Mija volunteered for one year in Turkey in 2017 with 'EBAGEM/Engeli Olan Bireyler ve Aileleri Gelişim Merkezi Derneği' (Development Center Association of Individuals with Disability and Their Families). 

The volunteering aimed to engage disabled young people in European Voluntary Service, promoting social inclusion and strengthening independent living skills. It also sought to contribute different perspectives and possibilities to activities that support disabled people and their families within the local community.

🎤 What has been the most memorable or impactful moment from your volunteering experience — something you will never forget?

"It was definitely my decision to do the volunteering without a support person or assistant. It was a good choice, as it allowed me to step out of my comfort zone. I volunteered in Mersin, Turkey, a place with a culture that is very different from my own. 

What I remember most is the warmth of the people, their willingness to help and their openness to connect despite the language barrier. I also remember all the activities and opportunities I experienced, and how I discovered the incredible diversity of Turkey and its people, as well as the many contrasts the country holds. And, of course, the Turkish food!"

🎤 What type of impact did your engagement have on the local community where you were active?

"I would say that the mere presence of someone in a wheelchair who came from abroad, lived independently and was active had a significant impact on breaking down stereotypical views of disability among local residents, including those involved in the organisation's activities and the wider community. 

I also believe that connecting with local peers with disabilities was important in providing motivation and encouragement. Additionally, having to find alternative solutions due to inaccessibility in the built environment gave people direct experience of what it means when things are not accessible or adapted."

🎤 How has volunteering contributed to your personal growth, professional development, or overall outlook on life?

"Although I only started volunteering relatively late, at the age of 30, and had already gained experience of several international projects and mobility opportunities, this was an invaluable experience that contributed to my personal growth and professional development. 

As someone who uses a wheelchair, I am aware that such opportunities are few and far between, and that disability brings with it very specific circumstances. I am therefore very glad that both the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes recognise and enable these opportunities. These experiences have also shaped my professional journey, leading me to found an NGO that supports young disabled people and raises awareness of inclusion. I am now working at MOVIT, the Slovenian National Agency for EU Programmes Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps. 

This volunteering experience has reinforced my commitment to inclusion, solidarity and intercultural dialogue."

Mija and her fellow volunteers

Mija during a workshop in a school

Mija giving a workshop for locals

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Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Ahmed, originally from Palestine, volunteered for 9 months in Slovenia with Skala.com and Circus Fuskabo. He volunteered as a circus trainer and performer, as well as a social programme assistant.

🎤 How has volunteering contributed to your personal growth, professional development, or overall outlook on life?

"Volunteering has had a profound impact on my personal growth. It has changed my mindset and helped me understand the importance of being surrounded by the right people and environment. I have become more confident in my decision-making and more aware of the value of collaboration. 

After my volunteering experience, the organisation offered me a job, enabling me to continue developing as a performer and teacher. Today, I teach 200 students at the circus school and perform across Europe. In 2023, I was a finalist on 'Slovenia's Got Talent', and in November 2025, I was officially recognised as an artist by the Slovenian Ministry of Culture."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"I believe that volunteering is important because life is all about experiences. Volunteering gives you the chance to learn and grow in unexpected ways. Everything that happened during my year of volunteering contributed to my personal development and truly changed my life. I came to Slovenia with no expectations, simply seizing the opportunity to volunteer. 

Now, four years later, I can say it was the best decision I ever made. Volunteering opened my mind, helped me grow and shaped the person I am today."

🎤 What is your birthday wish for the 30th anniversary of EU supported volunteering — and for the next 30 years to come?

"For the 30th anniversary of EU-supported volunteering, my birthday wish is that it continues to offer young people the same life-changing opportunities that I experienced. I hope that more people will come to understand the true importance of volunteering, and recognise how it brings individuals together from different cultures, languages and backgrounds. 

Over the next 30 years, I hope to see even stronger connections, a deeper understanding and greater solidarity among communities. I hope that volunteering will continue to inspire people to grow, support one another and believe in their ability to create a positive impact, no matter where they come from."

Ahmed performing a circus act

Ahmed performing during circus school

Ahmed performing at circus school

Ahmed outdoors

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Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Jairo volunteered in Italy in 2008 and in Germany in 2010 with 'Anffas Pordenone' (Italia) and 'BHH Behindertenhilfe Hamburg' (Germany), supported by 'Asociación Cultural En Construcción' (Spain).

🎤 What has been the most memorable or impactful moment from your volunteering experience — something you will never forget?

"In my twenties, I had never had the opportunity to go out at night with people my age until I did the European Voluntary Service. I also had to do household chores such as vacuuming and scrubbing for the first time in my life. At first, it was hard for me to be away from the security of my family, but I met people who supported me during this experience and helped me become more independent."

🎤 What type of impact did your engagement have on the local community where you were active?

"At the centre where I did my volunteering in Germany, I recorded a short documentary about the situation of people with disabilities in that country, and when I returned to Asturias, I took part in various events to encourage other people with disabilities to do European volunteering."

🎤 How has volunteering contributed to your personal growth, professional development, or overall outlook on life?

"Participating in two European volunteer projects, even though they were short, helped me learn to make decisions for myself and become more independent within my family environment. I learned to interact with diverse people and became more open to others. I also gained the confidence to go out on my own in my city with my wheelchair."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"Volunteering in general helps you learn about other realities that you would not know about if you stayed at home, and it makes you feel more part of society. We don't usually think of people with disabilities as volunteers, but rather as recipients of services, so it is very important to have role models like me who volunteer despite having a disability."

🎤 What is your birthday wish for the 30th anniversary of EU supported volunteering — and for the next 30 years to come?

"Greater emphasis should be placed on publicising mobility projects and reaching more people with disabilities."

Jairo crafting a basket

Jairo during his volunteering

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Laura, originally from Italy, volunteered in Spain in 2021 for 10 months. She joined 'Coordinadora Infantil y Juvenil de Tiempo Libre de Vallecas' where she helped with community work through activities for children, adolescents, young people and families.

🎤 What has been the most memorable or impactful moment from your volunteering experience — something you will never forget?

"The most memorable moment of my volunteer work was undoubtedly my first day at Citycentro (the association where I worked). Although I had been involved in volunteer work since I was very young, both locally and internationally, and had already lived abroad during secondary school and university, nothing prepared me for the emotional intensity of that first day. 

I remember perfectly how, when I arrived at the association, the children approached me quite naturally to tell me little stories about their lives. I was surprised by how easily they opened the door to their world and how, without knowing me, they gave me affection, trust and a sincere smile. At that moment, I understood that I would be sharing the next ten months with them and I felt something very deep: a warmth in my heart, a feeling of being cared for, of belonging."

🎤 How has volunteering contributed to your personal growth, professional development, or overall outlook on life?

"Volunteering marked a turning point in my life. I started volunteering after completing my master's degree, at a time of uncertainty when I still didn't know what direction I wanted to take in my career. When my volunteering came to an end, I had the opportunity to join the same association where I had been volunteering as an educator. That step confirmed that I had found a path that made me feel useful and motivated. 

Shortly afterwards, I started working at Europa Joven Madrid as a youth advisor (and now as a coordinator), which has allowed me to continue supporting other young people and promoting opportunities that, like me, can transform their lives. Thanks to volunteering, I have developed professional skills and gained the conviction that experiences lived with love, dedication and community can open doors we never imagined."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"I firmly believe that volunteering is important because it has the power to transform lives, starting with those who decide to take the first step. In my case, it came at a time of personal and professional searching, when I still didn't know where I wanted to go. And yet it opened up a path for me that I could never have imagined. 

Through volunteering (not only at European Solidarity Corps, but all the experiences I have had and continue to have), I discovered that when we dedicate our time, listening and presence to other people, we also give ourselves a more conscious, sensitive and humane version of ourselves. Volunteering matters because it connects us with realities we might never have known, with stories that move us deeply and with people who, unexpectedly, become part of our lives. I still remember how, in my first experiences, I felt that something in me was changing simply by being there, accompanying others and allowing myself to be accompanied."

Laura and fellow volunteers holding her volunteering certificate

A volunteer wearing a European Solidarity Corps Tshirt

A group of children during an activity

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Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Dana, originally from Germany, volunteered for 6 months in Estonia with Kuressaare Noortejaam in a youth centre where she helped in daily activities and youth camps.

🎤 How has volunteering contributed to your personal growth, professional development, or overall outlook on life?

"Volunteering has impacted me in many ways. It allowed me to explore areas of life and work I might never have discovered otherwise. I developed both technical skills—like public speaking and event planning—and personal skills, such as building relationships in a new environment. 

The people I met had the greatest impact on me. Living in a completely different setting, I learned from volunteers, youth center participants, youth workers, and even people I only met briefly. I also became more confident about my future plans. 

Even though I now study Literature, which isn’t directly related to my volunteering, I continue taking an Estonian language elective—one of the highlights of my university studies."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"I think volunteering is important, because it encourages empathy both on the side of the volunteer and on the side of the hosting community. As a volunteering project places you in such a new environment, it is impossible for you to know precisely what your time as a volunteer will be like and thereby it teaches you things that you can never plan to learn. While doing so, the programme is not only focused on professional development, but gives you so many opportunities to grow as a person and to learn about the local culture, customs and language. 

The fact that you are placed directly in a working environment gives you a really good chance to build a connection to your new city, as you’re automatically getting to know people. So to me, the programme is especially important, because it is accessible to any young person who wants to expand their worldview and it can turn countries that are now foreign to you into places that you call your home."

🎤 What is your birthday wish for the 30th anniversary of EU supported volunteering — and for the next 30 years to come?

"I wish that EU supported volunteering remains an accessible opportunity for young Europeans and that youngsters remain open to going abroad. In particular, I wish that more people learn about the programmes, especially those who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to travel and learn about foreign cultures. And that young people feel that they are supported and encouraged in their endeavours. 

I think that it is as important as ever for youngsters to learn about other cultures and countries and grow empathy towards those who are different from them, so I wish that the programme continues to reach young people and help them expand their horizons."

Young people sitting on the grass at the youth centre

A group of volunteers and participants at the youth centre

Young people painting a mural at the youth centre

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Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Jonas, from Denmark, volunteered in France for 11 months between 2024 and 2025. He joined 'La Maison de L’Europe de Tours' where his volunteering involved speaking to young people in forums, festivals, schools, and organisations about his country to showcase EU diversity and promote EU citizenship and mobility.

🎤 What has been the most memorable or impactful moment from your volunteering experience — something you will never forget?

"The most memorable moment from my volunteering was performing live on Bastille Day, 14 July, representing Service Civique and the European Solidarity Corps. The event was broadcast nationwide and attended by President Emmanuel Macron, which made the honour even greater. We trained intensively for two weeks under strict conditions, sometimes starting at 4 a.m. to rehearse on the Champs-Élysées. The discipline created a strong sense of responsibility and teamwork. The day before the performance, we attended a formal dinner with Macron, highlighting the importance of our role. 

Performing in the heart of Paris before thousands—and millions watching on TV—felt surreal and remains an unforgettable experience."

🎤 How has volunteering contributed to your personal growth, professional development, or overall outlook on life?

"Volunteering deeply shaped my personal growth and outlook on life. I learned to value different perspectives and accept that people think differently, which made me more open-minded and empathetic. I also discovered more about myself—my interests, strengths, and the direction I want to take. 

Professionally, I gained confidence in public speaking and learned to communicate under pressure. Living abroad for a year pushed me far outside my comfort zone. 

I arrived in France without speaking French, but quickly learned to navigate daily life and the culture. Saying “yes” to new experiences became a guiding principle, teaching me not to fear mistakes but to grow from them. This year gave me independence, resilience, and a broader perspective on life."

🎤 What is your birthday wish for the 30th anniversary of EU supported volunteering — and for the next 30 years to come?

"I hope this initiative continues to inspire young people across Europe to step outside their comfort zones, embrace new experiences, and contribute to their communities. Volunteering offers personal growth, intercultural understanding, and meaningful connections that formal education alone cannot provide. I hope more young people discover its transformative potential, as I did. 

Looking ahead, I wish these opportunities expand globally so youth everywhere can benefit. Volunteering should become even more inclusive and accessible, helping participants learn about themselves, others, and the world. By fostering courage, curiosity, and empathy, EU-supported volunteering can keep shaping lives, building stronger communities, and contributing to a more connected and cooperative society for generations to come."

Jonas and fellow volunteers of Service Civique

Jonas and his fellow volunteers on 14 July in Paris

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🎤 How has volunteering contributed to your personal growth, professional development, or overall outlook on life?

"Taking part in Erasmus+ projects opened a new chapter in my life and pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds, trying to understand them, being patient and adapting to changing plans developed my communication and problem-solving skills. This experience strengthened my empathy and helped me better see both my own privileges and the challenges. 

As an English teacher, volunteering has equipped me with skills I could not gain only in the classroom and helped me make my lessons more engaging. I have learned to run projects with limited or no budget, to communicate clearly in multicultural teams, and to remain professional under pressure. These experiences made me more confident, proactive and willing to take on leadership roles."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"I believe volunteering is very important as it gives meaning to people’s lives by offering a chance to turn values such as solidarity, empathy and responsibility into concrete action. Whether the needs are educational, social, environmental or humanitarian, volunteering facilitates meaningful contributions in the society. Even activities that seem small can create a significant impact when they are carried out consistently. 

From a young educator’s perspective, I see volunteering as a powerful form of non-formal learning. It offers especially young people the opportunity to develop skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving in real-life contexts."

🎤 What is your birthday wish for the 30th anniversary of EU supported volunteering — and for the next 30 years to come?

"I wish for this anniversary year to be one in which every young person, organisation and community that has contributed to volunteering is more visible, their stories are shared, and their experiences inspire others. 

For the next 30 years, my greatest wish is for volunteering to become more inclusive, more accessible and more sustainable. I imagine a Europe where many more people from different socio-economic backgrounds, rural areas, young people with disabilities and those from disadvantaged groups can benefit from these opportunities more and more."

Zehra presenting youth opportunies

Zehra presenting youth opportunities

A mosaic of pictures from Zehra's volunteering

Zehra during her volunteering informing about EU Youth opportunies

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Yunus Emre volunteered in Germany for one year with Verbund der sozial - kulturellen Migrantvereine in Dortmund e.V where he supported youth participation and inclusion activities, helping young people engage in European values, community building, and intercultural learning.

🎤 What has been the most memorable or impactful moment from your volunteering experience — something you will never forget?

"The most memorable moment for me was witnessing how a group of young people, who initially felt excluded and unsure about their place in society, slowly began to trust each other and actively participate in workshops we organised. 

I will never forget the moment when one of the participants said, “For the first time, I feel that my voice matters.” That single sentence reflected everything I believe in as a youth worker: creating safe spaces, empowering young people, and helping them discover their potential. 

Seeing their transformation—becoming more confident, open-minded, and aware of their rights as young Europeans—was deeply impactful. It reminded me that even small contributions can shape a young person’s future and strengthen democratic values in our communities."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"I believe volunteering is important because it strengthens both individuals and societies. Through volunteering, people learn to connect beyond cultural, social, or economic differences and work together toward a common good. I see how volunteering empowers young people to discover their abilities, develop confidence, and understand their role in shaping their own communities. It creates opportunities to practice solidarity, empathy, and active citizenship—values that are essential for a peaceful and democratic Europe. 

Volunteering also builds bridges between communities by encouraging dialogue, cooperation, and mutual support. For me, it represents a powerful tool that helps transform challenges into collective action, inspires hope, and reminds us that everyone has the capacity to contribute to positive change."

🎤 What is your birthday wish for the 30th anniversary of EU supported volunteering — and for the next 30 years to come?

"My birthday wish for the 30th anniversary of EU-supported volunteering is that even more young people, regardless of their background or circumstances, can access meaningful international opportunities that help them grow and feel included. 

I hope the next 30 years will bring stronger recognition of youth work, more inclusive mobility programmes, and greater support for organisations that empower young people. 

I wish for a Europe where volunteering continues to be a strong pillar of solidarity—helping communities respond to social challenges, promoting intercultural understanding, and inspiring young people to become active citizens. 

Most of all, I hope every young person feels that they belong, their voice matters, and they have a place in shaping the future of Europe."

Yunus Emre surrounded by children

Yunus Emre on a square holding a pigeon

Yunus Emre with a group of traditional masaï

Yunus Emre with two girls dressed in traditional clothing

Yunus Emre surrounded by children during his travels

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I am Caroline Kuba from Vienna, and a student at the University of Oxford. My background spans Creative Writing, Journalism, Content Creation and Design. I am driven by a strong passion for storytelling, arts and culture, cross-cultural communication, and climate action. I believe in journalism as a form of dialogue and see it as essential for shaping a brighter, more just future for everyone.

Updated on Wednesday, 27/05/2026

I have a master’s degree in media, but I am currently working as an educator at a public library. I am passionate about travelling and enjoy connecting with people from different backgrounds. I am excited to be part of the 2026 Pool of Young Journalists in Europe, and this time I hope to connect with young people across the EU through my articles.

Updated on Friday, 06/03/2026