KATERINA Selamaj : «Ο εθελοντισμός για μένα , Δεν είναι μόνο μια πράξη προσφοράς, αλλά και μια διαδικασία μάθησης και προσωπικής ανάπτυξης»

From March to August 2025, I participated as a volunteer in the ESC volunteering project. I offered my services at the SOS-Kinderdorf Deutschland e.V. kindergarten, a private social NGO that supports the rights and needs of children, young people and families and is authorized by the government as an institution for the care of young people, providing a wide range of services.

There, the students do their homework with the help of team members and choose from various socio-pedagogical offers to spend their free time. The aim is to support and promote the social and language skills of the children. They can relax or discover their musical talents, as well as devote their energy to sports and free play. The children come from many different countries and have very different cultural backgrounds. In order to promote integration, but at the same time to take into account the individual background of each child, our team was built on an intercultural basis. I became a member of this team as a volunteer from Europe.

During my volunteer experience in Berlin, I lived one of the most beautiful and fulfilling periods of my life. Every day with the children was also a day full of play, laughter and pleasant moments. I participated in the classroom activities, walks and daily routines, and I felt that with each day I was getting a little better at communicating, listening and collaborating.

At the same time, during the program, through seminars, workshops and group meetings with the organization, there was the opportunity to discuss your experiences with other volunteers, giving the feeling that you belong to a community of people with a common purpose.

Berlin was definitely the ideal environment for this experience. It is a city that never ceases to inspire you. Full of culture, art and different people who coexist harmoniously. I really enjoyed discovering the neighborhoods, parks and small cafes, and seeing how art, culture and everyday life combine in such a natural way.

Volunteering, through this experience, acquired a deeper meaning for me. It is not only an act of giving, but also a process of learning and personal development.

It was generally a life experience that everyone should have.

I will always remember this period with love and gratitude, full of beautiful moments that left a positive mark on me. 

KATERINA Selamaj