Exactly two months ago, I arrived in Prague to join the INEX team as a volunteer for a year. I discovered ESC two years earlier, and since then, I was considering doing my volunteer service. At that time, I wasn’t clear about my path, so I decided to stay in my city a little longer and start working to gain experience.
After two years working for a marketing agency in Spain I decided that I couldn’t keep postponing the moment to dive into this adventure. Volunteering had always been on the checklist of experiences I wanted to live. I checked the Youth Europe portal and found the opportunity: Marketing and Advertising Assistant in Prague. I couldn’t believe it. Anyone who knows me knows this is my favorite city—the one I always wanted to return to after every trip. I applied for the position without a second thought.
Barely three months later, I was walking into the INEX office for my first day as a volunteer. From the very beginning, I felt the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the whole team, and that fear that comes with any adventure disappeared completely.
During the first few days, I learned a lot about how an NGO operates and the importance of workcamps. I also began to dive into my tasks, which luckily align with my professional path and are something I truly enjoy.
I’ve always felt at home in Prague, so I can honestly say that two months after arriving, I haven’t felt out of place for even a moment. I’m so grateful for that.
Another lucky thing is that, at the same time as me, Roc joined the team as a volunteer for the Dobro Section. We’re both Spanish, and it’s nice to share this experience with someone you naturally have things in common with.
A month after our arrival in the Czech capital, we had our On-Arrival Training in Přerov. I can only describe this experience as incredible. We met 19 other volunteers from different nationalities who were beginning their own adventures in the Czech Republic. We spent five days together, sharing many activities and laughs, reflecting on who we are, what we want, and setting goals for this experience. We were also very fortunate to have amazing coordinators who made every activity engaging and interesting.
Returning to Prague after the On-Arrival Training was more chaotic: there was so much to do and so little time before the workcamp season starts. At this point, I was lucky enough to have very kind people on the team who care about making sure you feel comfortable with your tasks, as well as a support network outside the office made up of people I’ve met along the way.
Since I arrived, I’ve been tired most of the time—there’s so much to do, places to discover, and people to meet. Prague is a city of infinite possibilities; no matter your interests, there are countless leisure options to fill your afternoons and weekends. Honestly, I’ve never been so grateful to feel exhausted.
I came to this city blind, with only the certainty of my desire to volunteer and to deeply explore the city I like most. After arriving, I found incredible people, tasks I enjoy, and the opportunity to live this experience to the fullest.
As for Czech, so far I’ve learned to navigate the supermarket, order in bars (ask for beer), and, of course, say thank you. That’s exactly how I feel about this experience.
I hope to be able to give back to Prague as much as it’s giving me and to keep enjoying and discovering it as I have done so far. It makes me happy to think that this is just the beginning.
We’ll keep discovering together how this experience unfolds!
