- 11 April 2025
- Posted by: Team for Youth Association
- Category: Volunteering Stories
Hello ! Last October, I made a decision that completely shook up my usual lifestyle: I decided to go on a volunteer project in Romania.
Today, one month into this adventure, I’m writing these few lines from my apartment in Baia Mare, a small town nestled in the north of the country, surrounded by green hills, deep forests, and rich local traditions.
My daily life has totally changed: new habits, new faces, new responsibilities… and above all, a meaningful human adventure, full of learning, connection, and emotion.
Who am I ?
Before I tell you more about my work and daily life here, let me quickly introduce myself.
My name is Pauline, I’m 24 years old, and I come from Amiens, a charming city located between Paris and Lille in northern France.
I’m passionate about content creation, hiking in the mountains, and traveling — basically, anything that allows me to explore new landscapes, discover new cultures, and shake up my routine.
Eight months ago, I graduated with my Master’s degree. After years of structured studies, I felt the need to pause, to challenge myself, to meet new people, and — most of all — to be helpful in a different context.
That’s how I found my way to the European Solidarity Corps.
Why Romania ?
I wanted to discover a country that was completely unknown to me — and also to the people around me. A European country, yes, but one that’s still very different from France in its culture and traditions.
So when I came across a volunteer offer from the Team for Youth Association, I thought: “Why not?” And here I am!
My missions
People often ask me: “So, what exactly are you doing there?”
And honestly, it’s always a bit hard to answer in just one sentence, because no two days are the same.
Officially, I’m volunteering in a project focused on environmental awareness, but in reality, we’re involved in many different activities because we work as a team on various projects organized by Team for Youth.
For example, my very first activity was to present my country to students at the local Art High School in Baia Mare.
We also took part in Green Week with the same school, where we helped children recycle plastic bottles into flower pots — and then we planted flowers together.
Every Wednesday, we also support Dana and Emanuel in their center that works with people suffering from addictions. It’s a beautiful and hopeful project that gives a second chance to those in need.
What I was afraid of… and how things really are
Before coming here, I had quite a few worries (which I think is totally normal!).
One of my biggest fears was the language barrier. I kept thinking: “What if my English isn’t good enough? What if I can’t communicate properly?”
Spoiler alert: It’s going just fine!
Of course, my English isn’t perfect (and neither is anyone else’s), but it doesn’t stop us at all. We understand each other easily. We learn to express ourselves in other ways — with gestures, smiles, a bit of creativity… and a lot of kindness.
The goal isn’t to speak perfect English, but to connect, exchange, and build relationships. And guess what? It works!
I was also afraid of not fitting in or having a big cultural shock, but I was welcomed with open arms, met amazing people, and quickly found my place here.