Nadia's experience in Zagreb

This is the story of a small part of my international volunteering experience in Zagreb, when, together with a group of volunteers, I organized a Solidarity Project, a small project that can be created by an informal group of people. In the case of my group, we decided to organize a five-a-side football tournament.

Saturday, June 17th was a special day. It was the culmination of months of preparation for an event that aimed to positively impact Zagreb and its residents. If you could take a behind-the-scenes look at the months leading up to the event, you would see a group of local and international volunteers meeting regularly, managing Excel spreadsheets, and moving around the city to organize the logistics for the final step: an inclusive and solidarity-based football tournament. It all began when these volunteers, myself included, learned about the opportunity to organize a project led by them and supported by the European Union. We all live in Zagreb, and it was the perfect opportunity to make our city more active!

Moreover, the event supported members of a local association, Zajednica Arka Korablja, where some volunteers are spending their ESC experience. It didn’t take long for the project to be written and officially launched.

One month after the tournament, it is time to reflect on the experience. As one of the organizers, I truly appreciated it—not only the excitement of preparing an event, but above all seeing it develop and take place right in front of my eyes. All the teams arrived in the morning and played until the afternoon. Everyone was ready, discussing strategies and warming up before the referee’s whistle announced the first match. I don’t know much about football, but I could clearly see the enthusiasm and, at the same time, the seriousness with which each game was played. Everything went smoothly and joyfully, with players and staff stopping from time to time to cool down and admire the artworks created by members of Zajednica Arka Korablja.

The members of the association—people with intellectual disabilities—contributed greatly to the event. Not only did they organize the stands and announce important information about the tournament, but they were also the soul of the celebration after the matches ended, playing music and bringing the entire Ravnice stadium to life. In addition, they made the tournament even more inclusive by playing a match themselves.

The overall feedback was very positive. Not only did the players (and the organizers) enjoy the day, but they also learned more about the association Zajednica Arka Korablja and its members. It was fun for them to make new friendships while playing and taking part in the program. Moreover, the organizers were asked several times whether there would be a 2024 edition! An experience that truly broadened the boundaries of my ESC.

Nadia