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🌍 Iro has completed her programme in France and is sharing a little about her experience with us. 🤤

“My name is Iro, I am 30 years old, and I participated in a seven-month programme at a cultural and youth centre in Lower Normandy.

I arrived in snowy France on 5 January, feeling quite worried about the cold. However, I soon realised that it was not as cold as I had expected.

The organisation runs activities for young people and also has its own radio station. Its mission is to give a voice to local artists and young people from the area. I took part in three or four radio shows per week, and before long, I was presenting a weekly music programme called ‘Le peuple qui danse’. I worked closely with my tutor and the radio station staff.

I shared both the office and an apartment with two other female volunteers. Living together was challenging, but I learned a great deal from it, particularly about setting boundaries and protecting my personal space. At the same time, understanding that different people and cultures may have completely different definitions of widely accepted concepts such as respect, solidarity, and community helped me broaden my horizons. The organisation’s events also contributed to this, as they often brought together people from more than 20 countries.

It was an interesting and fulfilling experience, with both challenges and rewards. I am very happy that I took this step, and I believe this experience will offer me a lot in the future.”