I am very grateful for the day I decided to become a member of European Solidarity Crops and gain such valuable experience. Today is the day I have to say goodbye to my beloved Krakow, the school, and the organization where I spent 10 months and gained diverse experiences. I am deeply grateful for each and every day, as I gained essential life skills, learned to rely on myself, and realized how much more confident I’ve become.

I want to tell you about the school I absolutely fell in love with — a place where children would come to me with sincere affection, greet me warmly, and hug me. That’s how my mornings at school would begin.

My class — 1A — was where I took my first steps as a teacher. I gained so much experience: I helped students solve math problems, organize informational letters, improve their Polish reading and writing, and supported them in English as well.

I also gave a presentation at the school about Georgia, sharing information about its traditions and culture. I spoke about the beautifully refined Georgian alphabet, which fascinated the children. They became very eager to see it for themselves, and I truly hope they will one day visit.

I also gave a presentation in the 7th grade, where we compared three countries and their cultures — Poland, Georgia, and the United Kingdom. We discussed the differences and similarities between them. I am truly grateful to the school for giving me this opportunity.

The training sessions we had in Warsaw and Toruń were two amazing and informative weeks. As volunteers, we had the opportunity to take part in various activities, speak openly about everything, explore and admire these two historical and elegant cities, and truly feel the essence of Polish culture.

These 10 months gave me so many opportunities to express myself and discover that I’m capable of much more than I ever imagined. This project allowed me to see a new version of myself and helped me uncover so much about who I am.

Participating in an exchange program had always been one of my dreams — and yes, I can proudly say that this dream came true. Through this project, I gained valuable experience as a teacher and deepened my knowledge of the English language — an important step for me as a future English teacher.

I had the chance to travel and discover new countries such as Slovakia, Sweden, and Norway. I’m truly amazed by this opportunity. I made many friends from different cultures, learned about their traditions, and grew in ways I never expected.

I especially want to highlight a teacher from my school who always supported me by helping with translation and introducing me to Polish culture. I am sincerely grateful to her. I’m also thankful to my mentor, with whom I spent an unforgettable day in Slovakia.

A big thank you to the coordinators for their constant support.

Yes, it’s truly hard to say goodbye — but now it’s time for me to take everything I’ve learned and share it with my country.

My motivational phrase is: Everything comes at the right time and in the right place. We just have to try to make the most of it, never give up, and always believe in ourselves and our abilities.

Article by  Ana,

European Solidarity Corps volunteer.

Farewell by European Solidarity Corps volunteer from 10/06/2025.