MY VOLUNTEERING AT SVITAC (FIREFLY IN BOSNIA) – volunteer’s blog
My name is Canan, I am 26 years old and I participated in a long-term ESC volunteering project for Omladinska organizacija Svitac in Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina. My sending organization was the “Bezirksjugendwerk der AWO Hessen-Süd e.V.“ in Frankfurt, Germany.
The project, called “Volunteerism to Solidarity,” lasted six months and focused on working with children and young people. Before arriving, I had to go through an application process that reflected the seriousness of working with children, including organizing documents like my passport and a criminal background check. After arriving, I applied for a visa, which required a medical check and multiple trips to a hospital. Despite the legal requirements, the preparation phase was exciting, and I was eager to start this journey.
Every morning brought amazing moments; from Monday to Friday, I worked with children aged 4-7 in “Daily Activities,” which included mildly taxing physical movements such as stretching, workouts, and dancing. After the short but intense warm-up, we continued by watching 10-15 minutes of cartoons and then began with arts and crafts or learning how to form B/H/S letters and basic English characters. In the afternoons, it was the turn of the older children and teenagers, including language lessons in German and English. I also helped with organizing regular workshops in the high school and the periodic annual events such as the New Year’s or Halloween parties. Day by day, we gained new experience and learned how to apply it to our work. In my free time, I enjoyed visiting different cities like Sarajevo, Tuzla, and Belgrade, going to cafés, and spending time with other volunteers. The project primarily took place during the winter months but we found ways to have fun and bring a lot of cheer to everything we did together.
One of the biggest challenges has been the language barrier, but over time, I have learned the basics, making daily life much easier. Speaking with people in supermarkets, cafes or other public places was a challenge but communication became easier over time and also gave me a sense of accomplishment.
I am grateful to both my sending and hosting organizations for this opportunity. This experience has allowed me to explore a new culture, develop new skills, and work with children in a meaningful way. I highly recommend the European Solidarity Corps projects to anybody looking to step out of their comfort zone and immerse themselves in a truly rewarding experience abroad.
facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/omladinska.svitac
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Svitac_BiH
Instagram: omladinska.svitac
YouTube: Svitac Firefly Bosnia
See you around,
Canan Karahan, Svitac’s (Firefly in Bosnia’s) ESC volunteer September 2024-March 2025
