Fatma Nur KURT

Hello everyone!

I am Fatma Nur Kurt. Through KOZ-DER I had the chance to join an international volunteering project in Madan, Bulgaria. 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.

My Project

Throughout the project we worked with volunteers from other countries, took part in a range of activities and created towards a shared aim. One of our most important pieces of work was making art pieces to sell at a festival in Madan and donating the proceeds to children in need of care.

What looked simple at first became much more meaningful as time went on. Working for something so good and so purposeful was an indescribable feeling.

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 Madan

Madan became an unforgettable town for me. Its calm atmosphere, natural beauty and the warmth of its people made my time there special. In our free time we did all sorts of things with the team; sometimes volleyball, sometimes a picnic.

Madan genuinely became a second home, a place I would want to return to again and again.

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.

What This Experience Gave Me

The project improved my communication skills, helped me understand the importance of teamwork and strengthened my sense of social responsibility. Coming together with different people to work towards a shared aim gave me new perspectives.

I also learned through experience that volunteering is not only about helping: it means being able to leave a lasting, meaningful mark on people’s lives.

Art and Solidarity

The artistic work we did was a particularly valuable experience. We exhibited and sold our handmade pieces at the festival and donated the proceeds to support the needs of children with disabilities.

Seeing our work attract interest, and knowing it contributed to children’s lives, made what we did far more meaningful. It showed me that art is not only a means of expression but an important tool for strengthening solidarity and mutual help.

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, the experience I gained and the peace of having contributed to children’s happiness will stay with me for many years.