Sara's experience in Spain

I recently completed my three-month volunteering experience with the European Solidarity Corps in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, at the association Amigos de Europa Leonardo Da Vinci. It was not the experience I had expected: I carry with me some disappointments as well as many beautiful memories, but above all it was an experience from which I learned a great deal.

It may sound cliché, but traveling truly opens your mind and stimulates your curiosity. The more you travel, the more you want to keep traveling. For me, it was a wonderful experience to discover Andalusia—its culture, its history, and its people. It was meaningful to see both its light and its shadows.

I learned how to travel alone, to take countless trains, miss them, find solutions, adapt, and spend hours and hours literally on the move. I learned that there is no point in complaining: you need to find solutions, stand up for yourself, and believe in yourself and your abilities.

Before leaving for this experience, I was going through a time when I felt a bit lost, unsure about which direction to take, and stuck. Taking part in this volunteering project helped me find myself again and rebuild my self-confidence. I am grateful to the people I met along the way and who left a mark on me. It was beautiful to share fears and hopes for the future, and above all to discover that by helping others, you also end up helping yourself.