Solidarity, Effort and Unforgettable Friendships in Madan

Hello, I am Ege Şemsettin SÖNMEZ.

Through KOZ-DER, I had the opportunity to take part as a volunteer in a European Solidarity Corps (ESC) project carried out in Madan, Bulgaria. I started this journey with the aim of discovering new cultures, meeting different people and creating social benefit. However, this experience gave me much more than I had expected; it became a deep and transformative life experience for me.

Our Field Work and Solidarity

Throughout the project, we directly supported local people living in Madan and the surrounding villages. Our work was not limited to activities planned behind a desk; we were completely in the field, actively taking part in tasks that touched people’s daily lives.

We helped elderly people with their winter preparations by chopping and carrying wood. We also contributed to cleaning and organising shared living areas in the villages. There were days when we were physically tired and days when we had to deal with challenging conditions, but seeing the sincere smiles and gratitude in the eyes of the people we helped made us forget all our tiredness.

During this process, I saw closely how valuable effort, solidarity and even small acts of help can be for people. Feeling that every drop of sweat we shed made someone’s life a little easier was extremely meaningful for me.

Unforgettable Friendships and New Beginnings

This project was not only a volunteering activity for me; it was also a special period in which strong human connections were built. We worked together with volunteers from different countries, got tired together, shared the same tables and made an effort for the same purpose.

I gained friendships that I believe will last a lifetime. Each friend I met gave me the chance to discover a different culture, a different perspective and a different life story. The time I spent in Madan was not only a volunteering experience, but also a powerful journey that brought people closer to one another.

This journey also brought me a beautiful coincidence. While working for the same purpose, I took the first steps of a relationship that added a very special meaning to my life. For this reason, Madan will remain in my memory not only as a city, but also as a place of friendship, effort, sharing and new beginnings.

What This Experience Gave Me

Looking back, I see this project as a major turning point in my life. I understood the value of physical effort more deeply, strengthened my patience and experienced how important it is to show empathy and touch other people’s lives.

Feeling the power of sharing, being able to contribute even in a small way to someone else’s life and doing this together with people from different cultures helped me grow both personally and socially.

I would like to sincerely thank the KOZ-DER team for making it possible for me to have this unique experience. The time I spent in Madan will always remain in my memory as an unforgettable volunteering journey.