One Month Recap

 I am currently volunteering in Ankara, and I am really enjoying the experience so far. During my time here, I have had the opportunity to explore different parts of the city and see some of its most famous and interesting places. I have visited Anıtkabir, which is very impressive and meaningful, Atakule, where I enjoyed seeing the city from above, Kuğulu Park, which is peaceful and relaxing, and several shopping malls. I also like spending time in the many cozy cafes around the city, which are great places to sit, relax, and watch the city life around me.

Exploring these places has been one of my favorite parts of the program because it allows me to see Ankara from different perspectives and enjoy the atmosphere of the city.

As part of the volunteering program, we had a chance to visit a university. This experience was very enjoyable because I got to meet new people and make connections. I really like meeting people from different backgrounds, talking to them, and learning about their lives and experiences. Being in a university environment was interesting and inspiring, and it helped me feel more confident when communicating with others.

During this program, we also participate in a variety of activities, which I enjoy a lot. We have speaking clubs, where I can practice my English and express my thoughts more comfortably. Cultural days are also very fun because we share our own cultures and learn about others. Workshops are another part of the program that I enjoy because they give me the chance to learn new things and improve my skills in different areas. Each activity is unique and interesting, and I like that we have a mix of learning, practicing, and social interaction.

One of my favorite parts of the volunteering program is visiting the school and spending time with the children. I enjoy playing with them, helping them in small ways, and simply being around them. Their energy is very positive, and being with them makes me feel happy and relaxed. It is a simple experience, but it is very meaningful to me because I like seeing their smiles and knowing that I can contribute in some way to their day.

Overall, being an ESC volunteer in Ankara is an experience that I genuinely enjoy. I like the variety of activities, the opportunity to meet new people, and the chance to explore the city. Even though the program is still ongoing, I already feel that it is a positive and valuable experience for me. I appreciate being able to take part in this program, and I look forward to continuing my time here, learning more, and enjoying every part of it.

I feel that this experience is not only helping me grow as a person, but also teaching me to appreciate small moments and simple joys. Every day brings something new, whether it is meeting someone interesting, learning a new skill, or just enjoying a peaceful walk in the city. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this program, and I hope to make the most of the remaining time, continue learning, and create even more positive memories.

STEPPING DEEPER INTO THE EXPERIENCE

My second month in Ankara as a volunteer with the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) at ANDER organization felt more intense, more meaningful, and even more connected than the first one. This time, I wasn't just discovering the city - I was truly becoming part of it.

One of the biggest highlights was finally going to a local school to facilitate lessons on different topics. Standing in front of students, leading discussions, and creating interactive activities was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. It made me realize how powerful non-formal education can be when it comes to inspiring young people.

This month was also filled with important cultural and political events. I joined the presentation of the second edition of the Polish-Ukrainian Film Review "The Spirit of Freedom", which created space for reflection through cinema. I also attended the commemoration of the 4th anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, organized at the Embassy of Ukraine in Ankara. It was a powerful and emotional gathering that reminded me how volunteering connects not only cultures, but also histories and shared values.

Beyond volunteering, Ankara continues to surprise me. I went ice skating with friends I met here - moments like that make this experience feel like home. | walked through the peaceful Dikmen Valley, enjoyed traditional Turkish breakfasts (again!), and cheered while watching volleyball games.

I also explored more of Türkiye. I visited Konya, with its spiritual atmosphere and deep history, and izmir, where the sea and sunsets gave me a completely different energy. In Ankara, I had the chance to visit the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ankara and spend time studying and exploring at the National Library of Turkey.

This second month felt like growth - professionally, culturally, and personally. Ankara is no longer just a place where I volunteer. It's a place where I am building memories that will stay with me long after this journey ends.

Kateryna's Second Month

 This month was even more engaging to me than the previos one!!!

We volunteered as teachers in a Turkish school, which was both exciting and challenging. At first, I was nervous - about the language, about whether students would understand me. But very quickly I realized that connection is stronger than grammar. Students are curious and full of energy everywhere. Even with limited words, we found ways to communicate, laugh, and learn from each other.

Life outside school was just as important. We spent evenings with friends, discovered cozy places in the city, and played 101 - a game that turned out to be much more competitive than I expected. What started as "just one round" often became hours of laughter and dramatic reactions.

I also tried new Turkish food and let myself explore the city on foot. Ankara has its own calm rhythm. Walking through different neighborhoods, sometimes alone and sometimes with friends, helped me feel how the city slowly became familiar. It's interesting how a place starts to feel like home once you attach memories to it.

During this month, I attended events organized by the Embassy of Ukraine connected to the anniversary of the war. These moments were emotional and meaningful. Being abroad during such an important time for my country reminded me that distance doesn't reduce responsibility or love for home.

On my free days, I traveled to Muğla to visit old friends. It felt like reconnecting with another part of my life while living a new one at the same time.

This month in Ankara was not only about volunteering. It was about growth, people,
culture, and learning how quickly a new place can become part of you.

Jessica's Second Month :)

 My second month in Turkey starts with a mix of curiosity and familiarity. Daily life feels more natural now, yet everything around me still surprises me. Even simple moments, like walking through local shops and realizing how cheap everything is compared to Italy, make me reflect on how different life feels here. I keep telling myself that when I go back home, everything will seem expensive and I will regret not buying more—but the fear of my suitcase weight always wins. It feels strange to think that now these places, this culture and these foods have become part of my everyday life.

At the beginning of the month, I had the chance to experience a very traditional part of Turkish culture. With some of the other volunteers, I tried a typical Turkish board game in one of those local “game rooms,” with loud traditional Turkish music that suddenly makes you want to dance, çay everywhere and people playing for hours. It felt like a real immersion into everyday Turkish life. By now, drinking at least two cups of çay a day and grabbing a simit or a dürüm while walking through the streets of Ankara has already become part of my routine.

This month, we also started teaching at Altındağ Anadolu İmam Hatip Lisesi. Teaching was a real challenge for me, especially because I had to speak in another language and improvise when needed. But I quickly realized how much I was improving. I gained confidence, learned to adapt and experienced what it feels like to be an authority figure in front of students who greeted me in the corridors, asked questions and showed curiosity about my life in Italy. It was incredibly rewarding to see their reactions, receive little notes from students and even sign their diaries it made me feel respected and appreciated.

Another activity we continued was food packing in LÖSEV. Just like last month, it was wonderful to contribute to something meaningful and help families in need. Wearing the orange vest and sharing a few words over coffee during breaks made the experience even more special.

This month, I also had the opportunity to organize my Italian Cultural Day. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to present Italy in a playful and authentic way, showing our traditions, family moments, love for food and, of course, espresso. It was important for me that people understood the real Italian culture, beyond stereotypes.

In addition, I presented my first workshop entirely on my own. At first, it was intimidating, but once I started, it felt natural and simple. This experience taught me confidence in speaking in front of a group, managing a session independently, and sharing my ideas in another language.

Overall, February has been a month full of learning and personal growth. I explored new aspects of Turkish culture, gained a deeper understanding of religion, traditions and daily life and improved my ability to connect with people from different backgrounds. I also have the chance to travel to new places in Turkey, which completely enriches my stay. Konya welcomes me with its ancient streets full of shops and families. Istanbul amazes me with its size, chaos and the magic of standing between two continents. Cappadocia feels unreal, like a fairy-tale world. İzmir offers the sea, warmth and a completely different atmosphere. Being able to visit so many places in such a short time is something I do not take for granted and I feel incredibly lucky.

Living two months in Turkey, surrounded by volunteers from Tunisia, Poland, Ukraine and North Macedonia, helps me understand more about who I am and why learning about others is so important. Our differences matter, and so do our similarities.

This experience has been truly transformative. I have grown, challenged myself and discovered so much about culture, food, language and human connection. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience so much in such a short time and I know that these memories and lessons will stay with me forever.

Maissem's Second Month

 Hi! This is me again

This month was so cool. We started it by doing a new activity which is going to a school and giving non formal education to pupils from 5 th grade to 9 th grade. The teachers were so nice and helped us when needed. Also, the pupils were happy about our presence there and they welcomed us with warmth the first day by giving us beautiful notes.

During this month I did Tunisia’s Culture Day! I enjoyed sharing my culture, food, dance and history with the other volunteers and I am sure that I did well representing my country.

I am extremely happy that I was able to finish creating a scarf during the knitting workshop. I hope the kid who will receive it will be happy as well about it and I hope he/she will like it. Actually, I think knitting will be a new hobby for me from now on!

We finished also 8 lessons of Turkish language and I am satisfied by the level of Turkish that I attended currently! Now I am able to manage small conversations with venders in the shops and that’s impressive in only two months!!

During this project I didn’t do only project related activities, I visited 3 Turkish cities: Istanbul, Cappadocia and Konya. I enjoyed discovering each one of them and I made a lot of memories and pictures in each city. I also appreciate the international friendships that I created during those 2 months.

Overall, my experience in this project is a very special one. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be part of this journey. Turkey will always have a special place in my heart. And now I am going back home with tears in my eyes and holding onto moments that will stay with me forever.

Thank you ANDER! Thank you ESC.