Priit and Saskia Volunteering in Georgia

Tere!

We are Saskia and Priit, both very curious young people from Tartu. Our favorite activities are traveling and getting to know new cultures. We have both graduated with a bachelor's degree in youth work and are currently pursuing a master's degree in cultural management. By nature, we are open, creative, and definitely active.

Volunteering is more than just a job for us. It's an opportunity to develop yourself, learn new skills, and travel in a meaningful way, without excessive financial strain.

We decided to apply for the ESC project because working with young people is close to our hearts and we are naturally open to new challenges. We are also motivated by a sincere desire to discover new cultures and learn through direct experience in an international environment. We find that volunteering is a very valuable opportunity to consciously take time off, for example, from studies, especially in a situation where the future direction is not yet quite clear.

There are times when the topic of the thesis is not yet decided, but deadlines are approaching and the pressure is mounting, in which case an academic break combined with an ESC volunteer experience can provide a much-needed respite. At the same time, it provides an opportunity to do something meaningful and inspiring that will brighten your eyes, help you get to know yourself better, and create clarity and motivation for future choices, both in your studies and in life at large.

We knew for a long time that we wanted and needed to volunteer at least once in our lives, so we started looking for suitable organizations in both Georgia and Estonia. The whole process turned out to be quite fast. We contacted an organization operating in Georgia, asking if they would be able to host us and when it could happen. After receiving a positive answer, we started looking for a sending organization in Estonia that would be able to finance the project and support us in the process.

Our daily lives as volunteers were truly varied and unique. You could never be sure what the next day would bring, some mornings the coordinator would invite the whole team to lunch , other times we would work from home or prepare for the next activities. Every day brought with it new ideas and unexpected situations that required quick action and implementation. The daily life of a volunteer meant flexibility, creativity and a willingness to adapt. Our tasks included planning and implementing activities as well as daily communication with local young people and team members. Often, ideas started from spontaneous discussions, which grew into workshops, events or other joint ventures.

In order to better integrate into a foreign environment, it is important to communicate with the locals in their language, so we were sure that we wanted to participate in weekly Georgian language classes. And to be honest, even two months is enough to acquire basic language skills and feel more confident in everyday situations, thereby also showing that we respect the local people, their language and the environment we are in. We had the opportunity to participate in a khinkali workshop, where we could try making this traditional dish ourselves. Overall, we adapted to the local culture very quickly.

Volunteering gave us the opportunity to take time off, step out of our usual rhythm and look at our goals and choices with fresh eyes. The international environment and daily work with young people confirmed that we want to continue to work in areas where community work, intercultural communication and supporting people's development are important. The project also helped us better understand our own strengths and interests and gave us confidence that we are on the right track with our studies and career choices. We would also like to emphasize that thanks to the pleasant experience in Georgia, we also opened our own NGO, which deals with youth projects.

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If you are thinking about an ESC project, our most important advice is simply to have the courage to take the step. There may never be a perfect moment, but ESC offers a safe and supported opportunity to try something new, step out of your usual environment and get to know yourself much better. It is worth going into the project with an open and flexible mind, not everything will always go as you initially imagine, but it is the unexpected situations and challenges that teach you the most. It is also important to be proactive: if you have ideas or thoughts, feel free to share them, because ESC projects value the contribution, creativity and willingness of volunteers to think along. For those who feel a little confused about their studies or future choices, ESC can be a great opportunity to take some time out and find clarity without having to make any big decisions right away.

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