Arda Eren BULUT

Hello everyone,

I am Arda Eren Bulut. Through KOZ-DER I had the chance to join an international volunteering project in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. I joined to get to know other cultures, improve my language skills and meet people from around the world. The project gave me far more than that.

How the Project Went

Throughout the project we worked with volunteers from other countries, took part in a range of activities and created together towards a shared aim. One of our most important pieces of work was repairing and maintaining toys for children.

What looked simple at first became much more meaningful as time went on. Knowing that every toy we repaired would reach a child’s hands again and bring them happiness kept us motivated. Making unusable toys usable again, and knowing they would find their way back to children, was a feeling that is hard to put into words.

Alongside that we ran different workshops, group activities and cultural exchanges. Every day we learned something new, gained different perspectives and got to know each other’s cultures better.

Life in Viana do Castelo

Viana do Castelo became an unforgettable city for me. Its calm atmosphere, natural beauty and the warmth of its people made my time there very special. In our free time we explored the city, spent time by the sea and got to know Portuguese culture up close.

We built strong friendships with the other volunteers very quickly. Even though we came from different countries we collected shared memories, laughed together, learned together and supported one another. Those friendships were one of the most valuable parts of the project for me.

What This Experience Gave Me

The project improved my communication skills, gave me confidence and widened my view of other cultures. I also came to understand better that volunteering is not simply taking part in an activity: it means making a positive contribution, however small, to people’s lives.

The work we did for children in particular showed me the real value of volunteering. Repairing a toy may look like a small thing, but thinking about the happiness it would bring to a child’s face made the work far more meaningful.

Final Word

Thank you to KOZ-DER above all, to everyone who organised the project and to all the volunteers I worked with for making this experience possible.

The project gave me friendships I will not forget, valuable experience and wonderful memories. Meeting people from other cultures, learning new things and contributing to children’s happiness meant a great deal to me.

The project may have ended, but the friendships I made here, the experience I gained and the peace of having contributed to children’s happiness will stay with me for many years.