Volunteering in Sp24 - Alice

Dzień dobry!

My name is Alice, I'm from Verona in Italy, I'm 24 years old, and I started a three-month volunteering project here at Szkoła Podstawowa nr 24 in Białystok in mid-March 2025.

As I tell you about this, I'll be sharing some photos from these first two weeks, hoping that, seeing them, you’ll feel as touched as I do: the teacher vs. student tournament for the beginning of spring, some Italian words from a well-known children’s song in Italy, drawings on our hands (a classic with kids), paintings, drawings of Egyptian papyri, and to wrap it up, hug time!

The reason why I chose to volunteer is mainly this: I graduated in Mathematics in December 2024, and I wasn’t sure yet what I wanted to do next. I needed to take a personal break and dive into a new adventure.

I heard about ESC (European Solidarity Corps) volunteering projects, and it felt like the perfect fit for me! I knew I wanted to work with children in some capacity, but I wasn’t exactly sure what. When I looked at the ESC website, I figured it out! I’ve also had the chance to be in Poland twice before for two Erasmus Plus Projects, and both experiences filled my heart with incredibly positive emotions.

So, when I found myself choosing where to go for this adventure, I unknowingly chose Poland, drawn by the affection I feel for the experiences I've already had. And I have to say, I made a great choice!

At school, I spend most of my time in the świetlica, the daycare room of the school, with children from Grade 1 to Grade 3, and in just these first two weeks, they’ve already taught me so much. With them, I spend my days drawing, dancing, playing ball, or engaging in some of their many board games.

It’s amazing to see the effort they put into trying to make themselves understood, despite the language barrier. Watching them work together to find ways to explain what they’re thinking—whether through the few words they know in English, gestures, sounds, or anything else—is always heartwarming.

It’s especially touching to see their satisfaction when I finally understand them. But don’t worry, the trusty translator is always ready to step in if we really struggle to understand each other—but that's a luxury we save for the end because trying other methods first doesn’t hurt, right?

The children try to teach me basic words in Polish, especially colors and numbers, which are among their favorite things to share with me. Their constant desire for receiving hugs and affection, and giving me little gifts always gives me such a positive boost of energy.

It is often said that time flies when you're having fun. In this experience, I’m seeing this phrase in full action: I look at the time as soon as I arrive at school, and then I check it again and it's already time for me to go home. It's something magical: with all the activities and energy the kids bring, I return home without even feeling the weight of the day, and I think this shows just how adorable these children are.

I plan to entertain them with a quiz about my country, Italy, teach them a few basic Italian words, help them improve their English, and, why not, teach and discover new games together, creating them as we go.

Stay tuned for the next chapters!