Our three volunteers, Angelo Varano from Italy, Louise Rößler from Germany, and Sindi Beqiraj from Albania, participated in the arrival training in Van from July 29th to August 1st. The event, held in eastern Turkiye, allowed our volunteers to improve their volunteering skills. Read their feedback:

Angelo from Italy:
Attending the ESC On-Arrival training course in Van was a wonderful experience. Not only did it help me understand my role as a volunteer, but it also gave me the opportunity to meet wonderful people from different cities in Turkiye and make strong friendships.

The sessions were very interesting, even for people like me who have more experience in the ESC world. I learned a lot about the ESC and Erasmus+ programs, how they work, and how I can get more involved. We also discussed topics such as intercultural learning, team building, conflict management, and how to adapt to a new culture, which I believe are essential for a successful volunteer experience.
 
This course truly motivated me and gave me more confidence to begin my ESC journey. I enjoyed sharing ideas, experiences, and goals with other young people who, just like me, want to make a positive impact. I am grateful for this opportunity because it allowed me to gain new knowledge, broaden my perspective, and create memories and friendships that I will cherish forever.


Sindi from Albania;
 

Taking part in the ESC on arrival training in Van was an amazing experience which gave me a lot in terms of learning  new things as a volunteer but also creating great friendships and connecting with volunteers that were brought together  from different cities of Turkiye .
As I mentioned this training was very valuable for me cause as a new volunteer I learned a lot during the sessions about the ESC  and Eramus+program which made me more aware about  how this youth programs works and how to be involved in it .
The training focused  on intercultural learning  team building ,  conflict resolution and understanding our role as ESC volunteers. 
We also had sessions about our rights and responsibilities, how to adapt to  a new culture  and how to make the most out of our volunteering journey
 
This training  helped me feel more confident , connected and motivated to begin my ESC experience. 
I had the chance to share stories,  ideas and goals with other young people who are also stepping out of their  comfort  zone to make a positive impact. 
My  expectations for this experience into learning more about volunteering, gaining new perspectives , meeting inspiring people, making friendships and  memories  and lastly connecting and networking with volunteers from different NGOs were meet so I am very grateful for  having the opportunity to take part in this inspiring and enchring experience

Louise from Germany: 
Since I had already attended another arrival training by the ESC before, I pretty much knew what to expect, and all my expectations were met. In the meetings, we not only learned a lot about the European Solidarity Corps and our rights and responsibilities, but also about the Turkish culture, their values, and traditions. Additionally, we had the opportunity to connect with other volunteers all over Turkey and make friends. I was amazed by how nice and luxurious the facilities were and how good the food was.
Overall, the arrival training was not only interesting and educational but also very enjoyable, and I am happy that we were able to attend.