Czećź! My name is Zoi Manou and I have been volunteering in a kindergarten in Szczecin, Poland for the
last five months. When I got accepted to this EVS project, I knew that I would dive into a new world
composed by new people, different languages, other lifestyles, but I was so excited and I was looking
forward to this experience.
Every morning I provide my services in a public kindergarten, where my basic responsibilities are to
support the teachers, interact with the children and organise activities. Of course, it was not so easy at
first, because I had to adjust in to a new reality based on polish language, but the teachers and the stuff
welcomed me so warmly. The kids' enthusiasm, smiles, hugs is the other source that gives me energy
and strength on a daily basis. We are having a good time together, at least I hope so, even though our
communication is not always successful and it includes body language and a few polish words. Till this
moment, I have organised some activities, including a presentation about Greece, and an ecology
project in cooperation with Anastasija, the other volunteer.
At the same time, I feel lucky, because I am having a great time with the other volunteers and especially
with my flatmates. Many countries, many languages, different lifestyles but we have so much in
common, believe me! Our coordinators had organised activities and workshops to get to know each
other and these really helped us to get closer and became friends, who talk express their feelings, their
passions, their fears, explore the city and its potentials and travel a lot. I had never imagined of
travelling beyond the borders of my country! Although, the most important is not only that I discover
and visit new places, but the fact that I am with my friends and we are creating new memories.
To sum up, I am so happy to have filled this application a few months ago, I am looking forward to the
next five months and I strongly recommend everyone to join projects like this!
Zoi Manou
During her voluntary service through Eu Solidarity Corps (formerEVS) at the ngo Stowarzyszenie POLITES in Poland
