From April 27th to June 7th, ten volunteers from eight countries participated in the Green Fingers project, making up the spring volunteering team of the European Solidarity Corps
Volunteers Roos (Belgium), Léna and Chloé (France), Conrad and Sonja (Germany), Spyridoula (Greece), Sergei (Italy), Agate (Latvia), Emma (Netherlands), and Carlos (Spain) carried out activities in primary schools in Zagreb and Vrbovec: gardening in the school gardens of partner primary schools, maintaining greenery area in primary school Dobriša Cesarić and Davorin Trstenjak, organized and held an Intercultural evening, organized and held workshops at the Garden Festival at primary school M.J. Zagorke in Vrbovec and small garden festival at primary school Davorin Trstenjak in Zagreb, celebrated World Bee day by organizing workshop for pupils. The program provided different avenues for volunteers to embrace and try on various activities, from working on personal projects to watching birds in Maksimir (organized and implemented by NGO BIOM), Blackout poetry (organized and implemented by NGO Ocean Znanja) and participating in meditation with acrylic pouring (organized by NGO OAZA).
I’ve always loved connecting with people from around the world and trying different things. When I decided to join the Green Fingers volunteering project, I had no idea how much it would change my life! I found the perfect opportunity to meet new people and live unprecedented experiences while working on something that benefits the local community. Let me tell you about my journey!
Imagine spending your days in beautiful school gardens, learning about plants, how to maintain a garden and how to use the right tools in every situation. The gardening days were always an educational and bonding experience for all of us, since they combined work and a lot of chit chat between us. Learning so much about gardening and showing the kids the importance of caring about our environment, really felt like we were making a positive impact, not only for our generation but also for the future young people.
But it was not just about gardening. Spending time with the kids and organizing educational workshops for them was a big part of the project. These events featured fun games and a lot of laughter, as we taught them about the importance of volunteering, multiculturalism and cooperation, helping them understand the value of working together and appreciating diverse backgrounds. One of my favorite moments was organizing the garden festivals on the last week, where we got to see the kids we met and shared memories during these 6 weeks, all together, doing fun activities and talking with them. Their smiles and excitement made every moment worthwhile!
The highlight of the project was living together with 9 other amazing volunteers. We became a family sharing fun nights, going out, cooking together, staying in the hostel and talking for hours about everything. These moments of bonding made the experience even more special and created friendships that will last a lifetime.
This experience taught me so much about teamwork, cultural exchange and the power of community. It made me more adaptable, creative and socially aware. I learned that even small actions can have a big impact and that working together towards a common goal is incredibly fulfilling. Volunteering with the ESC was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! The memories and skills I gained will stay with me forever.
– Spyridoula, Greece
Hi, my name is Sergei Arturo Addis. I come from Sardinia and I’m 27 years old. I recently decided to take part in a volunteering group project in Croatia
( ESC GREEN FINGER), with the OAZA association, where I had the opportunity to meet new personalities with different ways of seeing and relating to the world and thanks to which I was able to enrich and broaden my points of sight. way. Furthermore, thanks to the activities within the school gardens and the workshops held (black poetry, ESC program, bee day, birdwatching, fluid paint etc..) I was able to broaden my knowledge and skills in a practical way. In particular, it was very constructive and satisfying to organize the workshops for school children with the whole team, an activity through which we had the opportunity to share and confront our ideas, learning from each other. A very beautiful and rich experience full of present moments.
– Sergei, Italy
“Allowing people to mold this experience in whatever they need it to be.”
My interest in ESC projects stemmed from finally being presented with a break in my many consecutive years of studying. I was living abroad, sort of in between different chapters in my life and looking for an opportunity to catch a break.
I applied to several volunteering projects but was hoping to be chosen specifically by O.A.ZA., since they offer plant-based catering, combine working with kids and being outdoors and are in Croatia – my childhood dream destination that I had never managed to visit before. So, naturally, I was elated to be selected.
Throughout the course of the 6 weeks alongside volunteering action we also managed to create a strong community. Already shortly after arrival, it became clear that some of us have had previous experience with volunteering or living in a group setting and bring a lot of ideas to the table regarding how to contribute to a successful group dynamic, whereas those with less experience were open to explore this community building. That was one of my personal highlights of the experience – we organized communal shopping, cooking, cleaning, outings, events and more. Of course, not everyone wanted to or was able to always participate, but it was the striving towards inclusivity that mattered. For that I am deeply thankful to my group.
My main feedback about the experience is that you can make it whatever it is you’re needing most. It is a fertile soil for vitalizing the aspects of one’s life that were in some ways lacking.
Be it new friends, travelling, enjoying living in a big city while being close to nature, finding community, expressing oneself artistically, developing teamwork skills, rising to the challenge of working with kids, maybe even finding purpose. The Green Fingers project is a great platform for not only challenging yourself, but also nurturing the needs that were not being met in your everyday life.
– Agate, Latvia
I decided to volunteer because I wanted to experience something new, something I had never experienced before. And of course, the classic reason: I wanted to get to know myself better and become a better version of myself. But actually this seemed very idealistic to me and like something that would never happen within six weeks.
I applied to Green Fingers because I like being in nature and working with children, so that combination seemed perfect to me. I was very happy when I received the email that I could be part of the volunteering team.
When coming to Zagreb, I immediately felt at home in the hostel and with the people of the volunteering team. The first weekend we did many activities with the group: we explored the city, had several meals, went to a lake and went out for drinks. After these days I felt like I had known these people for months and I already felt comfortable with many people in the group.
The first two weeks of volunteering involved many office days. During these days we prepared workshops for the children and I worked on my personal project. For my personal project, I interviewed teachers about how they deal with children’s mental health issues and organized a workshop for a class of children on different ways to express feelings. With my personal project I learned more about how schools in Croatia deal with mental health problems and I learned to take initiative and be more assertive, because I had to get things done and organize a lot.
During the last four weeks of the project we went to different schools to give workshops and to garden. It was fun to do the workshops because the children were very enthusiastic and welcoming. It was nice to see that what we had prepared in the office actually worked for the children. We gave workshops about bees, volunteering and sometimes we just played lots of games outside with them. By giving these workshops I learned to speak in front of large groups and to take initiative to explain games. The garden festivals we organized were also a lot of fun. I did face painting for the children together with Roos and it was really nice to see that the children were happy with what we had made for them. Gardening was nice as well because of the different activities we could do. For example, I painted flower boxes, planted trees and cut bushes. Sometimes children helped us and I could get to know them better, but usually we did that alone with the volunteering team and that was always very nice because we had a lot of nice conversations during these gardening days.
But to be completely honest, being part of a community of ten people has taught me more than volunteering itself. During this project I learned that I love being part of a community and always having people around me. We had lots of fun! We went on different trips, walked around, went to restaurants, went to clubs, had drinks, played games.. Of course there were sometimes disagreements and tensions, which was very difficult, because sometimes it got very intense. But because of the intensity, this also made it easier for me not to avoid the conflict and to communicate about my feelings and needs and to ask others about their feelings and needs. I have learned to be more in touch with my feelings, to reflect on myself and to express myself better. I have also learned to get along with people I wouldn’t choose myself, and they taught me a lot! I became more open-minded, more understanding and less judgmental and I always try to see the best in people.
This experience has inspired me to do more volunteering projects abroad because I had an amazing time! It has taught me that you can become very close and comfortable with a random group of people from different cultures and backgrounds. I feel like being in such a loving, caring and understanding community is something I’ve never experienced before. It was so helpful and good for me! It has taught me what is really important in life: sharing, communicating, being understandable, being patient, being kind, but most importantly: it has made me more positive and confident. I couldn’t even imagine that I would learn all this in six weeks but my goal came true. Thank you for this amazing opportunity and thank you to the people of the volunteering team, you changed my life and made me a better version of myself.
– Emma, Netherlands
The human mind is a labyrinth with multiple entrances and exits that you will never find. Behind one door, another door is hidden, and behind this door, a dead end.
Many times we try to find the right path, as if there were a right path. We focus on finding the exit, instead of appreciating the drawings on the walls or the sound of silence and our breathing. Have I already been here? Should I turn left or right? And when you realize it, you’ve wasted your life looking for something you can’t find, even though they told you you could.
In this enriching experience I have met people from different countries and cultures who have taught me to see the world with different eyes. I have heard stories that are now part of mine. I have tried to speak out for those who have been silenced. I have dug with my hands the soil that will feed a strong and resilient tree. I have played with children who will one day be adults, and spoken with adults who are still children (big kids with responsibilities and worries). I laughed. I cried. I have learned to know myself and accept myself. To accept that the world is not fair, but that it is fair to help those who need it.
But let’s leave the philosophical tirade and profound phrases behind. Embarking on a volunteer project is not a doctorate or a complex process made for high-level people. On the contrary, the objective of projects of this type and of organizations like ESC or OAZA is to give equal opportunities to people who are willing to help and travel. People like you and me. And for that I am so grateful to them.
From the moment I set foot in Zagreb, a new and enriching chapter in the story of my life began to be written. A chapter full of incredible experiences and wonderful memories. Of significant moments and beautiful people. It’s difficult to describe everything I experienced and learned in these 6 weeks, but I’m going to try.
An important part of the project consisted of visiting schools in Zagreb and surrounding areas to do gardening and workshops for children. It was my first time doing both, but I can confirm that I discovered two new passions. Working in the garden is a relaxing and meditative experience, while working with children shows you the purity of people and the importance of receiving a good education. The days in the office preparing the workshops were also a great opportunity to learn to work as a team.
Additionally, during the project we did different activities such as an intercultural night, a hike in the mountains, numerous workshops to develop our creativity, etc.
But if I have to highlight what I enjoyed most during my stay in Zagreb, it would be the people I met there. Wonderful people from different parts of the world who made this experience an unforgettable memory. It is not easy to feel accompanied when you are thousands of kilometers from your home, but thanks to these people I never felt alone, quite the opposite. I couldn’t be more grateful for the good time they gave me and all the different things each of these people taught me.
If you have the opportunity, do not hesitate to sign up for a volunteer project. You will not regret it.
– Carlos, Spain
