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Friendships, Camps, Cultural Activities and Personal Growth
During this experience, I made friends from all over the world: Armenia, France, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Türkiye, Poland, Kosovo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We lived together and shared many activities, in addition to our daily household tasks. We were always there for one another and supported each other throughout the experience.
The camps with the children were a great source of personal enrichment for me. I discovered a new sport that is unique to Finland: hobby horsing. I also shared many educational moments with the children. They taught me Finnish words and expressions, as well as games that children commonly play in Finland. Through these interactions, I improved both my English skills and my non-verbal communication. In the end, it was an unforgettable experience because the connection between the children and us was truly special. We learned a great deal from one another.
On a personal level, the camps showed me that I am capable of achieving many things when I believe in myself. I discovered new strengths and skills within myself and became more open to new experiences thanks to the camp leaders, Elina and Linda, and especially thanks to the children, who gave the greatest meaning to my work during this month.
I also discovered the Finnish sauna, an activity that I particularly enjoyed. Thanks to May’s guidance, I was able to experience it in the best possible way and better understand its importance in Finnish culture. This experience allowed me to grow personally, gain confidence in myself, and build meaningful friendships with wonderful people. I also discovered a new way of life linked to the long summer days in Finland. At this time of year, the sun hardly sets, which completely changed my perception of time. It remained bright late into the night, allowing us to enjoy outdoor activities for longer and spend more time together. This unique aspect of Finland was both fascinating and unforgettable.
During this month, I experienced many enriching activities that allowed me to discover new cultures and traditions. I took part in the celebration of Midsummer, during which we learned and performed traditional dances while singing Swedish songs with Roy. This activity allowed me to discover one of the most important Nordic traditions in a warm and festive atmosphere.
During the intercultural evening, participants presented their countries of origin, which helped me gain a better understanding of the different cultures represented within the group. May also introduced us to Finland through a presentation about its history, traditions, and way of life. The cultural night was another highlight of the experience. We shared different cultural traditions, including Belgian dances, which encouraged interaction and strengthened the bonds between participants.
Thanks to May, I also had the opportunity to learn some Finnish. I learned a few basic words and expressions, which helped me connect more deeply with Finnish culture. These activities made my stay particularly enriching, both culturally and personally, and allowed me to create wonderful memories with the other participants.
I was fortunate to be part of a particularly kind, caring, and welcoming group. Thanks to this experience, I was able to overcome some of my fears, especially those related to teamwork and communication.
Within the group, everyone had the freedom to be themselves and do what felt right for them while respecting others. When I was going through difficult moments, I could always count on someone to stay by my side. At other times, when I needed peace and solitude, that need was equally respected. At the same time, we shared many group activities that strengthened our relationships.
I felt a strong sense of solidarity among us. Together, we created an environment where everyone could feel comfortable, accepted, and listened to without judgment.
One of the participants helped me gain confidence when I tried a new activity: kayaking. David was by my side from the very beginning, and his support helped me overcome my hesitation and fully enjoy the experience.
We also spent wonderful moments at the beach, playing beach volleyball together and sometimes even with the children. These shared moments created lasting memories and strengthened our team spirit.
Another activity that pushed me out of my comfort zone was mountain biking. Once again, I received a great deal of encouragement and support from the group, which helped me take on this challenge with greater confidence. In addition, we formed an excellent team while preparing and leading activities for the children’s camps. Whether organizing activities or facilitating games indoors and outdoors, everyone contributed with enthusiasm and commitment.
I also discovered the Finnish sauna, an activity that I particularly enjoyed. Thanks to May’s guidance, I was able to experience it in the best possible way and better understand its importance in Finnish culture.
This experience allowed me to grow personally, gain confidence in myself, and build meaningful friendships with wonderful people.
I also discovered a new way of life linked to the long summer days in Finland. At this time of year, the sun hardly sets, which completely changed my perception of time. It remained bright late into the night, allowing us to enjoy outdoor activities for longer and spend more time together. This unique aspect of Finland was both fascinating and unforgettable.
This European solidarity corps project was funded by European union. The European comission is not responsible for the content of this publication