O testemunho no. 1 da Jessica (Spin)

 

I am Jessica (21), a volunteer from Liechtenstein. My excitement began a week before departure. My wish was to bring a little variety into my life, so I decided to do this project. I was very excited about what awaits me here in Lisbon at SPIN. I will stay here for six months and gain experience and knowledge.  Most of all I am looking forward to meet new people from different cultures/countries. It would be great to learn some Portuguese, even though I am not that good with languages.

When I arrived at our accommodation, I had to settle in a bit. But now with time I get used to the shared apartment life.

These six months give me the opportunity to reinvent myself and take time out from "real life". As I am a very reserved person, I would like to improve my social skills.

Lisbon is a stunning city, the houses are colourful and the people are very friendly. The paved streets are slippery and it's always going up and down. There are different parks but my favourite is the one with the chickens. The beaches are incredibly beautiful, but the water was freezing cold.

I have been to several vantage points from which the whole city could be seen. The red bridge is gigantic and reminds me of America. Next door is the Jesus Statue, just like in Rio.

I have also never seen such a beautiful botanical garden. We even got in for free.

I am excited about what awaits me and look forward to the next few months here in Portugal.

O testemunho no. 1 da Marta (Spin)

 

Hey! 

My name is Marta Alethe, I am from Estonia and currently doing my 8-month volunteer service at SPIN Association in Lisbon, Portugal.

I knew from the start of high school that I did not want to go to university right after graduating...I wanted something more. I have always been driven to see the world, experience new cultures. So this project is perfect for me!

When I got off the plane I was welcomed by hot portuguese weather. Coming from a cold country like Estonia it was pretty surprising to me that it would be this warm in October!  At the moment I have been in Portugal for just a week, but I already feel that this project was the right path for me. 

Portugal is super interesting, rich in culture and has many wonderful people. I am ready to take on this new challenge and am excited to see where this adventure takes me.

Bye!

O Testemunho final da Moka (Spin)

 

My most favorite word in Portuguese is Saudade. It is an untranslatable Portuguese term that signifies melancholic longing or yearning. As a  recurring theme in Portuguese and Brazilian literature, saudade refers to a sense of loneliness and incompleteness. 

My feelings about my 1 year in Portugal can be easily exemplified in this word. It’s not even about me going back to my home country in a matter of weeks and missing Portugal, but it is also about the amount of incredible and heartwarming memories I have made here that make me long for more of this country and its people every day. I feel proud of the work I have done with my association and the moments I shared with my colleagues and the participants of our projects. I also feel a significant amount of love and appreciation for every person who made my stay welcome and helped me understand this country and its die-hard language better.

 

The last few months have been full of new projects and experiences. My association hosted 2 youth exchanges and 1 training course where I learned new ideas and topics. During that time, I have contributed to working with my colleagues to brainstorm and prepare for the projects, and implementing the ideas and adjustments we come up with for every new project. In between I had my second training in the heavenly mountains of Serra da Estrela in a remote hostel that felt like the perfect escape from the city with other volunteers and facilitators from around Portugal. Everything has been exhilarating and joyous, and never really felt nerve-wracking. 

I think what I will miss the most about Spin is the intercultural lunches we had. It was an open space for people to sit down and learn about each other’s cuisines and life experiences according to their culture. We shared a lot of laughs and dandy moments during these lunches, and of course I had to show off my Egyptian culture by cooking Koshari, which is considered Egypt’s national dish and an absolute vegan carb bomb!

Time to say goodbye to Spin and the ever-charming city of Lisbon. I know it’s not the end because I will come back here next year, but I can’t help to predict that I will fall into the deep well of saudade while I am away from here. And, dear reader, if you are ever hesitant about coming to Portugal and working with Spin, this is your sign to fill out that application form now. What a privilege it will be, and what a privilege it has been for me. 

Até à próxima vez, meus amores 🌞

 

Testemunho do André - Espanha, Projeto Montseny Bird Station

 

A minha experiência de ESC no Instituto Catalão de Ornitologia (ICO) foi verdadeiramente excepcional. Montseny é um lugar onde a ciência e a paixão se encontram para criar um ambiente de trabalho único.

A minha experiência de ESC no Instituto Catalão de Ornitologia (ICO) foi verdadeiramente excepcional. Montseny é um lugar onde a ciência e a paixão se encontram para criar um ambiente de trabalho único. Tive a oportunidade de participar em várias atividades únicas como por exemplo a anilhagem de grifos, seguimento de corujas e o desenvolvimento de caixas ninho.

Pude aprender com ornitólogos experientes na observação e no estudo de aves no seu habitat natural. A aprendizagem teórica também foi uma parte crucial com o acesso a formações enriquecedoras. Além do aspeto profissional, o ambiente acolhedor dos meus colegas de ESC foi extraordinário.

A nossa estadia isolada na montanha promoveu muita proximidade e criei laços (e histórias) que serão mantidos sem qualquer questão. Pude ainda explorar a Catalunha e a sua cultura tão única. Estou profundamente grato por ter tido a oportunidade de fazer parte deste projeto incrível. Não esquecerei nunca esta experiência. 

André

O testemunho no. 1 da André (Spin)

 

After 5 months, I am sure that I will never regret this decision. My name is André Arpagaus, I am 29 years old, and I am currently doing voluntary service in Lisbon, Portugal, with a non-profit organisation called SPIN, which is located in a socially disadvantaged neighbourhood.

The "Associação Spin" is involved in various areas. Its main objective is to promote and defend intercultural dialogue, human rights, equal opportunities, solidarity, and social integration. To achieve these goals, it carries out various national and international mobility projects.

Generally, I spend three days in our office in the Bairro Padre Cruz neighbourhood and two days working from home. The working hours are fixed, but there is often the possibility to work flexibly. The organisation trusts its volunteers, which is by no means a given.

The work is extremely varied, from administrative tasks in the office to participating in events and projects on site and externally. In addition, I regularly take care of our in-house hostel. There is always plenty to do - there is never a dull moment.

Certain cultural differences are noticeable, but I quickly got used to them. Lisbon is incredibly liberal and relaxed, a city with a special charm. Due to the similarity of my internship at aha, I was able to settle in quickly here as well.

The biggest challenge, apart from the somewhat peculiar and difficult language, was living together with people from different countries. It is easy to forget how privileged we are - in every way.

The highlight so far? The entire experience! Lisbon is a breathtakingly beautiful city that offers everything your heart desires. Unimaginably great and cosmopolitan people with whom you create lifelong memories!

 

O testemunho no. 1 da Maryam (Spin)

 

Hey there,

I´m Maryam Odat, soaking up the vibrant vibes of Lisbon, Portugal, as part of the ESC program. Trust me, this place works its magic fast! ✨ Just two weeks in, and I'm already captivated.

The heartwarming people here remind me of home in Jordan – their hospitality is a universal language.

And the food? Let's just say my taste buds are on an adventure.

Exciting news: I´m joining the Spin team for nearly a year! I'll be jazzing up mobility programs and adding my touch to Bairro Padre Cruz. The energy here is contagious, and I can't wait to dive into all things SPIN.

Cheers to new adventures,

Maryam

O testemunho no. 1 da Katarina (Spin)

 

Hello, my name is Katarina and at the moment I am doing my ESC project in Lisbon. My host organization is SPIN, and I'll be spending 11 months in total on this volunteering position, helping them to organize and implement their projects in Barrio Padre Cruz, where their office is located.

I first visited Lisbon back in 2018. and I fell in love with the vibe of this city. I promised myself that I would come back sometime, but thinking about it right now, if someone told me that I would be spending almost a year in this magnificent place, I would not believe them for sure.

In the first months I was just wandering around, getting to know places and admiring all the beauty Portugal has to offer: amazing beaches, parks where I can rest and enjoy the nature, I even climbed Serra de Estrella, the highest mountain in Portugal, which for me was a great achievement and adventure, considering I didn't have a similar experience before.

People in Lisbon are very friendly, there are also a lot of people from different countries, so you can say that Lisbon is a very multicultural and open minded place, with lots of amazing places and events to offer.

I am also very happy to have other volunteers around, to share their experience upon arrival, because they have already went through their first encounter and cultural shock, so you feel less alone in the adaptation process. Team at SPIN is also very welcoming and helpful, and also easygoing, which I figured is also a part of their amazing Portuguese mentality.

Time is going by so fast and I am constantly learning new things and getting more experience of living in Lisbon. I am still not brave enough to speak Portuguese, although I understand a lot, but I promised myself that I will work on my skills in the months to come.

Lisbon is kind to me, so far it brought me many amazing experiences, great people and moments to remember, and I hope it will remain being generous with new adventures for me in the next months of my project. Until now, I am grateful for all it has offered so far.

Until the next check in, and more updates,
K.