O Testemunho da Alice

‘I find myself writing this final reflection in my last month here. These nine months have flown by: it feels like just yesterday that I arrived in Lisbon, and at the same time, I feel like I have lived every moment to the fullest. It has been an intense, full of life.

This experience has enriched me in every way, both professionally and personally. I know that leaving this place—especially the school where I worked—will be very difficult. I have contributed, even in a small way, to the growth of these children, and for almost a year I have been part of a team of educators who welcomed me with open arms from the very beginning.

I will deeply miss the life I have built here, a life that, in some way, has become home.

I remember the first week: it was very challenging. I was afraid of not being up to the project, of not finding people who were like me. And yet, shortly after, everything became so simple and natural.

I had the opportunity to visit much of Portugal, a country that never stops surprising you. I had the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and I’ll be taking home a bit more knowledge of Portuguese (even if I can’t say I’ve fully learned it 😊). I lived in a city I found truly beautiful. Lisbon has so much to offer, and it’s special to experience it not just as a tourist, but to really live it—gradually making once unfamiliar places feel like your own.

I stepped out of my comfort zone, and I feel that I have gained a wealth of experience that only traveling can give. But above all, it is the people you meet who make these experiences truly special—their impact is something that often leaves you speechless.’

O Testemunho do Alessandro

Hello people, I’m Alessandro and I’m from Italy.

Right now, I’ve been here in Lisbon for more than one month, and for the first time I can look back and see the beginning of my journey here from a different perspective.

My last months were incredibly chaotic, and only now I’m starting to fully realize that I’m really here.

My story here and the beginning with Spin felt like signs from destiny that I decided to follow. I was in Romania for my first training course project, in the middle of the countryside, far away from home, when I received the call from Roberta and Caterina.

I didn’t think too much about it and I just flew here. Right now, this is the philosophy of life that I’m trying to follow.

I come from a small town in the north of Italy, and for me this experience represents my first big challenge abroad and in a big city.

I changed everything in my life during the last year, and Spin and Portugal represent a new great beginning for me.

It wasn’t easy to start. Homesickness and differences are not always easy to handle, but here I found a magical place and a truly incredible group of people: beautiful because everyone is so diverse and different, but at the same time close to who I am. So many stories crossing each other, so many souls that, for one reason or another, find themselves walking together.

My first evening at Casa Anjos, when I met my flatmates Colin, Inka, Alvaro, Nord, Djibril, Alessandra and Jule, feels like a lifetime ago, and now they are part of my everyday life.

I think it’s like living inside a movie, but not only because of the house: the neighborhood, the miradouro, Caracol Park, the sunsets on the stairs, the wind while you are walking somewhere near the Tagus… everything feels unreal. And maybe exactly because it feels like a dream, my wish is to adapt as much as possible and become the protagonist of this movie myself, helping and listening to other people and their stories.

During my days, between the metro and buses stuck in traffic, I’m having the chance to work with amazing groups in Barrio Padre Cruz, in Carnide.

At the Natalia Correia Library everything feels like family, from the activities with children in the local kindergartens to the coffees with Maria and Paulinha, who welcomed me and made me feel at home as if I were their son.

I can take part in many activities by following my creativity and helping with the preparation of cultural projects, using my ideas and working together with the team.

Since I completely changed my life one year ago, I’ve been trying to become passionate about new things and worlds completely different from my past.

In my free time here in Lisbon, a whole sea of new opportunities has opened up in front of me, from Portuguese language circles to breathtaking landscapes to explore.

One of my biggest passions is discovering, seeing, and immersing myself in new places, also to let myself be inspired when I write stories, and in this first month I’ve already seen corners of Portugal that made me emotional and infinitely grateful for choosing to come here.

The adventure has just begun, and I want to continue like this: discovering unforgettable places and meeting people with incredible stories!

O Testemunho da Inka

Hi, i am Inka. I have now been in Lisbon for quite some time, and the days have flown by. Life here has been a mix of figuring out the public transportation, getting slightly lost in new neighborhoods, and slowly finding little favorite places like cafés and bookstores.

I come from a small countryside town in Finland, so living in a big city is new for me. It feels both exciting and a little intimidating. Still, I think I'm actually a city person at heart, and the colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, and breathtaking views have made it easy to fall in love with this city. 

I had actually been to Lisbon once before in early December last year for an APV, which was my first time ever in the city. Because of that short visit, arriving on my own in February felt less overwhelming. I already had some familiar streets in mind and a small sense of how the city works. Even so, there were plenty of things I only started to understand once I was really living here. Choosing to come still felt like a leap into the unknown, but I knew I would rather take it than stay at home wondering what if.

Settling in at Spin has been a gradual process. The first days were slow as I learned the routines and got familiar with different tasks, but over time I started taking on more responsibility. The team has been incredibly welcoming and supportive, which has made it much easier to feel at home.

My days here continue to bring new experiences, challenges, and small successes. I'm still unsure about my own abilities, but I'm taking things one day at a time and treating this primarily as a learning experience. This is only my second time volunteering, as well as my first long-term project and first experience living abroad, so there's plenty that's new for me, but I'm fully determined to make the most of this experience!

O Testemunho do ALMA Interns

Hey, we Are the ALMA Interns!

When we arrived in Lisbon, Álvaro and Roberta picked us up straight away from the airport and took us to our new home. There we met our flatmates – all really open and friendly, so we felt at home straight away.

In the first few days, we explored some of the city’s sights and got a first impression of Lisbon. On Saturday, we then immersed ourselves in the nightlife, which was definitely a highlight. On Sunday, we went to a football match with our flatmates – a really cool experience.

Overall, we really enjoyed the first week here. The work placement has also started recently, and we were welcomed with open arms from the start and integrated well into the team. We are excited to see what happens in the coming weeks.

O Testemunho do Colin

Hey, I’m Colin from Liechtenstein.

I joined this project through a friend from Liechtenstein. I visited him in Lisbon a few years ago while he was working at SPIN, and since then I knew I wanted to come back for a longer time. After finishing my education at the bank, it finally worked out.

My trip started with some delays in Zurich because of a storm, but when I arrived, everything went smoothly. Álvaro picked me up, showed me how public transport works, and made the start here really easy.

At “Casa Anjos,” I met my roommates Jule and Alessandra, and I felt welcome straight away. A few days later, Inka joined us, and now it already feels like a nice little routine together.

Starting at SPIN was easy to get into. We got a good introduction, and I could take on my first tasks quickly, which helped me settle in fast.

Outside of work, I’ve been bouldering a few times and also started making music again. Lisbon has a really inspiring vibe for that.

On the weekend, we went out and also checked out Carnival. It reminded me a bit of “Fasnacht” back home — good atmosphere and lots of people enjoying the moment.

Overall, my first weeks were really positive. I settled in quickly, met great people, and I’m looking forward to what’s coming next.

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.