As I am writing these lines, my volunteering project is already finished and I am back in Türkiye. It feels a little strange because for many months Brazil became part of my daily life. Looking back now, I can say that joining the Umbuntu Project was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Before coming to Brazil, I wanted something different from a normal volunteering experience. I wanted to meet local people, spend time in nature and learn about a culture that was very different from my own. This is one of the main reasons why I chose Brazil and the Ubuntu Project. Of course, before arriving I had some expectations, but the reality was much bigger than anything I imagined.
During the project I participated in different daily activities and physical tasks. Some days we worked outdoors and helped with practical work. One of the most interesting things I learned was how to make ropes from banana trees. It was something completely new for me and showed me how local knowledge and sustainable practices can be connected.
Another important part of my experience was participating in weekly Capoeira and Maracatu activities. Before coming to Brazil, I knew these names, but I did not really understand their meaning. Over time, I learned that they are not only activities or performances. They are connected to history, culture, resistance, and identity. Learning about their origins helped me understand Brazil in a deeper way. I started to see how culture can carry the stories of generations and how important it is for communities to keep these traditions alive.
However, the most important thing I gained from this project was not practical skills. It was a new perspective on the world. During my time in Brazil, I had the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and see realities that I had mostly known from books, documentaries, or news reports. I witnessed poverty, hunger, gender inequality, and unequal access to transportation and resources much more closely than before.
In Türkiye and in many parts of Europe, it is easy to hear about these issues without really understanding what they mean in everyday life. In Brazil, I was able to see how these inequalities affect people directly. It made me think a lot about privilege, opportunities, and the different challenges people face depending on where they are born. Many things that I thought I understood before became much more real after meeting people and hearing their stories.
One of the most surprising experiences for me was the connection I built with local people despite the language barrier. When I first arrived, I was worried because I did not speak Portuguese well. I thought this would make it difficult to create friendships or communicate with people. But something unexpected happened.
Even though we did not share the same language, we still found ways to communicate. Through gestures, smiles, laughter, and body language, we understood each other. Sometimes we could not explain everything we wanted to say, but we could still connect. This experience showed me that communication is much more than words. Some of the strongest connections I made during the project happened without long conversations.
At the same time, this experience made me wish I knew more Portuguese. There were many moments when I wanted to ask more questions, understand more stories, and express myself better. It motivated me to continue learning languages and reminded me how important language can be in bringing people closer together.
Another thing that changed during this experience was my self-confidence. Living in another country, adapting to a new culture, meeting new people, and facing challenges every day pushed me outside my comfort zone. There were moments when things were difficult, but each challenge taught me something new. By the end of the project, I felt much more confident in myself and my ability to adapt to unfamiliar situations.
When the project came to an end, I realized how much Brazil had become part of my life. Leaving was much harder than I expected. It did not feel like I was simply finishing a volunteering project. It felt like I was leaving my second home. I had created memories, friendships, routines, and connections that became very important to me.
Even now, after returning to Türkiye, I already miss Brazil. I miss the people, the culture, the energy and the everyday moments that made this experience so special. The project may be finished, but the lessons and memories will stay with me for a very long time.
The Umbuntu Project gave me much more than I expected. It helped me learn about another culture, understand social realities from a different perspective, build meaningful relationships, and grow as a person. Most importantly, it reminded me that even when people come from different countries, speak different languages, and have different backgrounds, it is still possible to connect through empathy, solidarity, and shared experiences.
I am grateful for everything I learned during this journey, and I hope that this will not be my last humanitarian volunteering experience.
İpek