O testemunho final da Sinem (SPIN)

 Olá Everyone!

This is my first and last testimony. “First” because I needed time to process and write it. And “last” because after three months, I’m returning home.

I first heard about ESC during my university years. Back then l due to life’s circumstances, I didn’t think much of it. But now I’m sure that a younger, less experienced version of me would have embraced this journey even more wholeheartedly.

Let’s go back to the very beginning. When I started preparing for this project, I was already working at a marketing agency. I had to try really hard to make this happen. So when I found out I was selected, the happiness and excitement I felt were simply indescribable.

After years of living alone and working in the private sector, I suddenly became…a volunteer. Not just a role but a shift in mindset, a new way of being.

My life began to change in every possible way. Waking up later than I was used to in Türkiye, starting the day at a slower pace and most of all crying, getting angry, being excited, laughing…in a language that wasn’t mine.

Working with people who weren’t just colleagues but also housemates was quite challenging for me. Different cultures, different habits, different styles of communication…But now, looking inward at the end of it all, I know this for certain, I have no regrets.

I’m deeply grateful for everything I’ve experienced and everything I’ve become.

At the beginning, hearing so many different English accents due to cultural diversity made communication difficult.But step by step with small “baby steps” each day, I began to notice my own progress.

Being able to express myself more softly and clearly was such a joy to witness.

I learned that some things aren’t as terrible as we imagine in our minds. And at the same time, some things aren’t quite as perfect as we expect either. That’s why shedding our assumptions, simply observing, and moving with our hearts is so important.

Believing that I did my best has strengthened my self-confidence. It helped me trust myself in a way I hadn’t before.

As for Portugal…

Exploring a culture and country I didn’t know, from scratch, was truly a beautiful experience. Every unfamiliar street, every new face, helped me see things in a different light.

And now, as I leave, I carry all the feelings I’ve experienced with me.

Thank you, SPIN.

I’m so glad you were a part of my life journey.

The one reading this,

If you’re already a volunteer or thinking of becoming one, I wish you a meaningful, transformative, and joyful journey.

🤍

With love,

Miraç Sinem

O Testemunho Inicial dos Estagiários ALMA

 

Join us as our ALMA interns share their first impressions, reflections, and experiences of life in Lisbon, through their own words and perspectives.

Raquel:

My first experience with this project has been positive. Since the first day we've been accompanied by our tutors and people from the voluntary work, we can always keep in touch with them. 

In Lisbon, we have done activities like visiting the Castelo de S. Jorge, Praça do Comércio and even trying typical food like pastéis de nata ou bacalhau.

About our internship, our tutors have helped us introduce ourselves into our new workplace. We'll have regular 'check ups' to make sure everything is going well during our stay in Lisbon.

Personally I feel comfortable and confident with the experience I've had so far. 

Michelle:

This past week we've explored Lisbon, such as the Castelo de São Jorge, socialised for the first time with our companions and met new people. We also started working on our practices for the first time.

Paula:

I'm really enjoying the experience. Since we arrived, we've been exploring the city with our colleagues and, in practice, we've seen castrations, an autopsy and we help the animals recover every day.

Raul:

Olá!

This first week in Lisbon has been great, we have been seeing the city and the views from the top and I love them. I have already met most of the people who are going to be with us during this experience and they are very nice people. Little by little I am going to see the corners of Portugal and I hope that during these next few months I will be able to enjoy myself like a child.

Vicente:

I'm Vicente, the first few days were very good, we went to St George's Castle and the Portuguese lessons we did the first few days went very well.

 We hope our interns’ experiences helped you get a better sense of life in Lisbon and the ALMA program. Stay tuned for more stories!

O testemunho final da Marta (SPIN)

My volunteering in Lisbon has come to an end. The past 6 months have been something completely different from what I've experienced before. I feel more sure of myself, I'm not afraid to take risks, and I now know I’m capable of much more than I thought before.

Living in Portugal gave me the chance to immerse myself in a culture so different from my own. The way people live life slowly and chill has taught me to take things with more ease and appreciate the small things around me. One of my favourite things was wandering around Lisbon’s colourful streets, ending up at a random miradouro, and just enjoying the views the city has to offer.

I’ve made some incredible friends who made my stay much more fun and exciting. It was amazing to be surrounded by people from all kinds of different places, learn about their countries, and share things about mine. I’m very grateful for the connections I’ve made and hope to stay in touch with them in the future.

I’ve also seen many stunning places. Portugal truly has so much beautiful nature—from the sunny beaches of Algarve to Madeira's mesmerizing views. My favourite places for sure have been the small beach towns by the ocean. They’re always so cute and pretty, with a really cool vibe.

I learned lot about myself during the project and I now know better what I want to do in the future. I feel that all the doors are now open for me and there really is nothing holding me back.

O testemunho final do Vedran (Spin)

It’s been six months since my last testimony, and I think it’s safe to say so much has changed, all for the better, of course.

Today marks exactly one year since I landed in Lisbon, and what a year 2024 has been. It feels like everything flew by in the blink of an eye, but isn’t that how it goes when you’re living the time of your life?

In my last testimony, I talked about a few projects I was working on, and now I can say how proud and grateful I am for being part of them. They taught me so much, and one thing is for sure: I’ve almost entirely conquered my fear of public speaking. Thanks to Spin’s projects and activities, I’ve grown more confident, and the summer of 2024, dedicated to Live it Lisbon, was truly unforgettable.

I had the privilege of leading workshops, helping to create plans and programs, and honestly, it felt like the universe decided I should level up my leadership, active listening, and problem-solving skills all at once. My creativity stretched to new heights; preparing theatrical introductions for Live it Lisbon activities and presenting the magical "Spin World" I co-created with my colleagues.

Beyond Live it Lisbon, the year was packed with content creation. We made countless TikToks, reels, and posts to bring Spin’s goals and projects to life. And let’s be real, turning ideas into reality with a team like this? Bingo!

But let me talk about Lisbon itself, the star of my year. I think I’ve fallen head over heels for this city, and after one year, I’m pretty sure I’m here to stay for all of 2025, at least. Lisbon reminds me of my hometown, Split, and that emotional connection makes it even harder to imagine leaving. The people, the laid-back vibe, the endless sunshine, the gorgeous beaches, and those sunsets… I have been officially spoiled.

Walking down the streets of Anjos, hearing laughter, and feeling the relaxed energy of the city fills my heart. I have been lucky to call this neighborhood home, with two incredible sunset viewpoints just a short walk away. Whenever I have a free afternoon, you’ll find me at Miradouro da Graça with a book and a cappuccino, watching the sun melt into the horizon. And that moment when the sky transforms after sunset? Pure magic.

2024 feels like a movie I want to replay over and over. From the memories made with my fellow volunteers in our house and friends that I met during my stay here, to the adventures we shared exploring Portugal, it’s been nothing short of extraordinary.

For now, my plan is to stay in Lisbon for another year, but honestly? I’m so attached to this city that I don’t know how I’ll ever leave. This place, these people, these memories they’ve become a part of me.

Here is to whatever 2025 has in store and to a little more magic under Lisbon’s sunsets.

P.S. I learned how to bake Pastel de Nata!

O testemunho final da Elena (Junta de Fregusia do Lumiar)

 

It would be difficult to separate these three months of ESC volunteer from my stay in lisbon. This much- loved city has in fact hosted me for more than a year now , gifting me one of the most vivid and rich periods of my life. I came here as part of an italian civil service project, working in an organizations that supports the integration of migrants and people with addictions. I felt right away part of this dynamic and multi-faceted city, and was able to become friend with locals and people from different backgrounds.

In fact, I consider myself a very outgoing, curious person . It is very easy to maintain social relationships in this city because sometimes it seems more like a village, where you can meet familiar faces on the street or in the many social centers of the city.

Being politically very active, I immediately took part in diverse social movements alive in the city. Supporting various anti-fascist collectives and taking part in a percussions group. I was playing a big drum during the protests that often take place in the city center, supporting causes such as the liberation of Palestine , housing rights or the climate struggle. In addition to my work and later ESC volunteering, I have participated in` parallel volunteering actions in different neighborhoods, gaining a very broad human and territorial knowledge. Understanding better the multiple aspects and dynamics that compose this city.

During this past year I have managed to give continuity to some long-standing passions, such as rock climbing (the surroundings of lisbon offer many opportunities for outdoor climbing ), painting (Joining a live drawing group) and theater ( participating in an improvisation theater workshop in my neighborhood). At the same time I discovered new passions and hobbies, such as playing drums and practicing bio dance. As a lifelong lover of music and festivals, Portugal is the ideal country for discovering new artists and traditional dances. In fact, I have had the opportunity to attend countless cultural and musical events, all over the territory, enriching me immensely.

Of course, my experience would not be the same without the people who have accompanied me and been close to me. I feel very lucky and grateful for these encounters and friendships that i hope to carry with me for a long time to come. All these elements made sure that at the end of my community service I wasn't ready to leave Portugal, and was lucky enough to be accepted to participate in an ESC volunteer project with Spin organization, based in Lisbon. I was active as a volunteer for three months in an after school program in the Lumiar neighborhood. I was volunteering in two after school programs , accompanying the work of educators in classes of 30 children.

Right away I was integrated into the team, and the educators explained how to best interact with the kids. In fact, many children have special needs * mental and physical, and various types of disabilities. I must say that it was the first time for me to work with children with disabilities and at first it was not easy to understand how I could be helpful and interact with those kids. It was a challenge also because of the large number of children and the energy used to organize various activities ( sports, painting, theater..et) every day.

After a few weeks I got used to the rhythm , also thanks to the help of the other educators who always accompanied me and spurred me to organize activities. The days passed quickly as each day is different from the other and there are never empty moments. The children are from 9 to 11 years old, they are very curious and energetic and always invited me to participate in their games. The fact that I speak Portuguese definitely was a big plus, and talking to the children surely added a lot of vocabulary.

In general I belive that this volunteering has made me a more patient and proactive person . Initially i was supposed to do 8 months of volunteering, and I only did 3 months because I got a job offer that i didn't want to give up. I am very thankful that I had the chance to participate in this ESC volunteering and I would always recommend to take part in this kind of projects.

O testemunho no. 1 da Nayera (SPEAK)

So I’ve been here for almost 3 months already, and it feels like it’s been only a couple of weeks. I guess as they say “good times fly by”. 

I don't want to be like every other person that just says cliches like “I fell in love with the city” but I absolutely did. One of the very first things that I noticed about this city was the music. Everywhere you go at almost any given time there’s music, even when it’s quiet Lisbon still has its own tune. 

I wouldn’t call myself an extrovert but I couldn’t help but dance all around this city. I’ve already met amazing people since I came here, especially my flatmates from Casa Anjos, it wouldn't be a good weekend if it wasn’t for them. I’m excited everyday for what this experience brings me.

O testemunho final do Mattia (Spin)

The first thing I noticed about Lisbon was the planes. When you look up at the sky you see planes coming and going every few minutes thanks to the airport being located in the city, unlike many other European capitals. A plane brought me here almost a year ago, almost by luck and chance. Lisbon and Portugal were never in my plans honestly. I had already been living abroad and the only thing I knew for certain is that I wanted another experience living in another country. 

Lisbon and Spin came very unexpectedly, and I had almost no time to think over on my decision. Now, a year later, I’m grateful that my doubts didn’t get the best of me. 
It was a long and eventful year, It started by going to the beach on my first weekend and it ended on a miradouro with some fireworks, watching a view that now feels like home. 

I admit that during my first weeks in Lisbon, I felt like something was missing, and the city didn’t capture me as much as other cities I’ve previously visited. But then, after a while, the azulejos, the hills, and the amazing views all became too alluring for me to not cave in and to fall in love with a city that has so much to offer, culturally and socially. A year later, I had so many great experiences in this city, I discovered new passions and I met so many amazing people that contributed to making this year so special. 

A special thanks go to all my flatmates in Casa Anjos, the ones who helped me settle in at the beginning (seriously, I couldn’t have asked for a better group of flatmates and friends) and the ones who arrived at the end of my journey, It was fun to see how much different my knowledge of Lisbon and of the people here was compared to one year ago, I hoped to have helped the newcomers to settle in the best possible way. 

But the purpose of my stay in Lisbon was to work in the office of Spin: everyone immediately welcomed me with open arms, and from the beginning, I was assigned tasks that kept me occupied and busy. Although the last months were more relaxed (and I wished I’d been more proactive in asking for more to do) I still had overall a wonderful time and I’ll always cherish the memories I made, the trip to Marseille with other volunteers is for sure a highlight of this project.

Working at Spin gave me the chance to get to know myself better, and to have a taste of what it’s like to work in a multicultural office. I had many tasks over the year, and although I wish I could have done more in some areas and learned better how to work in an NGO world, I’m still proud of what I’ve accomplished and the things I’ve learned. 

I cherish all the youth exchanges, training courses, and the “Live it Lisbon” projects in the summer, long hours, exhausting at times, but always entertaining, especially thanks to my fellow volunteers who were there to help me every step of the way.

And now I’d like to thank all the volunteers that I work with: every one of you made my day better at the office and I love spending time with all of you. In particular, I want to say thank you to my friend Vedran, with whom we shared not just an office, but also a house for a year: you are an amazing friend and coworker, and I’m so grateful that I’ve got to work with you and I was able to learn many things about content creation and the NGO world. 

Volunteering and this project taught me many things, and I’m now looking forward to what’s next, I know that whatever comes, I’ll be able to rise to the challenge and experience another chapter of my life with a positive mindset.

Até logo Lisboa,

Mattia

O testemunho final do Riccardo (Bola p’ra Frente)

These are my last days in Lisbon, I have to write some words about my experience here and I thought it was a good idea to go in a very sentimental place to do it. Now I just want to cry cause the nostalgic feeling is hitting too hard and it’s super difficult to write with blurred eyes.

I’m in Jardim do Rio, Almada, in the margem sul. I decided to come here because from this point it’s possible to see all Lisbon from west to east, that is from the Belém tower to a massive cruise ship docked in front of Alfama, the most historical area of the city. The sunset from this spot is stunning, in this moment the pinky clouds are reflecting on the Tejo River and I am completely immersed in this pinky atmosphere linking the sky to the river. wished to have amazing photography skills to frame this picture, but I tried and from my phone you can barely recognise Lisbon. I got distracted by the view, I was saying that I decided to come here because from this place it’s possible to see all the city from the outside, exactly like I’m watching my almost one year in Lisbon now.

I don’t think I can summarise my eleven months here, so I will just write at what point I am right now pretending you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I did the volunteer activities for the Associação Nacional Futebol de Rua, I have spent my energy for the kids of the association and I tried to use my time in there for them. Probably I could have done more for the association’s activities, I didn’t have a lot of sense of initiative in proposing new activities, but I’m happy that I managed to connect and stay close to many kids there, I cared a lot about them and I think in the ANFR everyone noticed this. I’m bringing back home a t-shirt signed by every kid of the association and with the t-shirt a lot of other things. I’m bringing back the constancy of Mafalda, who is always in the association with a great attitude. The honesty and bravery of Anderson in expressing himself. The cuteness and sympathy of Jorge, Bryan and Erika. The empathy of João and Gustavo, always looking for the lasts. The individual evolution of Telmo during the year. The curiosity of Lara and Rodrigo. The discipline of Erika. The younger brother's relationship with Emanuel, and a lot of other things.
It’s the first time for me to enter in the life of a different community and I like to think I am leaving, at least in part, as one of them.

Being a volunteer though is not something that applies just to the activities of the association. I spent one year (almost) living a communitarian life, living with less, sharing all my time and space with someone. I had to consider for all this time the cheapest solutions and soon I found myself very comfortable in the cheap world. A lot of things were not necessary anymore and my drive easily shifted to the essential. Lisbon for sure helped me in this process, it seems the perfect city for this and it’s very easy to find people with the same mindset.

I met people who drastically changed my life’s prospects, people who are not driven by crazy ambitious career dreams but just by the simple idea of experiencing life.

Now the sky is dark and the nostalgic feeling is not the only thing hitting hard since it’s getting very windy, it is difficult to write a conclusion because I was too optimistic not wearing a jacket and my hands are freezing. I am going to enjoy my last days in Lisbon totally aware that they will not be my real last ones. I will come back soon, the connections here are too strong. I am sure I will write a proper conclusion next time.