L’article Winter in Budapest and Vienna est apparu en premier sur Asociatia Eiva.

The project

This project, led by EIVA Organization, is developed in partnership with local institutions in Arad. Over the years, we’ve identified significant needs in
educational integration within our community. Through the European Solidarity Corps program, we aim to create a non-formal learning environment that
allows volunteers to grow personally and professionally while contributing to this important cause, growing the educational diversity within a community.
The structure is build for all the learners to advance in their learning at different life stages, with a strong emphasis on the principle of solidarity.

The goal

Our main goal is to support the school integration of 125 children and young people in Arad through activities led by both international and local volunteers. 

Personal Growth for Highschool Students

Guiding high school students through a structured personal development plan during the project.

Educational Activities for Children and Youth

Leading non-formal educational activities for 100 children and young people in Arad.

Community Engagement

Raising awareness and involve the community in addressing the challenges of educational integration, especially for children with special needs from the School Center for Inclusive Education in Arad.

Youth Involvement

Encouraging young people in Arad to take an active role in community life.

Volunteer Skills Development

Accompanying volunteers to develop soft and hard skills that support their social integration and contribution to the
community.

About the activities

Each year, EIVA hosts international volunteers aged 18 to 30 who take part in solidarity projects lasting from two to twelve months. Coming from different countries and backgrounds, these young people contribute to the life of Arad and to the wider community we work with. Their presence brings new perspectives, energy and support to local initiatives that benefit children, youth and vulnerable groups.

Our activities are built on non-formal education, using games, creative methods and interactive learning to develop skills and meaningful experiences for both volunteers and beneficiaries. A central part of the volunteers’ mission is to facilitate workshops in after-school programmes, community centres and high schools. These sessions explore a wide range of topics, from educational support and languages to creative arts and personal development, all adapted to the needs of the groups we work with. Through these workshops, students and young people gain confidence, discover new abilities and learn about opportunities such as international mobility and European programmes.

Volunteers also contribute to the visibility of the project by taking part in communication and dissemination activities. This includes sharing stories, creating digital content and promoting the values of solidarity that guide the European Solidarity Corps. Their involvement helps inspire other young people to participate in similar initiatives and strengthens awareness of the impact these projects have at local and European level.

Who are they ?

Sergiu

Romania

Hi! My name is Sergiu Huian, a journalist and author (Alias: Morgan Summers) from Arad. I’m a very outgoing individual with a penchant for hard-hitting questions and a unique drive to succeed no matter the odds.

Rumeysa

Türkiye

Hello, I am Rumeysa Yıldırım from Türkiye, I am 19 years old and I live in İstanbul. Im a High school graduate. I worked as a volunteer at the International Humanitarian Aid Foundation in my own country for the three years and taught İslamic Courses for 1 year.  As a hobby, I can say that I love to play Computer game and I love Cat 

Stefan

Romania

Hi! My name is Stefan Crisan, I’m 19 years old and from Arad, Romania. I’m currently in my final year of high school. I’m passionate about robotics, volunteering, and academic debating—they’re the things that motivate and inspire me the most.

Jade

France

My name is Jade Vignolles, I arrived in Romania when I was 18. I live near Dijon, more precisely in Chalon-sur-Saône.

I am studying international business. I came to Romania for personal reasons, to see a new setting and discover what it was like to work with children in difficulty. I wanted to learn a new language and take on more responsibility.

Alexandra

Romania

Hi! I am Alexandra Maria Udrescu, I am 18 years old and I live in Arad, Romania. I’m still in highschool and it’s my last year until I start university. I have many hobbies such as reading, doing sports and attending many extracurricular activities. I am a pretty positive and outgoing person and I like making new connections with different people.

Angelo

France

Hi! My name is Angélo Mickael Louis Dauphin (yes, I have two first names: those of the famous painter… or the ninja turtle. You choose which reference you prefer). I’m 24 years old and I’ve finished my studies in Applied Arts! So, as you might have guessed, my hobbies are more artistic in nature, and I use my imagination a lot to express who I am. Suffice to say that the people I meet and the experiences I have can be creative drivers for me ^^

L’article Monolith – ESC group 2025-2026 est apparu en premier sur Asociatia Eiva.

European Solidarity Corps

Local project by EIVA

Living Solidarity Locally. Learning Internationally. Growing Together.

With each new European Solidarity Corps group, a new story unfolds. And through each new story, we rediscover what solidarity means in practice, what interculturality looks like on the ground, and how much personal and community growth can happen in just a few months.

EIVA’s local volunteering project, funded through the European Solidarity Corps, brings young people from across Europe and beyond into the heart of Arad, Romania, where they become part of our organization’s everyday rhythm and impact.

Since 2015, we’ve welcomed over 100 volunteers that came to live, learn, and build together for short or long term of volunteering.

What is This Project About?

For many volunteers, it’s their first time living abroad or working with vulnerable groups. For others, it’s the next step in a longer path of self-discovery and civic engagement.

We focus on three core areas:

• Non-formal education for children and youth

• Community-based inclusion and intercultural understanding

• Visibility and communication to promote EU values and youth opportunities

Volunteers engage with diverse communities and learn by doing, from planning and facilitating, to adapting and reflecting. The learning goes both ways: children and youth discover new languages and cultures, and volunteers gain resilience, empathy, and perspective.

The 2023-2024 Group

In 2023, we hosted a impactful group of volunteers from Ukraine, Turkey, and France.

We had:

Nadia, Valentin, Zoe, Lorine, Erin from France

Bugra and Bilge from Turkey

Anastasiia, Nastya from Ukrainee

They joined us with openness and courage. What made this group special was how authentically they captured their journey, writing weekly reflections, recording behind-the-scenes stories, and staying involved in every corner of EIVA’s work.

They were involved in:

• Weekly visits to special education school, Oaza association, Arad’s Highschool

• Arts and language games with children aged 3–12

• Helping with events at Lunca Mureșului Natural Park

• Office-based work: editing visuals, helping with social media, and preparing ESC presentations

• Leading intercultural meetings and connecting with Romanian youth

They did a BIG contribution to our city and our programs, and an honest documentation of what volunteering in Romania really looks and feels like.

Read the 2023 Newsletter

Watch the video – “special education in Romania”

The 2024–2025 Group

In August 2024, a new group arrived. Some were returning faces. Others joined based on stories they heard from friends. One by one, they entered our space, with questions, expectations, and the usual mix of curiosity and nerves. And slowly, they made it their own.

This year’s team includes:

• Bahar, Buğra, and Ozan from Turkey

• Augustin from France

• Selena from Romania

• Andrii and Dima from Ukraine

Their schedule reflects the diversity of our partnerships:

• They support classes at CSEI Arad, working with children with disabilities through sports, language games, and themed activities (e.g., for Christmas or Easter)

• At Oaza, they engage children aged 6–12 in creativity and learning, from folding paper animals to practicing the alphabet

• They collaborate with kindergartens and high schools, bringing playful energy and informative workshops

Read the 2024–2025 Newsletter

Watch the video

Meet the volunteers

Ozan

Türkiye

Hello, I am Enes Ozan Gures from Turkey, I am 27 years old and I live in Eskisehir. After my bachelor’s degree in recreation, I can say that I started my master’s degree this semester. As a hobby, I can say that I am interested in fencing apart from swimming and outdoor walks.

Buğra

Türkiye

Salut! I am Ömer Buğra KALE, one of the Volunteers in Eiva. I am 28 years old. I graduated from the industrial engineering department in Turkey. I am doing my master in Automotive Engineering.

Bahar

Türkiye

My name is Bahar, I’m 27 years old, and I come from Turkey. I studied French Language and Literature, and I work as an English teacher in Turkey. Right now, I am volunteering here, working with disabled kids and those from families facing economic difficulties, helping them with their language development. I generally enjoy listening to music, having conversations with new people, traveling, seeing new places, learning languages, and being interested in history.

Augustin

France

My name is Augustin, I’m a 25-year-old French volunteer spending six months here in Arad. This isn’t my first time in Romania—I’ve previously been here for other volunteering projects and internships. I decided to return because I’ve grown attached to this place and see it as a great opportunity to live and grow here.

Selena

Romania

My name is Selena and I’m 18 years old and I’m currently a student. I like working in this volunteering program because I have a curious spirit and I’m open to new experiences. I like to challenge myself and push my limits. I want this experience to leave me with cultural ideas and new languages learned, because I really like learning other languages and things different from my
daily routine.

Andrii

Ukraine

My name is Andrii I’m 19 y.o. and I’m from Ukraine and I came to Romania at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. I’m a student in the university of design in the city of Arad and I’m the youngest volunteer in our team. I like to meet new people from totally different cultures and countries. In my free time I like to learn new things, languages, or just play some video games

Dumitru

Ukraine

My name is Carapostol Dumitru, I am 26 y.o., and I am from Ukraine. Due to the russian aggression I was forced to leave the country and now I am in Romania. Here I have started my photography journey and my new professional path as a software developer. Volunteering in Arad is a great opportunity for me to both do something good to the society which has welcomed us from the first days of the war, as well as gain some new knowledge, skills and connections which might be helpful in the future

Some pictures of the activities

❮ ❯

Testimonial

Personally, I can say that things are looking up. After a period of unemployment lasting approximately two years, I managed to find a job, albeit not the best one, and started working. I don’t know how much it contributed to my finding a job, but I can say that my volunteering experience played a big part in my moving to a more comfortable position a month and a half after starting work, because this change happened thanks to my foreign language skills. In addition, this comfortable position allows me to find more time to develop myself further.

As for fencing, which I wanted to turn into a professional career, unfortunately, things did not progress as I had hoped in the areas of refereeing and coaching. I regret to say that I had to accept this setback and turn it into a hobby for now. However, I can say that I remain within the fencing community in another capacity, and this position excites me more at the moment. This is because I am officially assigned to prestigious tournaments. The role is that of a Safeguarding Officer, appointed by the European Fencing Confederation, to which the national federations are also affiliated. And I believe that my Youthpass certificates had a significant impact on this position because European Union Solidarity projects were implemented to provide training and qualifications for the Safeguarding Officer position (https://www.eurofencing.info/activities/solidarity-programe).

Regarding education, I can say that my volunteering experience boosted me as soon as I returned to Turkey, as it enabled me to gain acceptance for my postgraduate studies. Although I am unable to continue due to financial reasons, I can say that it has opened up another opportunity in my life that I can return to.

I don’t think I can summarise the impact of the project I participated in on my choices and my life in just a few headings, but I can certainly summarise it in a few sentences. First of all, it has provided me with great freedom and autonomy in my life choices, as it has been an important and valuable experience in terms of self-confidence and adapting to intercultural environments. Additionally, the various experiences it offered in terms of putting this self-confidence into action and maintaining harmony were invaluable, regardless of the subject matter.

With love and best wishes,
Enes Ozan Gures

Local Work. European Experience.

The ESC volunteers are actively involved in several key institutions across Arad, where their presence supports educational and community goals through consistent, hands-on engagement:

CSEI Arad

This inclusive education center provides learning opportunities for children with physical and intellectual disabilities. Our volunteers assist in classrooms, supporting both teachers and students through non-formal activities such as games, basic language lessons, drawing, and movement-based exercises.

Oaza Educational Center

Oaza works with children aged 6–12 from families facing economic hardship. Here, volunteers run weekly creative workshops aimed at developing imagination, fine motor skills, and confidence. Activities include crafts, storytelling, English language games, and seasonal projects.

Elena Ghiba Birta High School

One of our long-term partners, this high school hosts awareness sessions on the European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+ programs, delivered by volunteers and EIVA staff. Volunteers also join school celebration events, support classroom activities, and co-lead youth-led workshops. These sessions aim to motivate local students to explore international opportunities and step into active European citizenship.

Kindergartens and Primary Schools

Volunteers integrate into the daily routine of early education settings. They support teachers through play-based learning activities—songs, storytelling, physical games, and craft projects.

Natural Park Lunca Mureșului

The park hosts public events and family gatherings where volunteers organize interactive eco-themed workshops. They guide children in activities such as building with natural materials, making recycled art, and leading group games that promote creativity and environmental awareness.

And of course, they become part of the EIVA team: Volunteers are involved in a wide range of tasks that help shape and amplify the project’s impact. They contribute to dissemination activities, including writing social media captions, preparing newsletters, and filming or editing videos that document their journey.

Interculturality

One of the most enriching aspects of this project is the real, lived intercultural experience. Volunteers live and work with people whose backgrounds, habits, and values are different. But this difference is not a challenge, it’s a chance.

They share birthdays. They cook together. They travel together. They write reflections about Romanian culture, compare languages, and learn that « solidarity » is what holds them together when things feel unfamiliar.

“Working with people from different cultures helped me develop empathy, flexibility, and a different way of looking at life. This was a school of people.” – Bahar, 2024 Volunteer

What They Learn

By the end of their ESC experience, volunteers walk away with more than memories:

• Soft skills: communication, teamwork, initiative, emotional regulation

• Hard skills: workshop planning, public speaking, digital content creation

• Civic learning: understanding of inclusion, active citizenship, and community impact

• Personal growth: confidence, openness, and a clearer sense of direction

Through regular reflection and mentoring, they identify how their learning connects to their future goals—and how their actions made a difference.

Their Youthpass certificate is it’s a written story of their development, told by themselves, acknowledged by us.

Follow the Experience

Want to see what our volunteers are up to right now?

Follow us on Instagram @eiva.organization
(Instagram feed embedded here on the page)

You’ll find:

• Reels and stories created by the volunteers

• Scenes from classrooms, kindergartens, and outdoor events

• Candid moments, celebrations, and reflections

Want to Join?

Are you 18–30? Curious about the world? Interested in helping out and learning a lot in return?

You can be part of the next ESC group in Arad.
🌐 Reach out to us through our Contact Page, or follow our updates for open calls.

For the youth. With the youth. Always learning. Always doing.

L’article European Solidarity Corps est apparu en premier sur Asociatia Eiva.

Hands : Shaping our Future

Everything you need to know about the project!

The first project Newsletter

Download

The second project Newsletter

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Download

The third project Newsletter

Download

Our press release on Romania Pozitiva!

See the article

Our press release on Arad Events!

See the article

A project Methodology and good practices book where we shared all our insights and tips from the management and implementation of the project

Download

A flyers about European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+ in English and Romanian that you can use to make a promotion in your own community !

Download

This guided reflection Journal was created as part of the solidarity project with the aim of helping children and young people develop self-awareness and better understand their thoughts, feelings and actions.

Download English version

Download Romanian version

Download Ukrainian version

A poster and flashcards that can be included in a game with children and learn about children’s rights!

Download

Flashcards to use with children to help them learn English !

Download

Download

Stickers with words to learn English !

Download

Our activity agenda template and Feedback form adapted for children!

Download

L’article Hands : Shaping our Future est apparu en premier sur Asociatia Eiva.

Povestea proiectului meu de voluntariat în România

Numele meu este Roxana și sunt o tânără de 25 de ani din România. În 2020, am avut plăcerea de a intra în lumea programului Corpul European de Solidaritate și de a descoperi oportunitățile pe care acesta le oferă tinerilor care doresc să se dezvolte personal și profesional, prin experimentarea unor contexte în afara zonei lor de confort. Datorită organizației EIVA, care m-a sprijinit în călătoria mea în lumea ESC, dar și a faptului că am devenit voluntară în propria mea țară, în România, pot spune că mi-am schimbat viața în totalitate.

Mi-am început stagiul de voluntariat prin Corpul European de Solidaritate în proiectul „Education Through Games”, alături de un grup format din 6 persoane din România, Franța, Insula Reunion și Spania. Pe parcursul proiectului, care a durat 6 luni, am urmărit să oferim oportunități de învățare non-formală copiiilor proveniți din grupuri defavorizate, care au nevoie de sprijin pentru a se integra în societate, pentru a-și dezvolta abilitățile și pentru a beneficia de noi tipuri de învățare.

Proiectul a reprezentat inițierea mea în lumea educatiei non-formale, a vieții interculturale, a dezvoltării leadership-ului și a muncii în echipă.

De-a lungul stagiului de voluntariat, am avut șansa de a explora în profunzime multe aspecte legate de planificarea și facilitarea activităților, diseminarea rezultatelor unui proiect, descoperirea și dezvoltarea abilităților mele digitale, exersarea limbilor străine și, mai presus de toate, descoperirea traseului profesional pe care doresc să îl urmez în viitor. Cel mai important pentru mine, de la începutul și până la sfârșitul proiectului, a fost faptul că pot, în sfârșit, să acționez pentru a-i ajuta pe cei care au nevoie.

Lucrurile care au reprezentat provocări la început, cum ar fi integrarea, luarea de măsuri și asumarea responsabilității, au fost depășite cu bine. Am învățat că de regulă, ceea ce credem că ne va încetini la început este, de fapt, ceea ce ne va face să creștem, prin depășirea obstacolelor. Așadar, am decis să am încredere în proces și am avansat mai departe datorită sprijinului pe care l-am primit din partea organizației, a mentorului meu, precum și a echipei frumoase din care făceam parte.

Cred că am trăit experiența proiectului ESC în cel mai bun mod posibil și mă consider un adevărat exemplu al transformării pe care aceste proiecte încearcă să o aducă în lumea tinerilor care doresc să se dezvolte și cea a comunităților defavorizate.

În prezent, continui să lucrez în cadrul organizației EIVA, învățând, dezvoltându-mă și planificându-mi cariera pe viitor, aici, unde a început totul, alături de oamenii care mi-au arătat uimitoarea lume a proiectelor europene.

L’article Roxana Borbilau est apparu en premier sur Asociatia Eiva.

L’article Seyma Ceylan est apparu en premier sur Asociatia Eiva.

During my volunteering in Romania, the thing that impressed me the most was the culture of Romania. Romanians are very hospitable and good people. During the 2 months I was in Romania, I always felt at home. I made very good friends. I learned a lot of great things during my volunteering at Organizatia EIVA. My coordinators and colleagues were very helpful and good people. They have always been very helpful to me. We were like a family. During my stay in Romania, I had the opportunity to visit many Romanian cities. In this way, I was able to learn more about the history of Romania. European and Ottoman architectural works in the cities of Romania amazed me. Castles and churches were amazing. I am fascinated by all Romanian food. I have always felt at home as our food cultures are very similar. Desserts, soups, and sarmale are among my favorites. It was very difficult for me to leave Romania and my friends there. I miss our work, trips, and conversations we all had together. Thank you again for everything Organizatia EIVA.

L’article Irem Baldas est apparu en premier sur Asociatia Eiva.

What were your motivations to come to Romania ?

The very first thing which motivates me to work with children is their pure and positive energy. When I first started to go to the schools and to work with them, I felt that it will be an unforgettable experience for me. As long as you give them love and affection, they always hug you and show their love towards you. We played great and funny games with children in OASA ( afterschool). In Special School, we cooperated with the teacher and tried to find games that improve special children’s imagination and skills. As for the Kindergarten, we started to work there a bit later but now the only school which we are continuing is Kindergarten, as the other schools are closed due to the summer vacation. In Kindergarten, we also play some games and while doing it we try to concentrate on English in order to help children improve their English vocabulary. We are also going to start to work with children in Library. I am really content with being included in this project.

I am also a travel addict. Here, I visited three cities which are Hunedoara, Oradea and Timisoara, for now. I have been impressed by them and I am also planning more trips to travel all around the country and abroad.”

What can you tell us about the Romanian language classes provided by the organization?

Romanian language classes provided by the organization are really useful for us in order to learn the daily language. We organize Romanian classes in  the EIVA office. Roxana makes us practice speaking, vocabulary and  translation. It is a sincere setting. She is good at teaching.

 What can you tell us about the German language classes provided by the organization?

German language classes which are provided by  the organization are really beneficial for me. I am really enthusiastic about learning German and this  is a great opportunity for me. My German teacher is great. She always motivates me to speak and I can observe my improvement even till now. I really appreciate this opportunity. She is a great teacher.

About the activity :

“It’s a great experience for us and children. We selected interesting and educative topics at the same time and they were also interested in our workshops and they took part in them. We made them brainstorm and trigger them to think about highly important issues all around the world. They thought about the topics and shared their different opinions with us. This also made them more encouraged to remark their thoughts.”

L’article Sude Hosafci est apparu en premier sur Asociatia Eiva.

“For me speaking all the time in English with my colleagues is a very good thing. I improved my English so much in a very short period of time. I always wanted to have some real conversation in English and now I finally had the chance. I love being sometimes a translator for my team or for the kids at activities because it makes me practice more and learn a lot of new words.”

I have only good things to say about my team. They are very kind and they help me whenever I need something. We are a team in the true sense of the word. We always agree on team tasks and resolve problems quickly by communicating with each other. We are very organized and we always prepare in advance the activities/presentations/workshops.

” I think I achieved a lot of competencies through the Kaleidoscope 2.0 project. I can see that I learned a lot about interacting with children, I met a lot of kids in all the places we have been so I was in the position to make them stay interested in our activities. I also achieved self-confidence and courage to speak in public, I improved my English, I learned how to stay motivated and determined.”

“Today we went to a special school. We started with an English lesson and we learned the numbers. The kids were excited to learn how to count from 11 to 20. After that, we sang a song together about the numbers, in English of course. The next activity involved manual work, we helped the kids cut geometric shapes that we assembled together to make a house, a rabbit, or a swan and to paint them. After we finished the work in class we went outside to play a little.”

L’article Adelina Crișan est apparu en premier sur Asociatia Eiva.

How were you welcomed in Romania ?

Life in Romania is really different than in France. The People,  the food,  the life… you have to find a different way to live and get out of your comfort zone. It’s a new feeling and that’s why it’s so good.  Most of Romanian people are happy to welcome us. I was very well received by EIVA Association. Eiva looks like a big family with the others volunteers. Eiva team always tries to help you and they really want the best for your experience in Romania. With the others volunteers, I made a lot of friendship. We do many things together like make some parties, travel, have a nice time after work. The Lunca Muresului natural Park received me very well too. The rangers are very kind to me and I was quick to integrate with them. I had the opportunity to go to Retezat National Park in Transilvania to do some hikes. It was an amazing weekend with the best views ever. I also went to Bucharest a really nice city mixed between old and modern buildings. It was great too. I’m gonna travel to others places at the end of July in Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu and maybe Brasov. I can’t wait for this new trip !”

How can you describe your volunteering experience ?

During these 3 and a half months, my social life has grown incredibly. I met French, Romanians, Turks, Spaniards. We saw each other every week, whether  it was to go to party, or to travel. I also attended gatherings with the staff of the association Eiva where activities like barbecue, restaurant nights, parties, outings were organized. I have also helped the association with manual activities. During my free time, I tried to make the most of my free time by visiting/traveling or participating in the city’s activities ( Arad days, AOA festival) . I had the opportunity to travel a few times through Romania and even to Hungary. Transylvania and especially the Carpathians are for me the most beautiful parts of  Romania. Its mountains and its abundant rivers are incredible. kept in touch with some volunteers and with the association. I also kept in  touch with my internship place where if the opportunity arises I would gladly return to give a hand. Thanks to this experience, I intend to come back to Romania for voluntary work.

L’article Coline Gonçalves est apparu en premier sur Asociatia Eiva.