Between September 2019 and August 2020, I went to Tartu, Estonia, to volunteer for a year with the European Solidarity Corps in Tartu, Estonia. The organizer of the project was the organization Tartu Noorsootö Keskus, which had three youth centres within the city of Tartu under its umbrella.

I dreamed about ESC volunteering already in high school, and I accepted the project spontaneously, because I was just finishing my graduation, but I was not yet ready to start my master's studies. I applied for the project on the initiative of two Slovenians I met on an exchange in Turkey in the summer of 2019. Due to the late application, I was already in Tartu a week after applying. I chose the city of Tartu because I had been in the city before for a short project and I loved it, the theme was close to my heart, working with young people and the afternoon working hours suited me due to my many years of experience with scouting.

I also wanted to experience the year-round weather cycle in northern Europe once in my life. I was given the role of activity organiser at the youth center in the center of Tartu. Every Tuesday I organised a mini cooking class for young people, and every Thursday I led activities for a healthy lifestyle. I was also given roughly 100 euros per month to organise activities outside the youth center. With this money, I organized various trips, visits to museums and escape rooms, horseback riding, swimming, adrenaline park, cinema and so on.

What I remember most about living in Estonia is the incredible connection with the other volunteers throughout the country, which you don't experience on a regular Erasmus study exchange. The connection remained even through the first months of the lockdown due to Covid-19 and I am still in touch today with a few people who were volunteers in Estonia at that time. After finishing my volunteering, I continued my master's studies.

I am currently on the Ceepus program in Pardubice, Czech Republic, as a second-year master's student. I look back at volunteering as probably the best year of my life, also because there I met my current girlfriend from Armenia, with whom I worked together in the organization and now we are planning our future life together. Finally, I can only thank the European Union for this incredible opportunity, and I urge young people to grab this opportunity with both hands.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

In 2018, I embarked on a new adventure when I decided to participate in European voluntary service with the organization Teatro Metaphora on the Portuguese island of Madeira, where I was sent by the Trbovlje Institute for Youth and Sport (ZMŠT).

For the first time in my life, I went on a journey, outside the comfort of my home bubble, which caused quite a few butterflies in my stomach. The fear of the unknown was balanced by the desire to experience a new country and culture. You could say I jumped into the deep end of the pool, even though I wasn't entirely sure if I could swim.

During the six months I lived in Madeira, I found my wings. I shook off my anxiety, gained confidence and learned a lot from animating children, knowledge transfer through awareness raising, running workshops, handcrafts, art making and the importance of teamwork. Along the way, I have also learnt the importance of mentoring, as you are supported by a mentor throughout your time as a volunteer.

My mentor Sara introduced me to the island with many day trips, helped me learn Portuguese, supported me when I felt lost, lonely, which of course also happens from time to time when you are so far from home. She helped me follow the learning process with various methods of self-reflection and encouraged me to take life by the spoonful.

To be honest, I can't imagine what my experience would have been like without the mentoring support, or if I would have progressed half as much personally and professionally. So, when I returned to Slovenia, I decided to become a mentor to international volunteers and offer them the same support and help that I received myself. My mentorship progressed into youth leadership and developed into the profession of a youth worker, which I have been doing since 2019. I was employed at the local Student's club of Litija and Šmartno as a professional youth worker, which wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gone on my EVS experience and gained all of the experiences mentioned above.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

My name is Blaž and by nature I am very curious, I like to meet new people and I love to travel. Therefore, I was very excited to have the opportunity to be able to be a participant in four youth exchanges, supported by the Youth and Sport Institute Trbovlje (ZMŠT).

The main language of all the exchanges was English. I have to admit that at first I was a little afraid, because I doubted my English knowledge from high school. But the initially clumsy search for words soon turned into a relaxed conversation, which dispelled my embarrassment and increased my desire to learn the language. The experience I gained this way also helped me pass my English exam at the Vocational College of Hospitality and Tourism Maribor.

At the Play with me and learn from me exchange in Greece in June 2019 we – participants from Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Poland and Slovenia – learned about the traditional games of each of the participating countries.

The youth exchange Leaving for a better life in February 2016 gathered participants from Romania, Slovenia, Italy and Portugal. The main activity was going to a border crossing called Dobova between Slovenia and Croatia, where we prepared and cleaned tents for migrants. After being there and having the chance to know their stories and the plight of these people, I was no longer indifferent to their problems. I was shocked.

During the youth exchange Touch in Amarante, Portugal in 2016 we gained some new circus skills and we had a circus show in different Portuguese cities.

I participated in the youth exchange Language up! since the begining – meaning I helped develop the idea and write down our application. This was in 2019. We hosted participants from Denmark, Portugal and Greece. Every day our programme was focused on the culture and language of one of the participating countries. Our main activity was learning languages. We learned about Greek, Portuguese, Danish, Arabic and Slovenian language. We also had a workshop on international sign language.

Youth exchanges will always remain in my heart as a very valuable life experience. I got to know new countries, new places, culture and gained many new friends.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Ever since I was in high school, I knew that one day I would be a volunteer abroad, helping people. All I needed was a good programme and when I received an e-mail from Hostelling International Slovenia with an offer to volunteer in Iceland in connection with sustainable tourism, I just knew I had to apply.

Starting in July 2020 I spent eight months in the European North, getting to know Iceland and its people. I have learned about their customs, of which I liked the most their Christmas traditions, because their Christmas trolls (yule lads) visit as many as 12 times. I swam in hot pools, which Icelandic people are just crazy about, and in winter I chased the northern lights in the wind. Yes, I truly learned there what wind really means.

During these months I spent in Iceland it became clearer to me what I want from life and what kind of job and colleagues I need and want later in life in order to go to work happy and fulfilled. I realized that simply sitting behind a computer just does not work for me, but I need to move and talk to people.

In the two hostels that I've worked in, I've searched for sustainable solutions for their work and I have become a true recycling master.

I knew about sustainable tourism before, but while volunteering in Icelandic hostels I have seen what it means in practice and how to bring it closer to employees and guests of the hostel. It's important that the messages are clear, imaginative and quickly grab people's attention.

My volunteering experience happened during corona times, so while being there I have also learned a great deal about adapting to new situations and finding new solutions for sustainable tourism during corona times.

I became independent and I learned to trust people. And it was the people who made this experience unforgettable.  

I lived in a small community, where there was always someone I could talk to about life's wisdoms. My co-workers were wonderful and working with them I learned the importance of good communication.

At the end of my stay the Icelandic sky was lit up by a volcano, so I spent my penultimate night in Iceland watching the volcano erupt and making myself a promise to return the following Thursday.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026