Ten Months of Learning, Creating and Living Abroad
In October 2025, I left Vanadzor, Armenia, to begin a ten-month European Solidarity Corps volunteering experience in Bulgaria. My name is Arsine, I am 21 years old, and I found the opportunity through [ Future In Our Hands] after hearing about it from a friend. The decision happened quite quickly. It was a last-minute opportunity, and instead of thinking about it for a long time, I immediately decided to apply.
The project was hosted by (Dream of Romance, Flowers and Space), a Bulgarian organisation established in 2012 that works with young people through non-formal education, personal development, civic awareness, culture, media and international youth programmes. My main area of contribution was media, which gave me the opportunity to develop my existing interest in filming while working with real people, events and stories.
Throughout the project, I filmed different aspects of Bulgarian culture and everyday life, including traditions, celebrations, cultural events and interviews. One of the most significant experiences was filming the large demonstrations that took place in Bulgaria in late 2025. The protests became an important moment in the country’s recent political life and eventually contributed to the resignation of the government. Being there with a camera, surrounded by thousands of people expressing their concerns about the future of their country, gave me the opportunity to document an important moment while experiencing it directly as a young person living in Bulgaria.
I was also fortunate to film Giro d’Italia 2026 when the race passed through Veliko Tarnovo. Being part of the camera team and documenting an internationally recognised cycling event was one of the most memorable professional experiences of my volunteering period. It gave me the opportunity to work in a fast-moving environment where timing and attention were especially important.
Another memorable experience was being welcomed by the Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, Daniel Panov, where we had the opportunity to film an interview with him. During our conversation, we also spoke about the Armenian connection to the city. Veliko Tarnovo has archaeological remains of an Armenian church and cemetery dating back centuries, including the ruins of the Armenian Church of the Holy Virgin.The Mayor welcomed us personally and later presented us with several gifts.
I also participated in a working trip to Romania,where we filmed the activities of another organisation involved in European programmes. The focus was on the role of investing in young people and how youth development can contribute to the future of Europe. Experiences like this showed me how media can be used not only for creative purposes, but also to communicate ideas, document social issues and connect people with European initiatives.
You can see some of the videos and media work I created during my volunteering experience here: www.youtube.com/@evolutionmedia-RLH (my name is listed in the credits in the description of each video I made)
However, the experience was not limited to the work itself. One of the biggest challenges, and also one of the most valuable parts of ESC for me, was living abroad with people from different countries, in my case Morocco and Türkiye, and met many other international volunteers. I had to communicate, work and live with people whose languages, habits and ways of thinking were often very different from mine.One of the most important relationships I built was with my Moroccan roommate. We spent almost every day together and, despite coming from very different backgrounds, gradually became like family. We shared our routines, supported each other and introduced each other to the things we loved.Knowing that I have someone I can call a sister in another country is one of the most valuable things I am taking home from this experience.
Living with people from different cultures also changed the way I understand everyday differences. Things that seem completely normal to one person can be unusual to another. Instead of expecting people to follow the habits I grew up with, I learned to accept that there can be many equally valid ways of living and communicating. This made me more receptive to different perspectives and more willing to learn before making a judgement.
This whole experience made me much more independent. I travelled independently through Bulgaria and visited Greece, France, Belgium,Romania, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Italy. I learned how to navigate unfamiliar places, organise my own travel and deal with unexpected situations without relying on someone else.
Looking back, I feel that I returned to Armenia as a more adaptable and open-minded person. I became more interested in learning and developing myself, more aware of different perspectives, and more appreciative of the connections I make with people. I also gained practical experience in filming, interviewing, photography and media production that I can carry into my future.
The European Solidarity Corps was much more than ten months spent abroad. It was a period of challenging myself, learning through real life and discovering more about who I am.I returned with greater confidence in my own abilities and with the knowledge that I can enter unfamiliar situations, find my way through them and continue moving forward.
Living abroad also gave me a new perspective on Armenia. Seeing how other places function made me appreciate what I value at home while also noticing areas where there is room for development. I am bringing this experience back with a clearer sense of what I want to do, a stronger willingness to keep learning, and a desire to use what I have gained to contribute to my own country.
