So, it's been two weeks since I returned from Greece. From early December until the end of August, I lived and worked in Thessaloniki at my organization, ESAI EN ROI, where I worked in graphic design and administrative work.
This work trip truly became a stroke of fate for me, so to speak.
In 2025, I lived in Thessaloniki for two months for the first time, from May to July. When the time came to return to Estonia, it was truly difficult. I'm a great patriot of my country and love Estonia very much, but I can't help but admit the obvious: it's much harder for me to find like-minded people here. In my first two months in Thessaloniki, I made more friends than I did in my entire life in Estonia. Without exaggeration, that's exactly how I feel.
When those two months were over, I tried to find a job at another organization in Greece, but none of my attempts led to a positive outcome. Ultimately, I had to return home and continue my normal life. But perhaps fate had other plans.
While in Estonia, I started sending my CV to various organizations around the world. I sent it to about a hundred organizations and literally received no response. I had already tried looking for opportunities in Greece, but nothing came of it. A few months later, I decided to try again in Thessaloniki. And that's when I found ESAI EN ROI.
After I sent them my CV, they contacted me the very next day. Three days later, we had our first call, then an interview, and after that, everything happened very quickly. I received the opportunity to join the organization and began preparing for the trip.
Thus began a nearly nine-month chapter of my life in Greece, a chapter I, frankly, was completely unexpected. In December, when I first arrived, the organization was helping homeless animals on the streets of Thessaloniki. At the time, there were about 20 volunteers involved in the project. The project lasted about a month, after which the remaining volunteers gradually dispersed, and at some point, I was the only one left on the team.
It was then that I began to truly understand what ESAI EN ROI is.
It's worth noting that the organization almost never focuses on the same thing. We are constantly inventing and implementing new things. Even now, when I interview potential candidates, I sometimes find it difficult to answer a simple question: "What exactly does your organization do?"
But let me try to explain.
At ESAI EN ROI, we work in four main areas: ecology, sports, art, and culture. Almost every project we undertake is somehow related to at least one of these areas, and often to several at once. Moreover, the format of our work can change completely from project to project. For example, in December, we helped homeless animals. This was simultaneously connected to ecology and culture, we worked with the urban environment and responsible animal care.
And in July, we had a completely different project. About 20 volunteers stayed with us for a month and worked on waste recycling. They collected and sorted trash, then used it as material to create art objects for example, sculptures that could later be placed in urban spaces. This was where ecology, art, and culture intersected. From the outside, it all might seem chaotic: today we're working with animals, tomorrow we're recycling trash, then a sports or cultural event. But there's a logic to this system.
We can't always receive funding for the same project, so we have to constantly seek new ideas and formats. We also try to take into account the interests of the volunteers themselves. If someone comes to us for several months, it's important for us not only to give them a ready-made task but also to hear what they'd like to implement. Therefore, volunteers at ESAI EN ROI often take on the role of coordinator for individual projects and become responsible for their implementation.
You might have gotten the impression that I wasn't a volunteer, but a full-time employee of the organization. Formally, I was indeed a volunteer, but even before the trip, we agreed with the organization that my main goal was not just volunteering, but finding an opportunity to stay and work further.
We had a unique agreement: if I could demonstrate good results during the volunteer period, the organization would be willing to consider me for a project manager/youth worker position.
So from the very first day, I viewed this period not as "fun volunteering abroad," but as real work and an opportunity to prove my potential to the organization.
After the first two months of living in Greece, I already fell deeply in love with the country. So, I really wanted not just to spend my time in Thessaloniki, but to invest as much effort as possible in achieving results in order to be able to stay.
And that's exactly what I did.
My responsibilities included developing and writing projects, preparing and submitting grant applications, finding sponsors and partners, coordinating volunteer work, participating in project implementation as a youth worker, graphic design, promoting the organization, interviewing potential participants and volunteers, and numerous administrative and organizational tasks.
Essentially, I gradually found myself simultaneously having to conceive a project, find funding, assemble a team, organize the process, create the visuals, communicate the project to the audience, and ensure that everything ultimately worked.
That's why I consider my experience at ESAI EN ROI to be much more than just international volunteering. I understand very well that there aren't many organizations willing to offer a permanent position to a foreigner after volunteering. Therefore, my main advice to those considering international volunteering is: don't view it simply as a fun adventure or a nice line on your resume. Treat it like a real job. You never know where the results you show will lead you. During my nine months in Greece, many interesting things happened outside of work. I managed to visit Chalkidiki, a true paradise with azure waters, and also went to Crete, where I helped the team organize and run a festival.
I especially like that at ESAI EN ROI, I and the other volunteers were always given the opportunity to grow and explore completely different areas. You never know what task will arise tomorrow, but thanks to this, you can learn so much more during your time there than you initially expected. And perhaps to finish this story, I'd like to thank a few people in particular.
First of all, Gagik from Izum, who was my mentor in Estonia. He helped me with advice, supported my ideas, and always had a positive attitude towards the possibility of developing Erasmus+ projects together with my Greek organization. It was very important for me to know that there was someone willing to listen, offer advice, and support an idea, even if it was just a concept. I'd like to especially thank Eleni, my Greek manager. Working with her enabled me to significantly improve my writing and project development skills. She constantly shared her experience, explained things I didn't know, and gave me the opportunity to learn on the job. And, frankly, she often did more for me than any good manager should.
So, when I look back on those nine months, I realize it wasn't just a trip to another country or just working for a foreign organization. It was a period during which I grew professionally, acquired a huge number of new skills, met people from different countries, saw places I'd never been to before, and, most importantly, received proof that sometimes a single submitted application can truly change your life.