened to be here, they had courage, they were leaders themselves. And my experience illustrated that it is really complicated to be a leader among leaders. Working with the international community requires a lot of patience and understanding of cultural differences as well as mentalities and worldviews.
What’s more, working with foreigners and living with them, sharing a household, are completely different things. It was quite a challenge for me. However, even these little misunderstandings and difficulties are able to highlight our superpowers.
If you ask me about the most memorable moments during this year, all of them will be closely connected with the people who surrounded me, because Bremen is the place where I realised the importance of community. In the second half of the project, when the volunteers had already adapted to everything, they became more open-minded, willing to explore and share their experiences. Then they themselves organised various parties or initiated rendez-vous. That happened during my project as well. The most vivid memories I have are from a Spanish party and also rendez-vous at the beach. That was the time when we went paddleboarding, played badminton together, swam, and had a picnic. Such a wonderful time with incredible people.
Thus, this year became of huge value to me. And I would love to sincerely say thank you to all who were somehow a part of this year. Because it was the people who made this year the unforgettable experience it became.
And if people who read this final report are in two minds about whether to take part in an ESC project or not, I can definitely recommend such a wonderful opportunity. Because, if you have courage, you will never be the same.
Yuliia Kapelka
Yuliia has done her voluntary service at EuropaPunkt Bremen ; her project was co-financed under the European Solidarity Corps program.
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