“My volunteering journey started on the 10th of September, when I arrived in Barcelona without a return ticket. It was my first time living in another country. Before that, I had only lived independently in Tallinn, where I still had the comfort of being close to my family.
Moving to Spain meant stepping completely out of my comfort zone, both physically and emotionally.
The beginning of my experience was unexpectedly challenging. On my second day in Barcelona, while staying in a hostel and searching for accommodation, my phone was stolen. Suddenly, I was left without communication in a new country, dealing with police procedures and stressful situations in a language I did not understand. At the same time, I was struggling to find housing.
It would have been easy to give up. However, I chose to stay. Those first weeks became a real test. Test of resilience, independence, and adaptability. During that time, I also met another volunteer who became one of the closest people to me here. This connection helped me feel grounded and supported in a new environment.
As I was settling into a new life, I also started working in the office. The first weeks were intense, a constant flow of information, communication in English, and new responsibilities. I often felt overwhelmed, but I kept learning every day. Looking back, I realize how much I have changed.
I arrived as someone who believed she understood many things, but over time I discovered how much there still was to learn.
This experience has transformed me both personally and professionally. My main role involves coordinating Erasmus+ mobility projects. I manage the entire process, from partnership calls and participant selection to travel coordination and pre-departure meetings. Leading meetings was something I used to fear, but over time I learned how to guide groups with confidence.
Meaningful parts of my experience have been working on solidarity projects, including visiting elderly people. At first, this was emotionally challenging for me. However, over time, I discovered how kind and open these people are. They simply need attention and connection. This experience taught me empathy on a deeper level and reminded me that we are all experiencing life for the first time.
One of the most important milestones of the journey was organizing a Youth Exchange from scratch to the end.
Together with the team, we created the project “Stress Fighters.” We developed the concept, built partnerships, selected participants, and designed a full 9-day programme. We successfully implemented the project with 34 participants from 7 countries. Through workshops on yoga, creative expression, hiking, and peer-led sessions, we explored stress awareness and practical tools for managing it.
There was a moment during the project when I realized how far I had come. I was facilitating a full day of activities, leading workshops, motivating participants, and holding the energy of the group. I felt confident, present, and fully in control. At that moment, I thought: “Wow, I am really doing this.”
Through this experience, I also understood that it is impossible to meet everyone’s expectations, and that it is okay. What matters is giving your best, staying authentic, and taking care of your own well-being. One of the biggest realizations is that I am capable of much more than I used to believe. I often underestimated myself, but this experience showed me my strength.
Over these six months, I developed strong communication skills, learned how to structure information, work with tools like Excel, write professional emails, and manage multiple tasks at once. I became more confident in expressing my ideas and speaking in front of others. At the same time, I grew as a person. I became calmer when facing challenges, more open, and more confident in sharing my thoughts. I am no longer as afraid of making mistakes or appearing imperfect.
Teamwork has also been one of the most valuable lessons. Sometimes I take the role of a leader, especially when responsibility is needed. Other times, I support, organize, or generate ideas. What I learned is that a strong team works as a flexible system, where everyone contributes based on their strengths.
Living in Barcelona has also shaped me in many ways. The city feels like a daily celebration, people dancing, relaxing, enjoying life and you want to go everywhere. I needed to learn how to fight with FOMO.
Spanish culture also taught me to slow down, to not carry work stress into my personal life, and to be more open and friendly.
I noticed how people smile, talk to strangers, and create connections easily. At first, this felt unusual to me, but now I find myself doing the same, smiling back, greeting people, being more open to the world. I also experienced local traditions, community events, and volunteering activities, from neighbourhood gatherings to working with elderly people and children. These moments made me feel part of something bigger.
At the same time, I am learning Spanish and slowly discovering the culture more deeply. I had the chance to travel to Asturias and Tenerife, where I experienced a more local and authentic side of Spanish life. This experience also had a strong impact on my future. I now have a clearer vision of how to develop my own NGO. I understand the importance of structure, communication, teamwork, and taking responsibility.
If I had to describe these six months in one sentence, I would say: Wow, what’s next?“
Darja