Hello everyone! My name is María, I’m a 27 year-old girl and I come from Elche (Alicante), Spain. By profession, I am both a journalist and a dressmaker, and I’m passionate about creativity in all its forms. I have also already completed a Master’s degree to become a High School teacher.

I decided to join this European volunteering experience in Kraków because I wanted to meet new people, discover a different culture, and make the most of this opportunity to grow personally and professionally. I believe that living in Poland will give me many opportunities to meet new people, discover traditions, and also discover myself here.
I chose this experience because it is quite related to my profession, as I’ll work in the office and conduct some workshops in the foundation with older people and children, as well as help other people who want to come. I hope that this experience will give me the opportunity to choose the right way for me to work in the future.

In my childhood, I used to play basketball with my friends, and now I like upcycling clothes too, because I’m an eco-friendly person and I like to give as many lives as I can to clothing items. Apart from these hobbies, traveling is one of my passions. I have been to many countries, and I have never thought that it was too much. I’m always open to exploring and discovering cities and cultures, and I wish that this year I will be able to travel a lot.

Now I’m understanding and discovering myself, and I think this opportunity is very useful to know myself better and to discover what life is bringing me now. I came to Kraków to learn and explore, meet other volunteers and local people too, and try to share the best of me in this experience.

I hope to share this adventure with the other volunteers here, and I would love to connect with Polish culture because I’m a communicative person and I’m open to discovering other cultures and also new hobbies that I may like. I want to try to grow with this experience in a professional way and, most importantly, in a personal way, because life is continuous learning!

This is a new adventure that I’m involved in, and I expect that it will be one of the best years of my life. Now I am in a new country, with a new language, so many new people, and a new culture. I’m so excited to see how it will be and what adventures this opportunity will bring me.
For now, I’ve only been in Kraków for a week, and I’m already in love with this city and the culture, so I’m very excited to start my new life.

Quote: Life is an adventure, and this opportunity is a new step in my life to learn and discover what life is bringing me!

Article María A. Esteve,
European Solidarity Corps volunteers.
Welcoming article for European Solidarity Corps volunteers from 18/09/2025.