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  • I didn’t expect such a deep and intense experience. Let me tell you a bit more about it.
I didn’t expect such a deep and intense experience. Let me tell you a bit more about it.

| Aktualno

When I planned to take part in an ESC program, my main goal was to live a new experience. Now, as my volunteering with Zavod Nefiks comes to an end, I can say that I have achieved and even surpassed that goal. Actually, I didn’t expect such a deep and intense experience. Let me tell you a bit more about it.

I am a 23-year-old French woman and I studied law for 5 years at university. I now have my Master’s degree but before starting to work, I wanted to spend a few months abroad and to do something completely different from law.
The ESC program was a perfect opportunity to travel, to improve my English and to participate in a new project. So, I decided to apply for several projects and was accepted into the one proposed by Zavod Nefiks at the Youth Center Vič, in Ljubljana.

bow mcvic

Before my departure, I didn’t really know anything about Slovenia or Ljubljana. But I discovered an interesting country and such a beautiful city.
I was attracted by the project’s topic: working in a youth center with children and young people. I didn’t really know what a youth center was or what my tasks would involve but I was very curious to learn more about it.

mountain view

At the beginning of my volunteering, I felt a little strange because everything was new to me: new language, new home, new work, new people around me… It can be very stressful and I felt like I was in the wrong place … But after a few weeks here, I started to feel at home and all these new things have been transformed:

  • Language: I wasn’t very good at speaking and writing in English, and of course, I didn’t know a word of Slovene. But when you live in a place where English is the only language that helps you to communicate, you improve it very quickly. Improving my English was also one of the reasons I wanted to go abroad and even though I’m still not bilingual, I’m now able to understand and speak English more easily than before.
  • Home: I left my home, my city, my own country to live in a very different place. In Ljubljana, I shared a flat with a new person and had to adapt to new habits. For me, it wasn’t so difficult, but of course, I needed some time to adjust. My roommate, another volunteer in the organization, became one of my closest friends. I’ll never forget all the moments spent together in our flat: cooking, watching movies, playing Skyjo (the board game) or just talking for hours. Regarding the city, Ljubljana has so much to offer and Slovenia even more. I had enough free time to visit several cities and places in this country and the countries around and I was amazed by what I discovered.

mcvic youthcenter

  • Work: I came to Slovenia primarily to participate in my project : working in a youth center. Playing with children, helping my coworkers with various tasks, developing my creativity, cooking every Wednesday for kids or organizing activities in the youth center were all part of my daily life during these 3 months. It was very different from my daily life in France. Although it wasn’t always easy to find my place in this new professional environment, I truly appreciated all the events, workshops and activities that were organized by the organization. I also found a safe place, the youth center, where young people can come, play, talk and feel better.
  • People: This was an amazing human experience.The people I met were a central part of my experience, making it truly unforgettable. Thanks to my on-arrival training, I met other volunteers from different countries who were volunteering in various organizations across Slovenia. They became my friends here and I saw them every weekend. As I mentioned, I also met my roommate who was my coworker, my free-time partner and my best friend here. In the youth center, I worked also with my coworkers and they were really helpful and supportive. In general, all the staff of the organization were very kind, especially my coordinator, Nives, who is an incredible person and a real support for all the volunteers.

forest trip

  • Finally, above all these new things, I also discovered a new side of myself : I started trying new activities like running, pilates, cooking a lot, and I learned new skills as well. I learned a lot about myself and for my future. I am so glad to have had this experience and very grateful for this opportunity: I will never forget everything it brought me.
    I can only recommend it and say one thing to those who hesitate to come here : don’t hesitate for a second!

 

ESC LOGO european solidarity corps


KDO SMO IN KAJ POČNEMO?

N E F I K S

Poslanstvo zavoda je mladim in mladinskim organizacijam zagotavljati ustrezno strokovno podporo pri beleženju in evidentiranju neformalnega izobraževanja in učinkov mladinskega dela z namenom njegovega priznanja v širši družbi. Nadalje je namen zavoda mladim pomagati pri kariernem razvoju, zaposlovanju in aktivnem državljanstvu ter zagotavljati pomoč in podporo pri organizacijskem in drugem razvoju mladinskih in nevladnih organizacij.

   Zavod Nefiks
            Ob dolenjski železnici 12
            1000 Ljubljana

  nefiks@nefiks.si

    +386 40 698 915

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