«As a person who has suffered bullying on her own skin, I have found in the REC project a safe place to share my experience and I tried to do my best to help others to face situations like the ones I suffered» – says Erika, the Indonesian volunteer hosted in Valladolid (Spain) in the framework of the REC project.

She adds – «I can definitely say that I enjoyed my stay here, I felt useful to others and I also felt that I learnt something new every day». In addition to her participation in the REC project activities, Erika had the chance to take part in other activities carried out in the Day Centre of the foundation, supporting people with mental health issues in their recovery process, promoting their social inclusion and participation.

In the context of the REC project, Erika’s contribution to the success of the activities was crucial. By collaborating in the implementation of the workshops from the very beginning, she played a key role in involving local participants. In addition to bringing all her creativity, she allowed the young people to approach a very different culture and open their minds to new ways of thinking. Clearly, so did she, as such a long stay in Spain gave her the opportunity to get closer to a culture she has repeatedly described as fascinating. «It is impossible to explain in words all that this experience brings to a person in terms of personal growth and cultural awareness. I feel that this experience will give me an extra gear for my future. It’s sad to have to leave a place where you feel so comfortable, but I think the beauty of this experience is also that it has a limit. This makes you live it with much more intensity.»

Volunteers contribution is priceless, not only for their own personal and professional development, but also because of the impact on the entire hosting community. INTRAS’ professionals and users couldn’t be happier to have had the opportunity to get to know Erika, whose willingness to learn and help will not be easily forgotten.

Thank you, Erika, and good luck with your future projects!

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