This year, one of the aims of the Egyesek Youth Association has been to support children forced to flee Ukraine and the local NGOs who are aiding them in Hungary.
In particular, we have organized the School of Solidarity together with Migration Aid, a program supporting children fleeing Ukrainian war zones. There have been 4 groups of international volunteers, all made of 8 people each, whose main aim was to ensure the children could spend their everyday life in a safe environment, where they could play with each other and be engaged in creative activities.
The project is based in 2 main locations: the Learning Without Boarders school and the Madridi Refugee Shelter. In both locations, the volunteering teams spent their days with the children, played with them and supported their eventual needs.
Among our main objectives was to grant the possibility to directly support the victims of the war in Ukraine for young people from all over Europe. Every two weeks a new group of young volunteers started their project with enthusiasm. Within the school and the shelter’s walls, our volunteers entertained the children, cared for them, and also performed tasks in support of the facilities, such as cleaning and serving lunch.
Here are some testimonials from our volunteers:
"This was one of the best camps I have participated in. Everything was perfect and I am very glad I was part of the project and part of the organization." Vesa from Kosov
"It brought me invaluable experiences, new perspectives, and a sense of fulfilment. I would recommend this program to others for its ability to foster personal growth, create meaningful connections, and make a positive impact on communities." Luming from Hungary
"The project motivated me to do more youth work, especially for kids with a deficiency in education. It shows me that carrying around kids is very important and very sustainable for our future. I got a new perspective about people who have to flee from the country and how hard it can be. " Martina from Germany
"This project was wonderful experience for me. This project brought me some new skills like stress management; critical thinking; making fast decisions; improved my communication and team working skills. I would definitely recommend this project to others, if they want to gain some new skills and experience." Dodo from Georgia
"I am very grateful for this experience. In this volunteering I gained so many new experiences that I will use in my personal and professional life. Most of all it was heartwarming and emotional. Sometimes it was hard and sad but I will always remember smiles on children's faces and the joy that I felt. The feeling of knowing that we made some kind of difference in the shelter and in the children's lives is wonderful and that's why I encourage others to come and volunteer. " Petra from Croatia
