My experience of volunteering in Slovenia:
A Journey of Growth and Connection
For eight intense months, I had the opportunity to experience volunteering in Slovenia, working for
Zavod Nefiks, an NGO that deals with opportunities for young people. My role was twofold: on the
one hand, I worked with children in the youth center MC Vič, on the other hand, I managed the
partner part, an aspect that allowed me to combine creativity and communicative sensitivity.
My name is Valentina, I’m from Italy and I’m 19. I decided to participate in this project because
i’ve always loved to help, to travel, do new experiences and connect with people: this was the
perfect union of all of this. I also wanted to improve my English, go out of my comfort zone and
also know what to do in my life after high school.
This journey was much more than a volunteer experience: it was a journey of personal and
professional growth. I got to know extraordinary people, not only colleagues of the centre, that
became friends and marea but also other volunteers from different countries. With some of them I
have made deep friendships that have become the cornerstone of my experience.
We shared daily life, travelled on weekends, exploring both Slovenia and neighbouring countries.
Each place I visited added a little bit to my cultural knowledge and enriched the baggage of
experiences that I will carry with me forever.
The working environment, which is characterized by an international and dynamic environment, has
tested me in many ways. Managing activities with children has allowed me to develop
organizational skills, patience and leadership. Managing social media has given me technical and
creative skills, useful both for promoting the organisation and for telling the wider community
about the experience of volunteering.
One aspect that played a key role in my experience was the support of the reference figures who
accompanied me along the way: my coordinator and my mentor. Their continued support, guidance
and advice were instrumental in overcoming the challenges encountered and turning any obstacle
into an opportunity for growth.
They helped me to keep my motivation high, especially in the most challenging moments, and
offered me a safe point of reference for any doubts or difficulties.
I lived in a shared home with another volunteer who, over the months, became my closest
companion. We shared a room and, through this everyday life, we learned to know each other,
support each other and have fun together. She was an integral part of my experience, making it even
more special.
At the end of these eight months, looking back, I realize how much this experience has transformed
me. I learned a lot: about working with children, managing online communications and, above all,
about myself. I feel more confident, more aware of my abilities and more open to the world around
me.
Working in a multicultural environment has taught me the importance of diversity and cooperation,
and I believe this will be a value that I will always carry with me in every area of my future life.
This volunteer experience in Slovenia was not only a period of work, but a real inner journey, made
of relationships, challenges and discoveries. An experience that has enriched me and that I will
always carry in my heart.
