Chiara's Experience in Spain
25.03.2026
For eleven months, I had the opportunity to take part in a volunteering experience in Burgos, Spain, through the European Solidarity Corps programme. From the end of April until mid-March, I was part of the NGO Amycos, an organisation working in the fields of international cooperation and development education. This project allowed me to gain an insight into how an NGO operates, and to take part in various activities related to social awareness and education.
Part of my work took place in the office, where I helped with European projects and the preparation of activities and materials. There, I learnt how projects are organised and managed, and how organisations are networked to promote social and educational initiatives. But a large part of my experience involved direct contact with people too. I took part in workshops in schools on the environment, citizenship and fair trade; through participatory activities, we tried to bring these topics closer to the students in an accessible and thought-provoking way. For me, it was a very enriching experience because it allowed me to learn how to communicate, adapt to different groups, and see how children and young people reacted, asked questions and shared their own ideas. In addition, during my volunteering I also worked with Atalaya Intercultural association.
In the summer I took part in their camps with primary and secondary school children and young people, helping to organise games, educational activities and social events; it was a very intense time, full of energy and learning. Throughout my project in Burgos, I also attended Spanish classes organised by the association to learn and improve the language. Nevertheless, I learned most of my Spanish during the camp, thanks to daily contact with the children and the constant use of Spanish during the activities. After the summer, I continued to work with the association for the rest of the year on the school support programme, helping students with their homework and spending time with them in a space dedicated to learning and support.
Aside from the work itself, this experience was also an opportunity for personal growth. Living in another country, working with people from different backgrounds and being part of social projects allowed me to broaden my horizons, gain confidence and develop skills such as teamwork, communication and adaptability. Looking back, these eleven months have been a very significant period for me. Not only did I learn about cooperation, education and social participation, but I also met many people who made this experience very special, and who reinforced my motivation to continue getting involved in projects with a social impact.
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