Hi all!

I'm Amelia, a junior at the American University in Bulgaria here in Blagoevgrad, as well as an intern at ABS!

It's already been 5 months since my last article. I've been back at ABS for a month now, where I'm thrilled to be working with a new team of fresh-faced volunteers!

In the beginning, it was just me and two other volunteers. But the team has quickly grown, and I now work with 8 volunteers from Spain, Germany, Italy, and France.

It's always exciting to see the dynamic between the new volunteers and to watch them navigate life in Blagoevgrad. I think that it's given me a newfound appreciation for the city. Having lived here for over two years now, I often fail to notice the same things they get excited over– the lively farmers market, the stunning Bachinovo park, and the tiny charming streets.

Attending the events that the volunteers spend hours carefully planning is always the highlight of my week! It's not only given me the opportunity to get to know other people from the community better but also to learn about a myriad of subjects that I wouldn't have otherwise. Whether it's a cultural exchange event, an event with games, or an educational event, they always take care to make the events fun and engaging. I'm always happy to bring my friends from the university as well!

Aside from events, I also support offline promotions that target different youth around Blagoevgrad. The promotions are meant to educate young people not only about the organization but also about the opportunities they have through ERASMUS+ and ESC projects. I enjoy talking to other students as well as locals from Blagoevgrad because it's personally rewarding to see the impact of our outreach. Meeting someone who is genuinely interested in what we do reminds me why this job matters.

I’m truly grateful for everything this internship has given me—both personally and professionally. Not only have I met wonderful people, but I've also worked on skills that I am certain will be extremely valuable for my professional development later on. Being able to work on different kinds of projects and carry responsibility for planning, communication, and deadlines has made me feel much more confident in my own abilities. I’ve also learned the importance of cultural sensitivity, patience, and adaptability—qualities that've been sharpened through working with volunteers from diverse backgrounds.

Time flies by quickly. I can't believe I only have a month and some days left here. I'll be sure to make the most of it!

Until my next (and last) article,

Amelia

This article is created by Amelia Delevski - participant in the ESC Project ESC 2023-1-BG01-ESC51VTJ-000131842 in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, co-funded by the Bulgarian National Agency of Erasmus+ Program Human Resource Development Centre.

Disclaimer:
The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Events

Our Passion

{{ passion.title }}

Implemented Projects

Volunteers hosted

Youths Empowered

Partnerships created

Translate this website