Merhaba, I’m Sarah, I’m 25 years old and I come from Marseille, France. I am doing a short term volunteering in Izmir with Pi Youth Association.
Before my arrival in Izmir:
I finished my studies in 2022, I did a bachelor in Foreign Languages and a Master’s degree in Humanitarian and Cultural project management. I was looking for a job but unfortunately my searches were unsuccessful. Since I never had any experience abroad, I thought doing an ESC volunteering would be a great opportunity to have one. So I started looking for opportunities and came across this volunteering opportunity in Izmir with Pi Youth Association. I instantly liked the missions and applied. That’s how my journey in Izmir started.
Before coming, I was excited because coming to Türkiye was my ultimate dream, I even started learning Turkish, but I was also scared and anxious at the same time since it would be my very first time traveling alone and living with people other than my own family. But my
fear turned out to be vain and not necessary as my life here has been amazing from the very first days. I live in Karşıyaka with four other girls (Tacko, Leyre, Melika and Käthe) and they have been super welcoming, helpful, nice and the best flatmates I could ever ask for. Our apartment is very well located in Karşıyaka, we are only a few minutes away from the public transportation and we are in a very lively area with so many stores, restaurants and bakeries which is very handy.
Workshops:
For this volunteering, my main task is to organize workshops, mostly English conversation clubs, and I love it, I had never animated clubs before and I never thought I would like it that much. According to the workshop, participants are really different: from kids, to students and adults. I feel like it’s a very great exercise to learn how to animate according to the age group. But I have to say, my favorite workshop is without any doubt the ones that I did in Sakin Mekan Agora because they are the most rewarding ones as you really feel like you are helping people and doing something great.
My life in Izmir:
I came mid-May, the weather was really nice and my first two weeks were really hectic and busy as I was trying to get settled in the apartment, in the city, trying to get to know all of the volunteers, some of the mentors, and the office. I was meeting a lot of people during the day which I loved very much as I am a very social person and I love talking to new people, but at the end of each day, it felt like I could not speak anymore. It was a lot of information that I had to take in in a very short time. But, during this period, all of the girls were so helpful that it made my adjustment period so much easier. The first weeks, I tried to visit Izmir as much as I could, I visited the main “touristic” places such as the clock tower and the historical elevator and the different districts. Izmir is such an amazing city, before coming I really did not expect such a beautiful city in every aspect, the seaside views are just indescribable. In June, I visited other cities, first Alaçatı, a city that I really wanted to visit before starting my volunteering, and it didn’t disappoint. I loved it, the architecture is stunning.
During Bayram,
we had a few days off, so I used this opportunity to go for two days to Istanbul. Going to Istanbul was my ultimate dream so during those two days, I was very emotional. Istanbul was even more breathtaking than I thought it would be. I went with one of the volunteers – Angelika – and we tried to see as much as we could in two days. But unfortunately since it was Bayram, most of the museums were closed but we were still able to see a lot of places. I even went to see the villa where one of my favorite TV shows (Yali çapkini) is shot.
I hope I will be able to go back to Istanbul in the near future because two days was too short!
At the end of June, I went to Mordoğan and Karaburun which are very small but very cute cities where I was able to go to the beach. I have one week left in Izmir and I hope I will be able to go visit other cities.
My volunteering is unfortunately coming to the end and I have to say I am very sad. I love my life here, I love Izmir, Turkish food and culture. Turkish people are so nice and welcoming. This volunteering is the greatest experience I have ever had in my life, I have made wonderful memories that I will never forget and I met amazing people. Finally, I would like to thank all of the volunteers, thank you for everything.