O testemunho do João

 

«A minha viagem a Sofia em Bulgária foi uma experiência inesquecível, ter tido o poder para escapar à confusão da cidade, ao caos da burocracia e à incerteza do futuro, fez-me bem psicologicamente e mesmo fisicamente.

Ter tido a oportunidade de poder genuinamente ser útil e ajudar as comunidades mais desfavorecidas e crianças em situações precárias foi o que me faltava para me sentir útil e que genuinamente conseguia fazer alguma diferença.

Fora também a experiência intrínseca de poder contribuir para a sociedade, ter ido de pernas abertas para um sítio onde não conhecia nada nem geograficamente nem culturalmente durante 2 meses fez me crescer mais socialmente e psicologicamente e deu-me uma aprendizagem que me vai ficar para a vida.

Passear por entre os lagos em Rila ou caminhar pelas montanhas de Vitosha ou até mesmo só ir a um parque em sofia à noite com uma cerveja na mão e aprender da cultura do povo búlgaro, é algo que nunca esquecerei e que irei guardar até hoje quer seja as memórias, os amigos ou as experiências de vida.»

O testemunho da Natalia

 

My first month in Lisbon felt strangely familiar and completely new at the same time. I had already spent time here during Erasmus, so much of it was recognizable — the streets, the light, the rhythm of everyday life. But this time was different. I wasn’t a student anymore. I was stepping into work, into a new role within a project. And that came with its own challenges.

The biggest challenge in these first days was adapting to the organization's environment, understanding expectations, and finding my place within the team. It took time to observe, listen, and adjust, but each day brought a bit more clarity and confidence. Slowly, I started to feel more comfortable, which made the workdays more rewarding.

Outside of work, I had the chance to meet many new friends, fellow volunteers, and locals alike, who made exploring the city even more enjoyable. I truly enjoy spending my free time with them. Whether wandering through the streets, discovering new cafés, or sharing conversations over meals, their company added a new layer of connection to a city I already loved. 

Even though it’s been really rainy and windy, I’ve still had a great time — but at this point I’m about to start romanticizing the sun like it’s a long-lost friend I can’t stop thinking about.

These first weeks reminded me that even a place you think you know can surprise you. Growth doesn’t always require a new city — sometimes it just requires seeing it from a new perspective.

O testemunho da Alessandra

 

Only a little more than two months in Lisbon have passed, but my time here has already been packed with wonderful things!

They have not been the two best months to experience Lisbon - cold, everyone sick all the time, and a rain that never ends - but I was able to find a lot of beautiful people and places to warm my heart during this dreadful weather!

The city itself is beautiful, and does not lack things to do - concerts, dances, social centres, bars and pretty viewpoints - but my house for sure is the loveliest place, always full with the best people and the best friends I could meet.  I felt very welcomed from the first day, and I sadly had already said goodbye to some amazing folk, which I will miss - but all the new arrivals that come are always so nice! I was also very lucky to already have some friends here, which helped me have a lot of fun and do some very cool stuff around the city. 

But the reason I came here, the work at Spea, has been no less: why can't wait for the good season to travel all around and work closer to nature. I already learned so much about birds, in the office as well as in the field. I was lucky enough to spend some sunny days in Ria Formosa, Faro, and some other pretty reserves around here. Everyone is really nice to me and so experienced. I'm really happy to have this opportunity to learn from such a team, and challenge myself with new tasks. 

And another thing I’m so glad to be learning, and challenging myself with, is Portuguese! I never had the chance to learn another language apart from English, and I’m very happy to finally do it. I love the language, as a fan of Brazilian music, and now I’m discovering some really wonderful Portuguese music authors and genres too! Thanks to my passion I could  make a lot of progress in this little time - and I just enjoy studying and speaking it every time I can.

I can’t wait for the next months to be sunny and filled with lovely times and new discoveries about birds, Portuguese and, of course, myself and my future :)

O testemunho da Verónica

 

This year has been wonderful.

Hi, I'm Veronica, and I've spent a year working on the Bola P´ra Frente project run by the National Street Football Association. It's been a year in which I've learned a lot, especially about stepping outside my comfort zone. There have been many difficult moments, but the happy times and the camaraderie have definitely outweighed them.

Here I have met many people who will stay with me for the rest of my life and who have left me with a warm feeling in my heart. They have taught me many different things, such as that I don't have to be strong and brave all the time and that I can ask for help even if I don't need it, in order to feel emotional support. I have learned a lot about letting my emotions flow, accepting them, and beginning to regulate them in difficult moments.

At Spin, they have made me feel safe and always listened to, addressing my fears and giving me the space and security to face them, giving me the independence I need to move forward, but always with a rope tied to them, so that if I fall, I don't hit the ground. They are the support and help that any volunteer hopes for when they leave home. They have included me in the Spin family from day one, and although it can sometimes be more complicated because I volunteer at another Association, they have known how to manage it to make me feel supported.

ANFR has been my second home. I have learned to express what I think and feel. It has been a safe place for me to express myself and give my best. All my suggestions have always been listened to and responded to. Even though some were difficult to implement, I always received a response. They have been like a second family to me, helping me in every way they can and giving their best to me and to each of their young people. Their work in this neighborhood is incredible. Not only do they help, but they also accompany you and make you feel heard and cared for. The young people and their families are the focus of their work, and everything they do is for them. Through street soccer, they teach basic values for a fulfilling adult life in society. The value of respect and fair play is something I take with me from here and promise to apply in my future life.

All that remains is for me to say thank you and invite everyone to try volunteering in another country, because you gain so much more than you lose. I hope to see you all again soon. In the meantime, enjoy life and everything it has to offer.

Não se esqueça que sentirei sempre saudades de vocês <3

Hugs,

Verónica.

O Testemunho da Gaia

 

I chose to start an ESC experience at a moment of real confusion: after graduating, I was full of questions and very few answers. I didn’t really know what to do with my future or which direction to take. The only thing I was sure about was my deep interest in the social and volunteering world. That’s why ESC felt like the most honest and natural choice I could make.  Now, just a few months in, I can say it was the right one.

I’m meeting incredible people and discovering beautiful realities, and living all of this in Lisbon, in the middle of summer, makes everything even more intense. The light, the colors, the warmth, the ocean so close, it all slowly gets under your skin. From the very first day, I felt welcomed. My flatmates, who are also Spin volunteers, made me feel at home right away, in a way I had never experienced before during my time abroad. Adapting was surprisingly easy and fast, built through late-night talks, shared laughs, and small daily rituals. We are all young, arriving here with different stories but the same desire to step out of our comfort zones, discover ourselves, and grow. Doing this together makes everything lighter, more real, and deeply human.

The working environment at Spin also struck me from the very beginning. It’s a lively, dynamic office full of energy and movement, where no days are the same. You can really feel the motivation to create, build, and give space to people. I know I’ll learn a lot here, not only practical skills, but also human ones, simply by being part of an organization that truly believes in what it does.

Overall, this experience is giving me something incredibly valuable: time and space to listen to myself. Without pressure or expectations. Sharing everyday life with people from all over the world, who are also trying to do their best for others, constantly pushes me to grow. Every conversation, every story, every difference becomes an opportunity to learn something new, both about others and indirectly also about myself.

For the first time, I’m experiencing the Erasmus+ program from a completely different perspective. Not as a university student benefiting from it, but from inside an organization that works daily on real, concrete projects. This has made me realize how lucky we are, as young people, to have so many opportunities to travel, learn and challenge ourselves.

 

Right now, it feels like things couldn’t be better. The people around me, the work we’re doing together, and the city itself create the perfect setting for all of this. Lisbon, with its slow pace, authenticity, and ability to make you feel at home, is doing the rest. I’m truly happy I made this choice because, without even realizing it, I’ve given myself six months of time to feel truly happy.

I know that many things will change along the way: the volunteers, the work, flatmates and friends. Every day will bring something new but if the beginning has been this welcoming, spontaneous, and exciting, I can’t wait to see what the rest of this journey will bring.

O Testemunho da Jule

 

And just like that, in the blink of an eye, a year of volunteering at Spin passed! 

A wonderful adventure full of rich encounters, fulfilling experiences and reflections on my past, present and future. I love every part of it, I consider myself immensely lucky to have had the chance to live this opportunity, and recommend it to anyone who thinks of doing an ESC. 

The SPIN team took really good care of me and made sure I was always feeling safe and well surrounded. This experience rewarded me with a lot of knowledge about EU financed projects, about their problematics and on how to organize them. I have always been excited to gather people together through their differences and to create a space of reflection and creation. SPIN is a perfect match to allow these moments to happen, and I am honored to have been a part of this! 

As a former student of project management and international cooperation, this experience was really a plus, it allowed me to assert my competences of the field and helped me value myself a lot, I now have a lot of tools for reflecting on how I see my future and on the immense number of opportunities there are for me.

Regarding my personal adventure, I did find a lot of peace in beautiful Lisbon. A lot of new friends from all over the world, a lot of new happy places, a new language that I love, and a lot of cute dogs to pet in my neighbourhood ! Actually I'm still around, and I don't know when I'll leave, I'll see where the wind takes me, feel free to contact me !

Beijinhos Jule!

O Testemunho do Álvaro

                                           

Aloha! It´s Álvaro and I am still getting used to the city, the rhythms and the tasks, but the people reach me deeply! From the first moment I was able to feel like one more of the group.

                                             

             

The arrival to Portugal was smooth and the environment in the house is amazing. Even if the people are leaving and arriving from time to time, the vibe is keeping quite the same. Living in the heart of Lisbon is bringing a lot of shine to my life!

                                                            

My arrival at SPIN as a volunteer has been like diving into a river and letting myself be carried by the current. I knew where I was getting into, but not where it might take me. I am discovering myself at the same time as I discover incredible landscapes, places, and people. Each passing day reaffirms that being a volunteer is a revealing experience of incalculable value, where human exchange is the main currency.

                                                        

In summary,  I acknowledge that I am where I was looking for, even without knowing exactly what my experience will be like.