As the months passed, my volunteering experience in Bremen continued to evolve, bringing new projects, challenges, and memorable moments. With the change of seasons, Germany took on a different charm – autumn brought cozy fairs, colorful leaves, and crisp air, while winter was all about the magical Christmas markets, warm lights, and festive German traditions. The days became noticeably shorter, and the weather colder, but my schedule remained full. Between improving my German, working on new projects at the youth center, and traveling for seminars, there was always something happening.
One of the highlights of this period was our trip to Berlin. Together with a group of young people from the center, we explored the city through both educational and leisure activities. It was a great mix of history, culture, and fun, and it gave us all a chance to experience Berlin beyond its famous landmarks.
Back in Bremen, one of the biggest projects I was involved in was a collaboration between Freize and a nearby school. We organized a series of five tours for students who had recently arrived in Germany and might be interested in visiting our center. Many of them were Ukrainian, as the school was originally established in 2022 for Ukrainian refugee students, with the expectation that they would soon return home. But as the war continued, the school started welcoming students from other countries as well, making it a truly diverse environment.
Helping with the tours felt incredibly rewarding. I supported with translation and answered questions, making the students feel more at ease in the new setting. The success of the project became clear when we started seeing some of them return to the center. Of course, not all could join regularly due to our later opening hours, but knowing that we had introduced them to a place where they could feel welcome was already an achievement.
Another part of my volunteering that became more meaningful over time was my weekly art workshops. Art has always been a way for me to connect with people, and through these workshops, I got to interact with visitors in a different way. Conversations would flow naturally as we painted or sketched, and I learned so much about their lives, interests, and cultures. Hearing their stories, their favorite shows, or even just what they did that day gave me a deeper understanding of the people I was working with.
Amidst all these experiences, I also traveled to Halle for my second ESC seminar. This time, the focus was on reflecting on our journey so far and exchanging experiences with other volunteers. This trip was a fun get-away as well as an opportunity to meet more people.
Anastasiia is hosted by Junge Stadt gGmbH on our project co-funded by the European Union.
