Hello! My name is Gustavo, I’m 18 years old, and I’m from Braga, in the north of
Portugal. It was in early 2026 that I decided I wanted a new adventure for my summer holidays — preferably abroad. I looked into various projects until I discovered the European Solidarity Corps, and through that, the ‘Multicultural Summer in Krakow’ programme. I decided straight away to sign up because IB Polska is an experienced organisation, and because the project allows for close contact with the local community.

The months went by, with plenty of paperwork, until finally the day I’d been waiting for arrived: arrival day, on 1 July. I must admit that I arrived in Kraków with some fears, mainly that I wouldn’t be able to adapt to the culture, the people and the environment around me. However, the time I’ve spent here so far has dispelled all those fears, and I must say I was even surprised by how friendly all the volunteers and coordinators were.

In the early days of this project, we focused primarily on team-building activities within our group, with the aim of getting to know one another better and strengthening the spirit of cooperation amongst us all. I’d like to highlight three of them: Bingo (finding a volunteer with certain characteristics: likes coffee, has pets, has siblings, etc.); Chinese Monkey (adapted, with the goal of catching a plastic chicken); and building a bridge to carry a ball with some pipes.

It was also during those first few days that we shared, as a group, our expectations and fears regarding the project, and | think the main concern for all of us was the language barrier. At the start of the second week, we also had the opportunity to take part in a PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) training session, coordinated by Kristina, which raised my awareness of this issue and will undoubtedly make me more attentive to certain factors.

At the start of the second week, another of the activities was a city game, where we split into teams to explore the city centre. The aim was to take photos at pre-selected landmarks, but also to interact with local people to ask about the city’s legends and history. It was a brilliant morning, during which we strengthened our relationships, trust and team spirit, and were able to get to know the city in a slightly different way.

Now, looking back, it feels as though this project has only just begun, but in fact it’s already drawing to a close. Time flies here, and we’re always kept busy in a positive way, whether it’s in the office or exploring the city in our spare time. Three weeks away from my family and friends seemed like an age, but now it feels far too short, and more time here would be brilliant! I can’t wait for what’s left, and I’ll definitely miss everything — especially the city and all the people I’ve been getting to know.

Article by Gustavo Santos

European Solidarity Corps volunteer

Workshops from European Solidarity Corps volunteers from 2/07/2026 to 8/07/2026