Hi, I am Svenja, an 18-year-old girl from Dresden, Germany. I love doing everything connected to being creative, no matter if it’s sewing, crocheting, painting, or just trying out the newest DIY trend online.

Even though I don’t have much experience with going abroad, working with children, or even living on my own, I’m known for exploring new things — even if it means taking the risk of failing…

In this way, I’ve already traveled 8 hours by train just to spend barely a day in a small city with nothing to do, or gone to a concert where the average age was far above 50. But at the same time, I got to know cool new people and discovered music at a small festival I had never heard of, with bands I had never seen before. So all I can say is…

Even if something seems new and scary, it’s worth trying — because those are the moments you’ll remember the most.

Back at home, I finished school just this year, and while most of my friends continued their education at university, I always knew that I didn’t want to simply go from one classroom to the next. I always knew I wanted to explore, but also challenge myself, before I spent even more years behind a school desk. Even if I wasn’t fully convinced about my own plan in the beginning, right now, I don’t regret anything.

Article by Svenja,
European Solidarity Corps Volunteer

Welcoming article for European Solidarity Corps volunteers from 10/10/2025