What I Brought Back in My Suitcase: A Volunteering Story from Craiova

Hello, I am Fatma Begüm DURMAZ.

Between 1 August and 15 September 2026, I took part in the Go to Romania 2 European Solidarity Corps (ESC) project in Craiova, Romania, through KOZ-DER and hosted by Tinerii 3D. During this experience, I had one of the most beautiful summers of my life.

Two Different Centres, Two Different Worlds

During the project, I had the opportunity to work at two different youth centres. Our first stop, located in the city centre, mainly welcomed older age groups. There, we organised strategy and mind games workshops with young people. We played games that challenged us mentally while also building lasting friendships with people from many different countries around the world.

Our second centre was Adina Home, a youth centre located in a rural area. To get there, we travelled every day on a village bus together with local people. Every time I took that bus, I felt like a real local in Romania. I was no longer simply a tourist looking at the city from the outside; I was travelling side by side with local people to a village that perhaps even many people living in Craiova had never heard of.

Beyond the Screens, Through the Universal Language of Play

The children came to Adina Home after school. We designed different workshops and games for them, creating a space where they could spend their free time not looking at phone or tablet screens, but socialising, sharing and learning together.

One of the most valuable things I gained from this experience was learning how to overcome language barriers. The children at the centre did not speak English, and I did not speak Romanian, but we never allowed language to come between us. Realising that we could understand each other around a game board, through a smile or a shared laugh allowed us to build a connection that went far beyond words.

Responsibility, Adaptation and a New Version of Myself

The project contributed greatly to me not only pedagogically and socially, but also in terms of personal independence. Living in another country, sharing a house with volunteers from different cultures, dividing responsibilities from cleaning to cooking, and dealing with the small but memorable challenges of grocery shopping in a language I did not know made me much more mature and responsible in every part of daily life.

Looking back now, I can clearly see that the Begüm who went to Craiova and the Begüm who returned from Craiova are definitely not the same person.

Thank You

I would like to sincerely thank the KOZ-DER family for opening this door for me and giving me the opportunity to experience such a unique journey. I am especially grateful to Mevlide hocam, our association president, and Halil hocam, whose support I always felt throughout the entire process.

I would also like to thank our host organisation, Tinerii 3D, for making us feel at home from the very first moment, my wonderful fellow volunteers with whom I shared my daily life, and all the children who made a place for me in their hearts.

All the memories and experiences I collected in Craiova will continue to guide me throughout the next chapters of my life.