Ebru YAMAN

Fifty-Five Days in Portugal: Far More Than a Volunteering Project

In the spring of 2026 I had the chance to join a 55-day volunteering project under the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) in Viana do Castelo, in northern Portugal. It did not only mean volunteering in another country; it became an unforgettable journey in which I discovered myself, built new friendships and widened how I see the world.

My Project

Our core aim was to repair unused or broken toys and give them a new life. We spent most of our days in the toy laboratory, mending toys and making them usable again.

Through the process I realised our work was not only about repairing toys. Every toy was a small part of a smile that would appear on a child’s face. At the end of the project we donated the toys we had repaired to children and shared in their happiness.

Activities with Children

The activities with children were among the most enjoyable parts of the project. In the first days there were moments when the language difference made communication hard. But we soon discovered that games are a universal language.

Thanks to the Surakarta game I brought from Türkiye and the Mangala and Connect 5 my friends brought, the distance between us disappeared. Every game we played together laid the foundation of the friendships we built.

Meetings with Older People

As part of the project we also visited older people. Even without a shared language we tried to talk, to listen and to spend time together. Sometimes we used translation apps; sometimes a smile was enough.

Being able to hold small conversations towards the end thanks to a few Portuguese words and phrases I had learned made me especially happy. Those visits taught me that communication is not made of words alone.

Multicultural Life in Viana do Castelo

Alongside the volunteering I had the chance to live in a multicultural environment. I met people from Brazil, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. Each had their own stories, habits and life experience.

We went to karaoke together, had picnics, played football and got to know traditions from other cultures. The evenings we played volleyball on the beach at sunset stay with me as some of my finest memories of Portugal.

Discovery and Travel

I had the chance to discover not only people but Portugal itself. As part of Europe Day I joined the celebrations with Erasmus students. On a trip to Melgaço it was fascinating to see that the border separating Portugal and Spain is really just a river.

Visiting Guimarães brought me closer to the country’s history. While discovering cities such as Lisbon and Porto, my trips to Madrid and Valencia let me experience Spain too. I remember taking around 120,000 steps in three days on those tiring but exciting journeys.

What This Experience Gave Me

One of the things that struck me most in Portugal was people’s warmth and helpfulness. Even in the many situations where we did not share a language, we could find a way to communicate and understand each other. It showed me that people are far closer than we think.

The friendships I built with people from other cultures widened my perspective and I began to see the world through different eyes.

Over those 55 days I learned a lot about myself too. Living in a new country, communicating with different people and stepping outside my comfort zone showed me I am braver than I thought. I learned to act more independently, to be open to new experiences and to deal with uncertainty.

Peace and Unforgettable Memories

One of the strongest feelings left from this experience was peace. Viana do Castelo’s calm, its ocean view and its slow pace of life gave me an inner peace I had not felt in a long time.

The moments after a bike ride, sitting by the sea and watching the tiredness of the day, are among the most special memories of this experience.

Saying Goodbye

On the last day of the project around ten of us came together. We all knew it was time to part. Some tried not to show their feelings, some hid tears. But we all felt the same thing: we would miss each other. That day we promised to meet again and said goodbye.

Final Word

Before going to Portugal, what I had in mind was mostly seeing a new country and having a different experience. But on the way home I realised those 55 days had given me far more. My suitcase held not only photographs and gifts but experiences that helped me know myself better, friendships across cultures and unforgettable memories that will stay with me for life.

My heartfelt thanks to KOZ-DER for making this valuable opportunity possible, to the project coordinators, to the hosting organisation and to everyone I met along the way.

The 55 days I spent in Portugal will always stay with me as one of the most special and instructive experiences of my life.