A story, or even two, from Armenian volunteers who gave part of their live to volunteer in Poland. Meet Anna and Ani, for whom European Solidarity Corps was a life changing experience.
A “baby” of the volunteering community
Hi! I’m Anna Kirakosyan from Armenia. I had a pleasure to join European Solidarity Corps volunteering project in Poland thanks to Armenian Open Society Youth organisation. Tomorrow I am traveling to Germany to see Lika, a Georgian girl with whom back in 2023 I was sitting on the bare mattress of her bed. She was about to leave Poland as her long-term volunteering project ended and her once artistically decorated room was carefully packed in a suitcase and a bag. Our “baby”, as we collectively called her in our quite large volunteering group because of her young age (youngest among us), was finishing her adventure. And although prudently trying to mask her bursting heart, she was emotional… As was I, but with the maturity of a person who had almost a decade over her delicate age.
It’s so interesting how two people in different stages of life (we were at two opposite ends of the participation age limit) can come together, find common things, learn from and grow to care about each other. That day I took upon myself to make sure that she will leave with the idea that the end of the project is not the end of the friendships, it is a good start for her to do more in her life with newly acquired abilities and, at the same time, I realise that this is what volunteering for the European Solidarity Corps was for me – a journey of learning, connecting, sharing…
Life-long friendships
It amazes me how much of an impact the project had on more than 20 people, that even after all this time we are in touch, visiting each other’s countries, and meeting up as soon as we are geographically close to another volunteer from the group. And it didn’t just happen overnight. I remember all the group meetings that were thoughtfully prepared for us by the hosting organization Regionalne Centrum Wolontariatu in Kielce, Poland to make us cooperate more organically with whoever we were working with that week. Constantly developing new skills, testing our limits, and discovering new “powers”. Really, I say “powers” because I cannot recall another setting where in such a short time I did so many things and learned so much about myself and my abilities.
This experience changed my perception of the world, opened up new possibilities I was not aware of before, and for that, I am eternally grateful and I will keep informing young people around me about different projects they can take part in.
Two introverts and common experience
As for my “baby” Lika, I remember the first time we met, she wanted to cut her project short and go back home, although the project just started, but soon after she felt closer to everyone, she started very close friendship with her room-mate, started to share her artistic work, she was teaching English to the kids at school, simultaneously making progress in her communication skills, and in the end it was hard to leave. Now she is an exchange student in Germany for this semester. As a fellow introvert, I am so proud of her, because I know how hard it is for us to leave the comfort of our habitual surroundings and put ourselves in the world. And imagine if it was not for the unusual circumstances during the ESC project where you evolve and change at a rapid pace, she might have discovered herself much later.
I am sentimental as I write this, it came just in time – I am going to see a person very dear to my heart. I am sure someone observing from aside could describe my growth during the project the same way as I described my friend’s progress with some singularities and we are not the only lucky ones!
Hello, I’m Ani Nikoghosyan from Armenia. I still remember the day my sending Armenian Open Society Youth organisation sent me a link for an European Solidarity Corps project. They said: “You should apply; this is perfect for you!” When I read the description, I learned they were looking for a volunteer with musical skills. I knew right then that this was the opportunity I had been searching for – a perfect project at the right time!
Starting the journey
My experience with the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) came at the perfect time in my life. At 19, I was overwhelmed with work and studies, yet dreaming of pursuing a music career, exploring the world, and doing something meaningful for others. It was my first time living in another country and away from my family, but I was ready to embark on this new journey. I volunteered in a peaceful and green village called Dąbrowa in Poland, which was home to some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. I shared an apartment with another volunteer, Melda, a talented painter who has since become one of my closest friends. Our project was centred around creativity: we taught music and art to children, worked on art projects, and used our free time for personal growth. We learned a lot from each other and had so much fun travelling around Europe together.
Teaching and learning
This experience was about giving and receiving. While I was proud to share something new with the community, I also learned a great deal from them every day. The support from the organization and the people of the village was incredible. I never imagined how much I would enjoy working with children. I had always thought I wouldn’t have enough energy, but it turned out I loved it – playing and interacting with them was incredibly rewarding. I felt so excited to create games, plan music lessons, and just spend time with kids. What surprised me most was how well we could understand each other, even without speaking the same language. Working with the children also helped improve my Polish.
Personal growth
One of the greatest advantages of living in such a quiet place was the time I had to focus on self-development. During my free time, I worked on improving my guitar playing and songwriting skills. The hosting organization even helped me apply to a local music festival called Katar, where I was selected as one of 13 finalists out of 30 contestants. I was the only participant representing Dąbrowa, which made both me and the locals very proud. We rented a bus, and everyone who wanted to support me came along to Toruń, where the festival took place. This opened doors for me to perform at concerts in other cities and villages. Another memorable experience was performing at “The Stage is Yours” festival in Toruń, where I performed on a boat. These experiences not only helped me grow as a performer but also deepened my connection with the community.
New Opportunities
Our ideas kept growing, and eventually, Melda and I launched a long-term project that combined both music and art. I wrote songs inspired by our experiences, while Melda created illustrations to accompany them. We recorded the songs and released a short album (EP) of seven tracks with her beautiful artwork. It was like a dream come true! We released CDs along with merchandise, such as t-shirts featuring illustrations from the songs. Some of these were given to the community of Dąbrowa as a keepsake from us. We even filmed a music video in Dąbrowa for one of the songs. I could never have imagined having the opportunity like this.
A Life Changing Experience
I never could have imagined the friendships, opportunities, and bonds with the children that I formed during my ESC project. This chapter of my life continues to influence me wherever I go and in whatever I do. The skills and experiences I gained are still relevant in everything I pursue today. I can’t fully express how life-changing the European Solidarity Corps experience is. It broadens horizons, fosters lifelong friendships, and provides opportunities to both teach and learn. I wish every young person could experience something like this and make a positive impact in their life and the lives of others.
