O testemunho No. 3 do Nabil (Bola p’ra Frente)

I blinked my eyes and in an instant, my ESC project had passed ☹.

Now, it’s time to assess my experience. Since my first day, I fell in love with this beautiful city, its atmosphere, food, and people. Regardless of all the given circumstances, I'm quite sure I had a better experience. 

I'd made a couple of observations about my ESC project and I'd say number one is that experience has turbocharged my capacity to develop activities in ways that I had never imagined before.So, you can always make an enormous difference when you put yourself in such a challenging situation.

Number 2, I learned and understand the power of moving people along, listen and helping them. That’s how you end up ultimately forging bonds.

Point number 3, the daily work at Bola p'ra frente has given a fresh impetus to me for continuing working on social and youth issues after the project. For this reason, I decided to keep up my volunteering work for the association.

ESC is a kinda program that I strongly recommend to everyone especially after getting graduated from the university because I highly believe that it is quite important to experience giving to the community much more than receiving.

Coming to Portugal as an ESC volunteer was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my whole life. It has opened the door for a better future for me.

I would like to thank the National Association of Street Soccer (my family), and the SPIN association from the bottom of my heart for this golden opportunity you provided me with.

This is not the end; this is just the beginning.

Nabil DRAOUI

Shukran! 

O testemunho do Nabil No. 2 (Bola p’ra Frente)

Here we are with the second testimony of my volunteering project which can be resumed by 3 main words: adaptation, experience and hope.

After four weeks I started being acquainted with the work, thanks to my colleagues who helped me to get closer to the kids and youngsters, get involved in the most of activities, trainings, meetings and to take initiatives. 

Consequently, my communication skills started to look up, I mean in both languages (Portuguese and English). My personal competences as well (self-confidence and self-esteem) had reached their top.

The daily interaction I had with the local community at Bairro Padre Close, had opened the door for my integration in the Portuguese society.

Now, I strongly believe in the Portuguese saying “Quem não viu Lisboa, não viu coisa boa” because Lisbon is just a wonderful city to live.

Even during this specific time of lockdown, I’m trying to stay positive and I can say it’s such a golden opportunity for me to try working from home thing that I've never tried.

Let's hope everything gets better.

O testemunho do Nabil No. 1 (Bola p’ra Frente)

Hi my name’s Nabil from Morocco, finally in Lisbon (one-month ago) to start my volunteering project at Bola p’ra Frente. I was all set to come and start my project on march 1th, but then my flight was canceled, the borders were closed and the project has been postponed because of COVID 19 pandemic. What a tragedy! Let’s say it was one of the hardest times of my life.  

I believe that in the process of working on your goals and dreams you are going to face a lot of disappointment, failure, pain and setbacks. Then, I tried to overcome this situation by starting of learning Portuguese, improving my English and focus more in my field of expertise.

5 months after, I came to Lisbon which is a wonderful city to live and I started the adventure. Now, I fully recognize that in life everything happens for a reason means I came in the right time :D.

Today, Yes, I’m out of my comfort zone and I have new friends from different countries, different cultures and backgrounds and that’s where the growth is.

My first weeks at work allowed me to see how much important the role and actions of Bola p’ra frente in the daily life of Bairro Padre Cruz inhabitants whatever they are kids, teenagers or old people.  I’m overjoyed of taking this challenge and being a part of such a big family, I sincerely hope to give an add value and make a real and positive impact to this community.