Volunteering abroad is such a unique experience that many people never get to do it, or only once in their lifetime. It offers not only work experience in a completely different environment, but also the opportunity for self-development, learning about foreign cultures, and gaining perspective on an often complicated world. Thanks to financial support from the European Solidarity Corps program, ADRA Czech Republic sends volunteers to three countries – Serbia, Zambia, and Uganda. And what are the responses? 🔉
In the following lines, you can read about two different experiences from volunteers who set out with ADRA. While Nazife spent a year in Serbia working with marginalized groups, Cristina spent six months in Zambia as a grant writer.
When I graduated from my master’s program in International Relations and began trying to break into the development cooperation sector, I felt unsure about where to start. One of the main challenges I faced was not being considered for positions because I lacked field experience. I knew I needed an opportunity that would allow me to learn through practice. Arriving in Zambia, I chose to keep an open mind. Before leaving, I didn’t really have any strong expectations or clear idea of what I would in the country. While I obviously prepared myself on a practical level, I consciously chose not to hold on to any preconceived idea that might have shaped or limited my experience in Zambia. This allowed me to be surprised every day, to learn by doing and to approach everything with an open mind. As my fellow volunteers and I often say here in Zambia, we’re simply “going with the flow”.
– Cristina, volunteer in Zambia
After working for a few years, I realized I wasn’t happy, so I began volunteering. Last year, I volunteered in Italy, and it was an incredible experience. After returning to my home country, I took some time before deciding to pursue a new opportunity in humanitarian aid. I was initially concerned about the language barrier, but upon arriving here, I was pleasantly surprised to find that most people speak English. Over the past months, this volunteering experience has had a profound impact on both my personal and professional development. Working with vulnerable and marginalized groups strengthened my sense of responsibility, empathy, and social awareness. I realized how meaningful even small actions can be in supporting people and creating positive change in their lives.
– Nazife, volunteer in Serbia
Volunteering within the Humanitarian Volunteering for Solidarity Activities project is fully funded by the European Solidarity Corps. Volunteers have a mentor from the sending country at their disposal throughout their stay, as well as within the organization where they work. People aged 18 to 35 who are permanent residents of one of the EU member states or Turkey, North Macedonia, Liechtenstein, or Iceland are eligible to participate.
After participating in training, candidates can apply for individual positions published on the European Youth Portal. There is a selection process for each position. The duration of volunteering ranges from 2 to 12 months; for our volunteer positions, it is 6 to 12 months. Participation in the project is funded by the European Solidarity Corps, including insurance, accommodation at the project site, transportation, travel expenses, and a small allowance. Positions in humanitarian volunteering correspond to approximately full-time work, i.e., between 30 and 38 hours per week.
My first week in Zambia was a mix of small victories and everyday challenges, particularly related to logistics and bureaucracy, things that are part of daily life. Thankfully, some colleagues from the office were incredibly supportive and helped me settle in. I was genuinely grateful for how welcoming, available and kind they were from the very beginning. In addition to office-based work, I often take part in field monitoring missions, which I find especially valuable. Living and working only in Lusaka would never provide a full picture of the challenges faced by rural communities. By being in the field, I am able to connect the work we do on paper with the real lives and experiences behind it. I don’t have fixed expectations for the second part of my deployment. I prefer to keep an open mind, and I’m sure I’ll be surprised once again!
– Cristina, volunteer in Zambia
Traveling to different cities in Serbia to conduct workshops and working with children and young people in both schools and asylum centers, was an incredible experience. Being able to understand their cultures and languages to a certain level made me even happier. Listening to their life stories helped me appreciate their strength, resilience, and hopes for the future.
– Nazife, volunteer in Serbia
The Humanitarian Volunteering for Solidarity Activities project (No. 101140258) runs from February 1, 2024, to January 31, 2027, and is co-financed by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed in this text are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the grant provider (the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency). Neither the European Union nor the grant provider are responsible for them.
