Hello,
I’m Necibe Sena, one of the lucky volunteers who had the opportunity to participate in the UNITY Project, which took place from July 1st to August 8th 😊. My adventure in Romania began at the airport. I met my fellow Turkish volunteers there for the first time, and they were all such warm and fun people. Time flew by, even when our flight was delayed.
After the plane journey, our train trips in Romania began. When I think of Romania, the first thing that comes to mind is the train rides. Yes, it may sound strange, but if you ever get the chance to visit Romania, you’ll understand what I mean… Constantly delayed trains, journeys that took longer than expected, sudden stops for cigarette breaks… It was a really strange and tiring journey, but also full of fun for me. What made this journey bearable were the people around me. We played UNO, had long conversations, and sang “Made in Romania” together. We became a really great team, and this experience made me realize how important team spirit and energy are.
This team spirit and energy continued throughout the first week, and our bond grew even stronger. Our first week was packed with activities. We first met the volunteers from other countries and then started our trainings and activities. All the sessions and workshops were both enjoyable and productive. The positive energy and open-mindedness of our trainers increased my interest in the activities even more. Since our project focused on refugee children, both the trainers and we tried to approach the subject with great sensitivity. The training sessions were not limited to one area; they covered a wide range of topics. For example, the Giant Dolls activity aimed to touch on the children’s sense of belonging, which is a feeling we all share as humans. The idea behind this activity was to help refugee children feel at home by boosting their creativity. I believe it was a very effective and meaningful activity. We first carried out and presented this activity individually during the first week, and later, everyone did it again with the group they would volunteer with in their respective cities.
Additionally, we had a cultural night event to learn about different cultures. We represented Turkish culture with Turkish delight, halva, pişmaniye, İzmir bomb dessert, and Turkish coffee. We also performed traditional Turkish dances to the song “Erik Dalı” and danced to Tarkan’s music. It was a chance for us to introduce our culture, and we also got to experience the foods and traditional dances of Italy, Spain, Romania, and Jordan.
After our busy first week, everyone headed to the city where they would be volunteering. I was assigned to Romania’s capital, Bucharest. Unlike some of the others, we weren’t in a rural area but right in the city. Everyone stayed in two-person dorm rooms. My roommate was a sweet girl from Jordan. Since I had stayed in dorms before, sharing a room wasn’t a problem for me. However, it was my first time sharing a room with someone from a different country. My roommate was also nervous, but it turned out that I had nothing to worry about. We got along so well, and despite our ethnic, national, cultural, and religious differences, I realized that being a good person is what truly matters. My roommate and I spent a lot of great moments together, and we’re still friends and keep in touch 😊.
Our first week in Bucharest felt like an orientation week. We volunteered at a youth center, and each volunteer was assigned a mentor called a “big brother” or “big sister.” These mentors helped us at the center and guided us in the activities. Thankfully, my mentor was a great person, and we clicked really well. I helped him with various activities, such as the French club. Alongside my Spanish friend, I organized an event called “GYMKHANA,” which featured a series of mixed games. Additionally, I organized an event called “Sustainable Symphony,” where we aimed to create new things from recycled materials. Through this event, participants had the chance to enhance their creativity, learn about sustainability, and gain knowledge about using eco-friendly materials in daily life.
The UNITY Project was an unforgettable experience in my life. It was my first international project, and although I had some fears, everything went smoothly. Pi Youth Association was a huge support throughout, and we were always in touch with our coordinator, which helped ease my worries. Moreover, it was very meaningful for me to help with activities for refugee youth and children. Meeting different cultures taught me the richness of diversity. I not only had the joy of discovering new cultures but also gained some of the most valuable memories and friendships of my life.
This experience wasn’t just a trip for me, but a personal transformation. In the future, I hope to continue participating in such projects, sharing the knowledge and experiences I’ve gained with even more people.
