In 2022, Maria volunteered with ProAtlântico at Casa Pia, a school in Lisbon dedicated to socially disadvantaged families. She assisted teachers with kindergarten day care, event organisation and some personal initiatives.

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

I will always remember one of the children and her mother. It was just the two of them, the child had health problems and the mother had to manage on her own. One day, we had another health scare, and I happened to be the only person around. Luckily, it was only a short lived scare. When the mother came to pick up her child, despite all the stress and her own struggles, she took the time to make sure that both my coworkers and I were okay as well. In a situation where everyone would have understood if she had focused solely on her own circumstances, she still cared and empathized with the struggles of others. This is just one example, but throughout my entire experience as a volunteer, I noticed that those who are most in need of help are often the ones most willing to offer it. 

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

I worked at a School for socially disadvantaged families, with a specific focus on the Kindergarten's young group. I mainly assisted in the day-to-day activities, but along with other volunteers, we supported events, held special classes, and painted murals. While I expected the main support to be needed for the children, I also noticed how much the school and staff required help too. My engagement was therefore in service of the children, families, and employees.

How has volunteering contributed to your personal growth, professional development, or overall outlook on life? 
Before this, I was very focused on my school. Now I have broadened my horizons: for example, I have seen how challenging and rewarding working in the social sector can be. Actually, everyone should do this at least once – to experience what it's like. I also fell in love with Lisbon. I took lots of photographs there and discovered how much I enjoy it. The city will always have a special place in my heart! But even more so the people I met there.

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important? 

I can only speak from my experience, but I believe that volunteering helps you grow as a person. You don’t only learn about yourself, but also about your place and impact within society. I see a society where people are distancing themselves from each other. Volunteering gives understanding and support to everyone involved. I firmly believe that if more people volunteered, we would be looking at very different politics and behavior in the modern world.

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

To the European Volunteering support, I wish with all my heart that it expands its network, reaching more youth and even more places. And in 30 years, hopefully, it will reach the scale of impact I know it can have on people's lives, society, and politics. 

Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Nadine volunteered in Iceland in 2022 with the Icelandic Red Cross where she participated in two integration projects for refugees.

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

My highlight was seeing a volcanic eruption, which was not dangerous, of course. I had been hoping to see one all year, and the week before I left, it finally happened. I went there straight away and after a steep climb through the enormous cloud of smoke, it cleared and I was able to get very close. That was really cool.

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

"At the Icelandic Red Cross, I volunteered to help refugees. We had two integration projects. One was a language project, which enabled refugees to learn Icelandic. The other was a buddy project, in which Icelandic volunteers were paired with refugees. My task was to develop these projects and investigate how we could improve them. 

I also gave training courses to Icelandic volunteers on how to provide psychosocial support to refugees. The integration projects made it clear that the refugees felt more connected to the Icelandic people."

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

"Through my European Volunteering project, I learned more about what I want in life. At the Red Cross, I discovered that I really enjoy this work and that I lacked some knowledge about how to do good research. That contributed to my decision to continue my studies. I learned a lot about myself, about who I am and what I like. I have new hobbies, because I started bouldering there and I still do it now. 

You also learn to rely on yourself, because you are taken out of your comfort zone. This shows you that you can handle much more than you actually think. In addition, you get the opportunity to see more of the world, gain work experience and meet people from all over the world. I would do it again in a heartbeat and after my further studies I probably want to do something abroad again. Every experience is different, but something good always comes out of it."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important? 

"I think volunteering is important because you can really make a difference to others and learn a lot yourself at the same time. During my volunteer work, I saw what projects do for people in concrete terms, such as refugees who started to feel more at home through language and contact with locals. This is very rewarding. It also helped me to better understand what I enjoy and where I want to develop further. You are right in the middle of the action, learning to deal with different people and looking at the world around you in a different way. It is precisely this combination that makes volunteering so valuable to me."

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

"My wish is that Erasmus+ remains accessible to as diverse a group of young people as possible, especially those who do not automatically have international opportunities. I hope that we can continue to invest in inclusion, quality and learning experiences that really give young people something for the rest of their lives and contribute to connected communities across Europe."

Nadine during her volunteering in Iceland

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Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Angela volunteered for 2 weeks with Offensiva Tinerilor, Arad Romania, implementing activities of non-formal education for children coming from rural area.

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

"The work we did with the children. They were very much satisfied with the activities we implemented. Spending time in a different country was very beneficial for me. I loved the walks we had and all the places we visited."

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

"The children from the rural area do not have much activities where they can join. I was very happy that I was part of it."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"It offers new opportunities and you learn new skills."

Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Eva volunteered in Spain in 2023 with Asociación Brújula Intercultural Inicio assisting in a primary school using alternative teaching methods (MAGEA).

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

"The most memorable moments from my volunteering experience were the days when I prepared and delivered workshops together with the children. Working with a group of 12-year-olds at MAGEA Primary School, using alternative educational methods, was deeply rewarding. Despite the language barrier, we always managed to understand each other through creativity, teamwork, and mutual respect. Seeing their curiosity, enthusiasm, and genuine joy during activities reminded me why working with children is so meaningful. These moments showed me that connection does not depend only on language, but on presence, patience, and empathy. 

I will never forget how naturally the children accepted me and how quickly we built trust, which made every shared activity special and unforgettable."

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

"My engagement contributed mainly to the school community by supporting alternative learning practices and offering the children new perspectives through interactive workshops and daily activities. By actively participating in classroom life and extracurricular activities, I helped create a more dynamic and inclusive learning environment. Even though my role as a volunteer came with challenges, I remained focused on being present and supportive for the children. The activities we carried out together encouraged creativity, cooperation, and open communication. 

I believe that even small contributions, such as offering attention, care, and new ideas, can have a positive impact on a local community—especially in educational settings where children benefit greatly from diverse approaches and international experiences."

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

"Volunteering significantly contributed to my personal growth and independence. Living alone in another country, without speaking the local language and without support from people from my own background, taught me resilience and self-reliance. I learned how to cope with daily challenges, manage frustration, and continue working professionally even in difficult circumstances. 

This experience also helped me grow emotionally, appreciate my own culture, language, and home more deeply, and gain confidence in my ability to work with children regardless of language barriers. Despite the challenges, I choose to remember the positive experiences, and today I even feel nostalgic. The project helped me grow as a person and clarified my strengths, values, and dedication to working with children."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"I strongly believe that volunteering is important and it is most effective when it begins at a young age. Early involvement in volunteering helps shape character, values, and social responsibility in a way few other experiences can. It is essential to volunteer not only through international programs, but also within one’s own local community, for example through organizations such as the Red Cross and similar initiatives. Such engagement fosters empathy, solidarity, and a sense of belonging, while encouraging active citizenship. 

Over time, the impact of volunteering becomes clearly visible—there is often a distinct difference between individuals who volunteered in their youth and those who did not, particularly in terms of responsibility, awareness, and interpersonal sensitivity. Volunteering contributes to the development of well-rounded, socially conscious individuals and leaves a lasting positive influence on both personal growth and society as a whole."

Eva during her volunteering

Children playing

Children sitting in front of a computer

Young boy playing in a tree

Eva with young children

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Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Anna volunteered in Belgium in 2003 for 12 months at the 'Opvangcentrum voor wielde dieren een vogels' in Oostende. The project focused on building a sustainable society by fostering inclusion for individuals often overlooked by society, through rescuing small mammals and birds.

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

"The most memorable things from my volunteering experience were the people and the culture. I discovered that despite different cultures, origins and backgrounds we were all basically the same. So different yet the same. This has been a mantra throughout my adult life and has shaped how I meet other people. It has given me lots of friends all over the world. This year my host family from my European Voluntary Service year is coming to spend Christmas with my family, we are still in touch after all these years!"

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

"It has contributed quite lot. My year of volunteering, however cheesy it sounds, changed my direction in life and helped open my eyes to a different way of living. The friendships I got through my year in Belgium has stuck with me since then, and I’ve travelled around the world with my friends and the people. My volunteer year deeply inspired me and has also affected what I do for work now. It all started back then, the inspiration."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"Volunteering is important because it is the single most effective way to break down stigma and help people realise that we all want to live a good life, with friends and family around. Especially now in the geopolitical chaos that is hitting Europe, and especially the north where I live, we need more warmth, more understanding and less cultural barriers. To get this, we have to have informal platforms like volunteering, to break down all our prejudice and meet people where they are at."

Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Vilja volunteered in Romania in 2023 with Voluntariat pentru viata for 11 months. She helped planning and giving informal education in schools, youth clubs, and kindergartens.

🎤 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 experience was being part of a big family that wasn't my biological family. From the first day I arrived in Romania I was taken care of and it felt like a second home from the very beginning. 

My mentor opened her house and welcomed us into her family. Every Friday all the volunteers gathered to cook a traditional meal together from one of the participating countries so that we could all learn from each other and taste food from another culture. We also had the chance to taste Romanian dishes, dance and listen to music from different parts of the world. It was a great experience of cultural exchange."

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

"I believe and truly hope that my volunteering work made a positive impact on the children I spent time with in Romania. We noticed that the activities we organised in the schools and after school clubs helped the kids learn more about collaboration and other cultures. 

We also made a volunteering festival where we aimed to inspire the children to try something similar to what we were doing. The volunteers were an important part of the small local community where we lived, and we could really feel that we were appreciated. Children would stop us at the street, wave and give us hugs. That feeling of gratitude and connection was incredibly special."

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

"My volunteering experience has contributed enormously to my personal growth. I learnt so much about myself, how I handle new situations, how I work with others and how I adapt to challenges. It made me more self-confident in many ways, by improving and believing in my English skills, talking in front of people and trusting my ability to navigate in unfamiliar environments. 

Going to Romania alone is also something I’m really proud of because it’s not the first place people usually think of traveling to. That makes the experience even more unique and meaningful to me. Looking back, I can see how much it shaped me and helped me grow both personally and professionally."

Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Dariusz, from Poland, volunteered in Kenya and in Ecuador between 2024 and 2025. 

In Kenya he planted trees in schools with kids and promoted this activity as a way to build up resilience against floods and droughts with CIVS Kenya and IBO Italia and Asociación Amigos de Europa.

In Ecuador, Dariusz helped to organise summer camp for kids from indigenous communities and teaching them English and fundamentals of global citizenship with Vase and Cazalla Incercultural and Infinite Opportunities Associacion.

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

"One of my fondest memories is receiving a bracelet from a student in my class. There were 20 students in total—all hyperactive, loud, and courageous 12-year-olds — so the work was rarely easy. However, they were wonderful kids. 

On one of our more difficult days, a girl presented me and the other tutors with handmade bracelets to thank us for our work. It was such a small gesture, but it showed me that despite all the challenges, my efforts really mattered and that they appreciated our work. I still wear that bracelet to this day."

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

"The impact we made in Ecuador was simple but significant. Thanks to the summer camp we organised, children didn't have to go to work or stay home alone while their parents earned a living. Instead, they could meet peers, make new friends, play games, and learn about the world. It may not seem like much, but I believe giving children happy summer memories and the carefree childhood they deserve is a beautiful thing."

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

"It showed me the value of shared moments, whether it's a lunch break, a morning chat, or doing chores together. It taught me that life is ultimately about facing problems, both big and small, together. The biggest lesson I took from this experience is that kindness is the most beautiful gift you can give another person."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"Volunteering teaches us to be sensitive to the world around us. It strengthens our empathy, enhances our communication skills, and allows us to view the world from entirely different perspectives. Most importantly, it shows us that helping is not difficult and that anyone can do it. You just need a little bit of willingness, and with that, anything is possible. 

It starts with a small gesture, which I believe, with enough people, can change the world."

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

"My wish is to see even more young people dedicating their time to help others selflessly. I hope that, despite any challenges, they continue to support communities in need. I dream of a future where volunteering is a natural instinct for all youth in the EU - a standard step in contributing to the greater good."

Dariusz in Kenya

Dariusz and a pupil planting a tree

Dariusz during his project in Ecuador

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Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Marta volunteered in France in 2001 with Residence Sociale Charles Guide where she worked on development and integration of local community through socio-educational, entrepreneurial and intercultural activities with the young residents.

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

"At the beginning, I had a vision of organising an international youth exchange or another bigger project. While getting to know the situation of young people living in our social residence better - especially the diversity of cultural backgrounds, as well as their professional and personal life challenges - I decided to focus more on smaller, co-created local initiatives. I believe these little common projects brought more intercultural awareness and more human connections, that could be helpful to make at least a small shift from the separative acculturation strategies to more integrative processes of young people with migrant and refugee background. 

Boosting employability was particularly important for the mission and the aims of this social residence, and by organising and participating in these activities, we were all developing our entrepreneurial competences in a self-directed way."

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

"My volunteering resulted in everlasting friendships, clarification of my values and life-changing choices. After graduating from European Studies and Sociology and Politics, I enthusiastically went to the Polish National Agency, asking for a job, and I got it! I was writing publications promoting participation and inclusion in EU youth educational projects. This involvement, together with the experience gained during my volunteering, soon led me to my dream work as a trainer in the Polish European Voluntary Service trainers’ pool. 

For 20 years now I have been supporting the learning process of both volunteers and organisations, as well as youth workers and teachers from various sectors and cultures. Locally, I have worked with voluntary clubs in schools and libraries. Designing and facilitating trainings and other events in an intercultural environment keeps giving me a lot of fulfillment and opportunities for personal growth."

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

"I wish for greater awareness that the volunteering experience is special, as it creates spaces where solidarity, transformative learning, and impact come together. I hope for even more moments when the community needs meet what a young person coming from another culture is ready to give. I wish that the role of EU-supported volunteering projects was more broadly recognised by governments, public institutions, the business sector, and civil society. 

I also hope that all those who contribute to the coordination of these volunteering mobility projects receive stronger support from other sectors, allowing the quality of their work to grow even more. My biggest wish is to keep this experience open to everyone and to offer more inclusive activities for young people facing various challenges. There is so much best practice from these 30 years to learn from!"

Marta during her volunteering in France

Marta during her volunteering

Marta during her volunteering in France

Marta during her volunteering in France, 2001

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Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026

Jorge participated in the European Voluntary Service with Caritas ambrosiana supporting their international office.

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

"When I was sent as a volunteer to the Umbria’s earthquake that happened in Italy (1997). I will never forget the support (talk, listen, teach kids, etc.) we were giving to entire small villages that were severely destroyed."

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

"It depends on the task I was doing at that time: - At the earthquake people were even not believing that someone from Portugal was helping them. It was impactful to highlight that solidarity has no borders. - At Caritas ambrosiana, I was translating cooperation projects coming from Portuguese speaking countries in Africa and by so, giving these projects a better chance to be financed by Italian donators. - In Milan and across Europe our project became quite famous, and it was an opportunity to promote volunteering and solidarity among other youngsters, especially because this was an European Voluntary Service pilot action (so a kind of test for what would come after with EVS programme).

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

"The slogan “Changing Lives, Opening Minds” completely describes the impact and growth that this EVS pilot action had in my life. I’ve discovered my true passion at work (Youth volunteering), I’ve learned so much new things about global issues (such as Fair Trade) and had a unique life-time opportunity to be myself. Today, I am a Fair Trade activist and a manager of a Youth Centre/Hostel all because I’ve done an EVS pilot action back in 1997. Simple as that!"

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"Well, because it allows people to reconnect with what’s most valuable in life: the way we care about others and our planet! After so many years managing volunteering projects, it’s clear to me that each youngster turns back home after an volunteering experience with a whole new approach to life: more able to understand the world we live in, more tolerant towards diversity, more competent to deal with challenges in his personal, social and even professional life. And again, it brings hope to the local community by showing that young people can play an important role in the development of social, cultural and other needed answers."

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

"I truly hope that we all find a way to recover the initial spirit of EVS and put volunteering and solidarity as the center of the experience. This way we can have 30 more years of youngsters changing their lives because they will be able to experience the best version of themselves."

Jorge during his volunteering

Jorge during his volunteering in Italy

Jorge in a classroom with children

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Ana Beatriz volunteered in France with 'Maison de l’Europe 47' where she helped to promote EU values, citizenship and mobility.

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

"Volunteering was the experience I chose to find professional and personal guidance for my future. I chose a field I enjoy working in, with the perspective of understanding if it was something I would like to pursue professionally, which ultimately happened."

🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?

"Volunteering is very important not only because of its impact on our community or in other countries, but also because of the impact it has on us as individuals. It is an experience in which we can face diverse realities, allowing us to gain knowledge about how other countries and cultures, different from those we encounter daily, function."

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

"I hope that this programme, with such a significant impact on the European community, can be maintained and continue to thrive for much more than the next 30 years, as well as keep growing, integrating new countries and areas of action. In an ideal scenario, I would like it to be possible to participate in it more than once for a long duration activity, and for it to become intergenerational. 

Since it is relatively recent, it would be very interesting to allow previous generations to take part as well, for example during retirement."

Ana Beatriz presenting during her volunteering

A group of volunteers

Ana Beatriz and fellow volunteers

Ana Beatriz during her volunteering

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Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026