Volunteering has a different meaning for everyone. For some, it's a chance to grow. For others, it's the push they needed to finally step outside their comfort zone and explore the world beyond their own backyard. To get closer to what volunteering truly means, we sat down with some of this year's long-term volunteers at INPRO, all of them currently taking part in an ESC (European Solidarity Corps) volunteering opportunity, and asked them one simple question: what does volunteering mean to you?
They each arrived in Rzeszów with different stories, different motivations, and different expectations. Yet here they are, doing the same meaningful volunteer work, side by side.
We live in a globalised world – one where cultures, ideas, and people are more connected than ever before. And yet, it's surprisingly easy to stay inside the bubble you've built for yourself, surrounded only by the familiar. That's exactly what ESC volunteering challenges you to do: break out of that bubble. Leave behind what you know. Be open to seeing the world, and yourself, differently.
When asked what volunteering meant to them, one word kept coming up: community. Not programmes, not CVs, not skill-building – community. At its heart, ESC volunteering is about showing up for people. Whether that means working with young people in schools, supporting the elderly, or contributing to local initiatives, one thing became clear: the exchange is never one-sided. Yes, volunteers come to help, to contribute, to make a difference, but the community gives back just as much, if not more.
Of course, the personal growth that comes with volunteering abroad is undeniable. Public speaking, cross-cultural communication, adaptability, working with large and diverse groups – these are just some of the skills volunteers develop along the way. But if you ask the volunteers themselves, the things they'll remember most aren't the soft skills on their Europass CV. They'll remember the people they met, the friendships they built, the moments that made them laugh in a language they barely spoke, and the realisations that quietly changed the way they see the world.
So if you're considering an ESC project or any kind of volunteering experience – stop overthinking it. You can't control every "what if." What you can do is find a project that genuinely speaks to you, whether that's education, youth work, environmental action, or something else entirely. Because when real passion drives your work, the impact goes both ways, you give more, and you gain more.
Step outside your comfort zone. Somewhere out there, a new community is waiting to become your home.