Volunteer Stories: Growing through volunteering – by Karim

Hello! My name is Karim, I’m 24 years old and I come from the heart of Egypt – Cairo. I’ve always been passionate about helping others, exploring new cultures, and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. That’s what brought me here, to Baia Mare, Romania, as a volunteer with Team for Youth Association.

I joined this project with the dream of experiencing something different. To be useful, to grow personally, and to make real connections with people from all over Europe. What I found here has been even more than I expected.

During my time here, I’ve had the chance to take part in various activities – from helping organize community events and working with children to supporting environmental actions and promoting intercultural understanding. Every task, no matter how small, taught me something about teamwork. And about patience and the power of kindness.

One of the most meaningful parts of this experience has been my relationship with my flatmates. We come from different backgrounds, but we’ve become like a family. We support each other, share laughs, and truly understand one another. Living with them has made my experience richer, warmer, and full of joy.

I also had the chance to try new and delicious food from different countries like France, Turkey, Romania and Italy. Dishes I never tried before, shared in friendly moments around the table. These simple things made life here even more special.

Living in Romania has been a unique experience. The nature, the peaceful vibe of Baia Mare, and the warm people made it feel like a second home. It wasn’t always easy there were moments of doubt and challenge… but those moments that helped me grow the most.

What I’ll take with me from this project isn’t just the skills I’ve learned, but the memories, the friendships, and the feeling that I did something meaningful with my time.

To anyone thinking of joining a volunteering project abroad: do it. Step into the unknown. You’ll find more than just a new place, you’ll discover a new version of yourself.

Thank you, Team for Youth, for giving me this chance. And thank you, Baia Mare, for all the beautiful moments.

Voluntarul activează în proiectul Year 4 (cod 2024-1-RO01-ESC51-VTJ-000199420), un proiect implementat de Asociația Team for Youth în comunitatea locală pe durata unui an, cu sprijin financiar din partea Comisiei Europene prin Corpul European de Solidaritate. Opiniile exprimate în acest articol sunt cele ale autorului și nu reflectă neapărat poziția Comisiei Europene.

The volunteer is active within the Year 4 project (code 2024-1-RO01-ESC51-VTJ-000199420), a project implemented by Team for Youth Association in the local community for one year with financial support from the European Commission through the European Solidarity Corps. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Commission.