Starting alone in a completely new country can be scary… but that’s exactly where real growth begins 🌍💫
Leandra chose Almería, in Andalusia, for her project with the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), and in one year she lived a unique and transformative experience. During her volunteering, she collaborated with the Socio-Cultural Association La Guajira, creating content for social media, organizing an independent film club, creative workshops, and second-hand clothing markets 🎨🎶.
Even though the city is small and not very touristic, Leandra had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world 🌎❤️
💬 Here’s what Leandra tells us about her experience:
“Here we are—one year later. I arrived in Almería in November 2024 after quite a long period of existential doubts, not knowing where to go, what to do, or who to be with. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to have an experience abroad, to step outside the boundaries of my island. Luckily, I decided to leave, because even though at the beginning I wasn’t 100% sure, now I can say that I would do it all over again.
In my case, I worked with a cultural association, one of the few that allows you to do volunteering connected to art, music, and culture in general. My main contribution was managing the association’s social media channels, doing video editing and taking photos of shows and events, many of which were also related to environmentalism, ecology, human rights, and support for people with disabilities.
This experience also gave me the chance to create my own small personal project: a space of my own where I could run an independent film club, which in the last period was even supported by the ReTo project (a project by the municipality of Málaga against hate speech). I also organized creative events such as a collage workshop and a second-hand clothing market, just to name a couple.
Beyond all of this, what I will carry with me the most is the experience with people—from all over the world. Even though Almería is a small city in Andalusia, not very touristy and not easy to reach, it allowed me to meet people from countries like Canada, the United States, Mexico, Poland, Argentina, France, and many more.
I recommend this kind of experience to everyone because it’s something that will stay with you for life on a human level. In my case, in less than a year I also learned a new language. It will help you open up to things you wouldn’t have even imagined before leaving. If you’re wondering whether to go or not, the right choice is always to try—because it will never be wasted time, but a great opportunity to learn.”
💡 What is ESC (European Solidarity Corps)?
The ESC offers young people the opportunity to volunteer abroad, take part in training activities, develop personal and professional skills, experience cultural exchange, and receive continuous support throughout the whole journey.
✨ Follow us to discover more stories from our volunteers across Europe and get inspired by their adventures!
