Two Months in Viana do Castelo: A Volunteering Story

I am Özlem ÇİLOĞLU. In September 2025, through KOZ-DER, I had the chance to take part in a two-month volunteering experience in the Portuguese city of Viana do Castelo. When I set off, I did not yet know that this would be far more than a European experience — it was the beginning of a period that would leave a real mark on my life.

My project was called Toys Lab. Within the project we worked on making toys reusable again, repairing them and delivering them to children in need. Our first weeks began with sorting the collected toys into categories, after which we classified them as working or not working. We cleaned every single toy by hand and took them through maintenance and drying. The ones that no longer worked we began to repair with the support of students from the university’s faculty of engineering.

This process taught me more than how to fix a toy. It showed me that making an object usable again can turn into a smile on a child’s face.

The Fear Behind a Language Barrier

One of the greatest gains of this experience was my English.

Before the project, I was hesitant about making mistakes when speaking English. But in Portugal, having to communicate in English with different people every day gradually dissolved that hesitation. Shopping at the supermarket, talking with students at the university, working on the project, speaking to people on the street — I was constantly exposed to the language.

After a while I noticed that I could speak without rehearsing my sentences in my head over and over. I was no longer afraid of making mistakes, because I had learned that communicating matters far more than speaking flawlessly.

If I feel much more confident speaking English with people today, this project and those two months of immersion have a great deal to do with it.

Finding a Piece of Ourselves in Portugal

One of the things that surprised me most in Portugal was seeing far more similarities between Turkish and Portuguese culture than I had ever expected.

One day, seeing the lace covers laid over a television in someone’s home, I suddenly felt as though I were back in Türkiye. Coming across such familiar sights in a place I had travelled to expecting difference was a lovely experience.

And of course, one name comes to mind when you say Portugal: Ronaldo! If you are in Portugal, you quickly learn that you are expected to agree he is the best athlete in the world. You have no other choice. :)

Then there is Portuguese cuisine. Pastel de nata was one of the staples of our two-month adventure. My project friend Ebrar and I turned the ready-made pastéis de nata we bought from the supermarket almost every day into our own little snack ritual.

In Viana do Castelo there was also Bomodo, a place with a special meaning for us. With its sugary, cream-filled pastries and nostalgic atmosphere, this small pastry shop became one of the unmissable stops of the day; going there at five o’clock turned into something close to a routine. And alongside it, café latte in small cups.

Another part of our daily routine was heading, once work was done, to a small and affordable café opposite the university looking out over the ocean. My favourite was the Atom Sandwich, made with tuna and boiled egg. It may sound surprising at first, but one of the things volunteering taught me was to approach unfamiliar flavours and experiences without prejudice. :)

We Shared Not Only Toys, but Cultures

One of the finest parts of this experience was the friendships we formed with people from different countries.

We gathered wonderful memories with Rafael, Afonso, Miguel, Ana and many other university students living in our building. We made Turkish coffee for them, introduced them to Turkish dishes, played mind and strategy games. We even taught them coffee-cup fortune telling.

I still remember them gathering around a coffee cup, genuinely believing they might see the future in it. People from different cultures sitting around one table and laughing together was one of the most beautiful sides of volunteering projects. Because in this experience we did not only learn about Portuguese culture; we also had the chance to share our own.

The Small Hands the Toys Reached

At the end of the project we packed up the many toys we had repaired and made usable again. They were sent to two different organisations to be delivered to children.

The day we visited one of the institutions housing orphaned children was the most unforgettable day of the project for me. When I saw those little faces, I could not hold back my tears.

Until that moment, the work had meant collecting, cleaning, repairing and packing toys. But the instant I saw those children, I understood what all that effort really meant.

Every toy we had repaired was no longer just a toy. It was a small gift a child could play with, could be happy with, and might remember for a long time. That day I felt with all my heart that I was part of something right.

I Am Glad I Volunteered

During my two months in Viana do Castelo I did not simply see a new country. I met new people, learned about new cultures, improved my English, gained new skills and, most importantly, saw the real effect volunteering has on people.

I learned that we can make a small contribution to the world — sometimes by repairing a toy, sometimes by making a child smile, sometimes by sharing a coffee at the same table with someone from another country.

My heartfelt thanks go to KOZ-DER for making me part of this wonderful experience, and especially to Halil ÖZKARACA and his dear wife, our association’s President Mevlüde ÖZKARACA.

I would also like to send my warmest thanks to Rosa Silva, Marcia Mariz and the whole team of our hosting organisation, who never left us on our own throughout our time in Portugal. I miss you all, and those lovely days in Viana do Castelo, very much.

At the end of those two months I returned from Portugal not only with memories, but with new friendships, new skills and a far stronger belief in volunteering to carry into the rest of my life.

I am glad I went. I am glad I volunteered. I am glad I was part of Toys Lab.

Thank you for everything. ❤️