My name is Eya Hadhri , 29 years old, and I am currently doing my European Solidarity Corps volunteering project in Cormontreuil, France. I moved from Poland to France to join a one-year volunteering experience at the Maison d’Accueil Spécialisée Marc Toussaint, with the coordination of CRIJ Grand Est.
I started my project on the 1st of April, and it has now been two and a half months since I am here. Looking back, I can honestly say I am really enjoying this experience.
At the beginning, I was quite stressed. I have a background in environmental engineering and geology, and I studied and worked in different countries like Poland, Spain, Latvia, and Tunisia. However, I had never worked in a medical or disability care environment before, so everything felt completely new to me.
In the first days, I felt a bit overwhelmed. Many residents have disabilities and cannot always communicate verbally, so it took me some time to understand how to interact and connect with them. But step by step, I started to build relationships and find my place in the team.
My daily activities are very diverse. I help with breakfast, support different activities during the day, and I also work as an animator. We do a lot of creative workshops such as DIY activities, crafts, coloring, painting, cooking , make up,and recycling (as part of my job). I really enjoy these moments because I can see how small activities can bring joy and engagement to the residents.
We also organize outdoor activities like going to concerts, sports events, or cultural places such as jazz performances. These moments outside the center are very special, both for the residents and for me.
Another important part of my experience is living in the same place where I work. At first, it felt a bit intense and overwhelming, but over time it helped me to build a stronger bond with both the residents and the staff. It also made me feel more integrated into daily life here.
This experience is also helping me personally. I already speak French, but living and working in this environment every day has improved my communication skills a lot. It also gave me time to reflect on my future and understand better what I want to do next in my professional path.
Even though it was challenging at the beginning, I now find this experience very meaningful and inspiring. It taught me patience, empathy, and the importance of human connection in a very direct way.
I would also like to sincerely thank Mariachiara, Anna and Anthony ( from CRIJ) for their continuous support during this journey. Their guidance and kindness have made this experience much easier and more meaningful for me.
Overall, I am grateful for this opportunity to live in France, learn from a completely different professional field, meeting new friends, and grow both personally and professionally.
