The opportunity to volunteer through the European Solidarity Corps at FNT (The National Youth Foundation) found me at a time where I am seeking experience, both work related as well as something new, to get me out of the comfort zone I’ve hidden in for far too long.
I am currently volunteering as part of the Communication Department, within the Structures Division. My role here, along with the other communication volunteers, has been to help promote the activities and projects facilitated by the organisation. I had to work alongside the team in making graphics, videos, texts, templates, presentations, and other materials.
As a creative person, improving my skills, and learning new ones in the same field has been one of my priorities. Be it new graphic tools, video editing, or even working with non-digital instruments, learning to be more efficient has come with every new task. One of the benefits of this environment is the constant feedback and help available, something I haven’t had much experience with, and that I now feel is a most important part of my process.
While sitting behind a computer is something I was familiar and comfortable with as part of content creation, sitting behind, and even in front of the camera was something completely new for me. While this took me out of my comfort zone quite a bit, I wanted to be daring and help as much as possible, which led me to have some of the most fun experiences here. With the help of my teammates, I always have a laugh and a great time when we film something. Every mistake and retake becomes something to remember fondly later on.
Being a local volunteer has allowed me to see more of the community I am part of. I met so many new wonderful people, volunteers, youth workers, and participants to different activities and projects, both from Bucharest, other counties, and even from abroad. Communication, teamwork, taking initiative, helping others, every new interaction feels like I get to develop and improve, as well as take part in the building of something greater.
Through the activities and projects organised by FNT, I have also come to better understand the impact that youth initiatives can have on the community. Being involved, even from a communication and promotion perspective, makes me feel that the work we do helps these opportunities reach more people, encouraging young people to connect and discover themselves. Seeing young people come together, share ideas, and participate in activities has been very inspiring and rewarding.
Overall, I am grateful that I get to help and develop the youth community, as well as grow on a personal level.