Bulgaria
Hatice İLHAN
"As a short-term ESC volunteer in Bulgaria, Hatice İlhan worked on environmental projects, travelled across Europe and came home with a wider view of the world."
Programme
Bulgaria ESC Volunteering
April 2025
I am Hatice İlhan. Between April and June 2025 I took part in a short-term European Solidarity Corps project in Bulgaria.
The experience holds a very important place in my life, both personally and professionally. Working alongside people from other cultures gave me the chance to grow and to widen how I see the world.
My Volunteering
Throughout the placement I was active in the field. I worked directly with local people on environment-focused projects and contributed to work aimed at building social awareness. Coming into closer contact with nature, with people and with different ways of living gave me a great deal.
The project did not limit me to Bulgaria: I also had the chance to visit Spain, Italy and France and experience other cultures first-hand. Those journeys helped me develop a more open view of the world, and every new experience changed me a little.
What This Gave Me
The experience did not only teach me to take responsibility. It also showed me how to build empathy, understand difference and appreciate the power of creating together. It was a journey in which I learned something new every day and felt freer and stronger.
Working with people from other countries improved my communication and increased my confidence. I noticed how deep a mark even a very small interaction can leave on a person.
Looking Back
Looking back today, the most important things this experience gave me were the bonds I built with people and the awareness I gained. Volunteering is not only about contributing to society; it is a valuable journey in which you discover yourself, redefine your limits and learn to see life differently.
I feel lucky to have been part of this and to have crossed paths with KOZ-DER. This experience will always hold a special place in my life.