Denník dobrovoľníka - Bratislavské dobrovoľnícke centrum

Volunteering can be one of the most fulfilling things you do. Giving your time and energy to help others is a wonderful way to make a difference. This September, I started volunteering at a kindergarten, and it has been such a rewarding experience. The children’s laughter, curiosity, and endless energy brighten my days. But volunteering also comes with challenges, and I’ve learned how important it is to take care of myself to avoid burnout.

Volunteer burnout happens when the excitement and energy you once felt start to disappear, replaced by tiredness or frustration. It’s often the result of taking on too much or not having enough support. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by something you love doing, you might know what I mean. It’s important to notice the signs early and find ways to stop it before it gets worse.

For me, it started with small things. Some days I felt extra tired, even when I’d slept well. Planning activities, or finding new songs for the kids, something I usually loved, felt harder. Sometimes, I even wondered if what I was doing really mattered. It felt strange because I care so much about the work, but those feelings were hard to ignore.

What really helped was taking a step back and setting some boundaries. At first, I wanted to help with everything and do as much as possible. But I’ve learned it’s okay to say no and focus on tasks I enjoy and can handle. Knowing my limits has made a big difference. So I focused more on the kids again. This reminded me why I started volunteering in the first place.

Talking to the staff and other volunteers has also been so encouraging. Sharing experiences and celebrating little victories together keeps me motivated. Even simple moments, like a child’s smile or a thank-you from a teacher, make the effort feel worthwhile. Taking care of myself outside of volunteering has been just as important. Spending time with friends, relaxing, or enjoying hobbies helps me recharge. I’ve realized that volunteering isn’t
about giving so much that you have nothing left. It’s about doing what you can while looking after yourself. Eating well, staying active, and getting enough sleep all help. If I’m feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to step back and take a break.

Burnout doesn’t have to take over your volunteer experience. By noticing the signs, setting limits, and leaning on your community, you can keep the spark alive. In just a few months, volunteering has taught me so much about patience, joy, and balance.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of burnout, know that you’re not alone. Take a moment to pause, reflect, and remember: you’re making a difference, and that’s something to be proud of.

Links I worked with:

"Burnout Among Volunteers and Social Workers," LearnDoGrow.
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"How to Recognize and Avoid Volunteer Burnout," VolunteerMatch.
Link

"Combatting Volunteer Burnout Effectively," Neurolaunch.
Link

"How to Address Volunteer Burnout," HogoNext.
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"Recognize and Avoid Volunteer Burnout," Giving Compass.
Link

Text a fotka: Lucia Bereta

Lucia je dobrovoľníčkou programu Európskej komisie Európsky zbor solidarity na dobrovoľníckom projekte v detskom centre Hlavička pod koordináciou Bratislavského dobrovoľníckeho centra. Projekt bol podporený z programu Európsky zbor solidarity.

Everyone has dreams, especially when you are a young person you think a lot about your future, make your goals and very naturally you start dreaming about amazing future plans. Would you like to live independently? Would you like to start making your dreams and goals come true? Would you like to widen your minds, meet new people, travel to wonderful countries, experiencing adventures, finding what you want or just what makes you happy? Then here you are – BE A VOLUNTEER. Everyone can try it and get something valuable from this experience.

It was a cloudy evening last spring, I was just scrolling through TikTok and drinking coffee. At the same time, I realized that I needed something unlike my everyday routine and work, I was thinking about my goals and dreams. I have already had some experience, skills and nice life-memories but I was desiring more and more. That was the impulse for me to start looking for ESC project.

Being a volunteer abroad may look challenging for you, in the beginning it was the same for me too. If you want to follow your dreamy goals you need to go out of your comfort zone and try new things. Aaaaaand YES! – volunteering will definitely be a new experience for you. You can get not only personal growth, but also professional development and a huge opportunity to make your and others’ life valuable as well. You can reach self-development, gain useful skills and bring your strengths, ideas and experiences to your volunteering work too.

Maybe while you are reading this blog now, you are thinking how it is possible to gain all of the above-mentioned benefits but just look at these possibilities – you will get used to living independently, face the challenges and make them positive for you, meet new people from diverse backgrounds, if you love travelling you can explore new cities and even countries too, cool chances to find amazing adventures, trying new things at your work and improve the skills that you already have… So, it sounds really nice, right? All of it is part of volunteering, maybe everything mentioned is not applealing for you but you have the opportunity to try and see what truly works for you.

From my experience I can tell you that ESC volunteering is the period when you can find your real self, explore your real ego, will, desires, goals and dreams and it is the perfect time to catch it and follow your path.

Wait, wait, still thinking?! Come on! Search European Solidarity Corps and become a volunteer. Step up to magical adventures. Keep in your mind that sometimes you may miss your friends, maybe family, your work or school – your past and home, yes. Sometimes I miss it but I always try to keep myself focused on the present and where I am at this moment. Enjoying my life, living a cool life, getting as much as many benefits from my volunteering time.

For example, I already met other volunteers from different countries and made new friends. That is really good because those are your type of people whom you like spending time with and having fun. I have already learned quite many things at my "work" (informal club for kids) – one of the funny things is that now I know how to play billiard, how to make dream-catchers and how to use visual expression when we play board games in Slovak 😊 but of course I have already grew personally on different levels. One of my goals was to socialize more and I can say that I am more social person now and I am getting better and better in communication. Also, I already realized very well that when I have a hard time, facing some challenges, I should consider it only as a phase and I can just go through it while further following my goals and dreams. Sometimes I think it would be great if I tried volunteering 5-6 years earlier. However, actually it does not really matter because I truly believe that things happen at a time when they are suppossed to happen for everyone, when it is the proper time to experience them. So, if you are reading this now maybe it is the right time for you to apply for volunteering. Hmmm? Have you already started packing your stuff?! Great! Amazing times are ahead!

Text a fotka: Zurabi Sanadze

Zura je dobrovoľníkom programu Európskej komisie Európsky zbor solidarity na dobrovoľníckom projekte v organizácii Mládež ulice pod koordináciou Bratislavského dobrovoľníckeho centra. Projekt bol podporený z programu Európsky zbor solidarity.

Since my volunteer project is coming to an end, I have decided to write about my progress of learning the Slovak language, as well as, my most used Slovak words. These words might not be used as often outside of the circus but they turned out to be one of my most important ones.

I started learning Slovak at the start of my volunteering project with the help of a mentor using the Križom Kražom book. I was meeting with the mentor every week for 2 hours for 3 months to learn the basics of Slovak. Afterwards, I was learning Slovak through my environment. I was trying to listen to my colleagues and friends around me to pick up new words I can use in my day to day life and circus workshops, classes. I did not spend a lot of my personal time learning Slovak but being immersed in the culture definitely was a bonus as it allowed me to pick up vocabulary through everyday life.

Firstly, my top word has to be “špičky” meaning to point. I use this word every lesson we have with the kids. This word is important because the kids need to point their toes in a lot of exercises.

The second most used word is “sklad”, which means storage. We always tend to use this word when talking about storage, where our things are, where to store everything. As well as, if you need help from the children you ask if they can take something from the “sklad”.

The third spot has to go to quite a few words which describe items that go into the storage. Such words are: žinienky (mats), loptičky (balls), kuželky (clubs), kruhy (rings) and šatky (scarfs). Most of these words just describe what kind of equipment we have in the circus.

And lastly, some of my most used Slovak words that don’t relate to circus are - ahoj and čau, which mean hello and goodbye in an informal way. Ďakujem which means thank you. And all of this concludes my most used Slovak words. In the past year, I managed to learn a decent amount of Slovak so I could communicate with the children, with my friends and coworkers.

To leave some advice, I think you should not be afraid of learning a new language and just engage with the Slovak community to expand your knowledge and learn a new language.

Text: Saulé Dilyté - Jimin (he/him/them), fotka: Cirkuskus

Jimin je dobrovoľníkom programu Európskej komisie Európsky zbor solidarity na dobrovoľníckom projekte v organizácii Cirkuskus pod koordináciou Bratislavského dobrovoľníckeho centra. Projekt bol podporený z programu Európsky zbor solidarity.

Some people think video games are just a way to zone out, like watching TV, but they’re so much more. Games open up a world of possibilities beyond just having fun. Unlike movies, games are interactive—you actually have to do something. For example, in *Sonic CD*, if you don’t move, Sonic will literally jump off a cliff.

Nowadays, a lot of games, especially online multiplayer ones, aren’t just about competition—they can also be super relaxing. Take *ETS2*, where you can just chill, driving a truck and exploring. Games can boost both your physical and mental health, from sports or dance games that get you moving, to multiplayer games that help with social skills and teamwork. Plus, they connect people worldwide, letting you make friends and collaborate. Just remember, games are meant to be enjoyed, not something you feel forced to do!

A while ago, most online players were into competitive games where you faced off against other players or teams, with clear winners and losers. Some of these games, like *LoL*, developed toxic communities, especially in team-based games. But in the same year *LoL* came out, a solo developer released *Minecraft*, a game that changed everything. Unlike competitive games, *Minecraft* offers total freedom—no winners, no set paths, just exploration and creativity. Its multiplayer mode allowed players to build and collaborate in peaceful communities, making it the best-selling game ever.

Other notable games include *One Hour One Life*, where you live for 60 minutes, *Human Fall Flat*, a funny puzzle game with goofy physics, and *Pico Park*, a cooperative puzzle platformer. Communication is key in games like *Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes*, where players must describe and defuse a bomb using teamwork, and *We Were Here*, a puzzle game that requires players to communicate via walkie-talkies to solve challenges from different locations.

All these games highlight the importance of cooperation and effective communication for success. Cooperation is also key in game creation through mods. Communities of players work together to fix bugs, add content, and improve games, often sharing their work for free. Without mods, some games wouldn’t be nearly as popular or playable.

Some platforms, like *Humble Bundle*, support solidarity in other ways too. They sell game bundles at discounted prices, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. You can even choose how much to donate, with a different NGO featured each month. For example, "Child's Play Charity" provides therapeutic games to pediatric hospitals. So far, *Humble Bundle* has raised over $256 million for charity.

Text: Manuel López

Manuel je dobrovoľníkom programu Európskej komisie Európsky zbor solidarity na dobrovoľníckom projekte v Bratislavskom dobrovoľníckom centre. Projekt bol podporený z programu Európsky zbor solidarity.

I have lived in Slovakia for around 7 months and I have noticed some differences between
my home country, Lithuania, and my current residence, Slovakia. I would like to highlight
some of the things I have learned.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived here at the end of January was the way pedestrian
crossings work. In Lithuania, pedestrians are a priority. Whenever I want to cross a road
without traffic lights, I am not afraid to cross because I know the cars will stop for me
because that is the rule and car drivers don't want to break that. While in Slovakia it is quite
rare to see a car stop for you. You either wait for a gap between cars, wait for all of them to
pass or just go across the road, which is quite brave. So, in a sense, I have gotten even
more careful around cars here, to hopefully not get hit. If you come here, be aware!
The second thing also involves cars and roads. I do not have a driving licence but with the
circus I had the chance to visit other cities in Slovakia. I have found out that it's quite scary to
drive on a highway in the dark. In Lithuania, highways and main roads have lights along the
road, which quite surprised me when I realised Slovakia doesn't. I am not sure why this is
the case but that is one more thing I have noticed.

Furthermore, the roads in Bratislava and around Slovakia are not very good compared to
Lithuania's ones. Even though Slovakia is a bigger country and both of the countries had to
overcome the fall of the Soviet Union, Lithuania had managed to repair its most used roads.
Of course, it is not perfect in either of the countries but that was another thing I have paid
attention to in my time here.

And lastly, some smaller things I have noticed while living here: both Lithuania and Slovakia
use cottage cheese (or also known as quark) but in my country it's mainly used to make
sweet things. However, Slovakia differentiates cottage cheese and quark to make sweet and
salty foods. The use of vignettes is in both countries but in Lithuania it is only assigned to
bigger cars, trucks and buses. In Slovakia, everyone has to pay for the roads or they might
get a fine. Also, I like to go to cafes and if I like their coffee, I might buy some coffee beans.
In Lithuania, it is quite customary to grind the coffee before the person takes it home.
Though in Slovakia, people were surprised when I asked if they could do that and some
weren't even able to do it. Slovaks tend to have a small grinding machine that you turn
yourself to make beans into coffee. I am not a big fan of this tradition, 'cause it adds more
time into my morning ritual.

These were a few differences I picked up on while living in Bratislava. I still have some time
to explore what Slovakia has to offer, so maybe I will come back with more interesting
contrasts between these two countries.

Text a fotka: Saulé Dilyté - Jimin (he/him/them)

Welcome to my life as a circus volunteer in Bratislava! Here's a glimpse into my daily routine.

Morning Routine

I wake up around 8 or 9 am, brush my teeth, wash my face, and prepare my breakfast.

Off to the Office

Office time starts at 11 am. I walk through the buildings and pass a coffee shop and a few boutiques, then I arrive at our office.

Office Work

At the office, I brainstorm TikTok ideas and social media content. Our workspace is equipped with tables, a small kitchen, and a chilling area.

Afternoon Activities

We're preparing a picnic and mini-show for the kids before our official performance on Friday. It's the last class of the year for many of them, except for summer camps and other events.

I ensure the kids are safe while on stilt walking duty. Suzanne plays games with them, such as getting the diablo without her noticing.

Performance Prep

Our upcoming performance at the Sports Club Slavia Agrofert includes various acts like a hoop performance, rola bola, dragon duo, silks, fire double staff, and trapeze.

Wrapping Up the Day

After the kids leave, we pack up our equipment and load our red Felicia. I return home in the evening, ending a fulfilling day.

Life as a circus volunteer in Bratislava is creative, collaborative, and full of joy. Each day is filled with trying out and learning new things.

Feel free to watch a video I prepared.

Text: Saulé Dilyté - Jimin (he/him/them), fotka: Cirkuskus

A few months after the on-arrival training in the High Tatras, I was really looking forward to seeing everyone again. Before the trip, I felt a bit lazy about traveling. However, I knew it would be a great experience and an excellent opportunity to step out of my comfort zone.

Most of us arrived in the town of Zvolen on Thursday evening, although some arrived later. Artem, one of the volunteers, for instance, mistakenly thought we were heading back to the mountains and took a train to Poprad instead :D. Once we arrived at the hotel, we were really happy to see each other again. We started with some activities to talk about what we had been doing during these months in Slovakia. With the nice weather we were having, we were able to spend a lot of time outside spending free time and doing some activities there. On Saturday, we took a trip to Banska Bystrica, visited the main parts of the city, and then went on a long hike up the mountain and back down again.

My favorite part of these training sessions is spending time with people from different places. We learn a lot from each other; for example, we even had a group dance class. It's also a great opportunity to pick up languages or improve non-verbal communication skills, especially since not everyone speaks English. On the other hand, personally, I wasn't very excited about some of the other activities we did, like writing about our experiences and discussing them, describing how we feel using a fruit, or picking a card to talk about aspects of our lives. However, I have to admit that these activities can be surprisingly funny and helpful.

Overall, I believe that these trainings of the National agency are a great opportunity for volunteers to connect with each other and gain valuable experiences.

Text: Manuel López

This is an update for a happy place if you ever feel like you are missing something in this Slovak city, which happens to be the capital. CKK which stands for Cirkuskus is the company that took me in to realize my ESC project. It’s a kid’s circus school situated in the west part of Bratislava. Yes, it’s a small circus school for kids managed by young people and addressed to young people!

But bringing your kid to us to learn some cool tricks is not the only thing you can do there. We host free trainings with the duration of three hours that are open to literally everyone. You can bring your friends, parents, grandparents, or pets and just come train with us. Did you ever want to walk on the stilts? Or try hula hoop and juggling? Well you can do all of that and a lot more in CKK. Don’t worry if you have never tried and you are a newbie, this is the place where we welcome newbies because they are brave enough to try something out of their comfort zone, and believe me, you will not regret it. This is simply a super fun place, with relaxed atmosphere for people and all sorts of artists, to get together and experiment in a safe environment. There are no teachers or students in the open trainings, this meeting is not even owned by CKK, it is a public event that we host for the Slovak Artist Community (SAC), which is an open group of all kinds of Slovak Artists that has existed since 2014. All you need to join us is your free time, bring a friendly smile and a good mood to start training something.

I am proposing this as an evening alternative instead of going out and doing all the normal things that people do normally. Of course there is always the option of going out to see the city, grabbing some beers, going to a concert or to any kind of event happening in the city. However if you ever want to do something different in this city we are here for you. You will find us there every Wednesday, and this event has existed for quite a few years now! We definitely have our regulars, people that have been coming there every week without a miss. But yet, somehow every SAC meeting that CKK is hosting feels like a new experience… That is the magic of it. And even if you are tired one day don’t worry, you are welcome to chat with someone or just sit and watch, or even bring some drawing to do while other people are getting their training done. And afterwards there’s always the option to grab a beer with some members.

These meeting have most definitely made my integration here, in Bratislava, way smoother. Although circus is my job, and I had circus homework to do many times or was stressed about upcoming events, the people there made it so nice for me. For example, people that I didn’t know coming up to come and asking me questions as they were interested in my job or making me a compliment and other people that I know trying out crazy and fun stuff, it is just so refreshing to watch them. Although the training is tiring and yes, sometimes the skills or tricks you wish to train do not come easily, or you just get hit by the syndrome “everyone is better than me”, there’s something very rewarding about showing up and always, really always, something good happens. Sometimes it is just harder to notice the good things.

With this invitation to our lovely meetings I want you to know that the circus is a place that is open to everyone, to visit for the first time, no matter how shy you may be, or to visit again after neglecting it for some time. We love excitement, passion and we don’t care about age, race, gender, ability or skill! You are so welcome in our SAC, so see you there ☺

Text a fotka: Christina Bakain

Christina je dobrovoľníčkou programu Európskej komisie Európsky zbor solidarity na dobrovoľníckom projekte v organizácii Cirkuskus pod koordináciou Bratislavského dobrovoľníckeho centra. Projekt bol podporený z programu Európsky zbor solidarity.

As it’s nearing the end of my volunteering project in Slovakia, I was looking over the memories of it in my head, and one of my favorite memories are definitely from On-arrival and Mid-term trainings. So, I decided to tell you more about these trainings and what to expect from them.

On-arrival training takes place soon after your arrival in the host country. The purpose of On-arrival training is to welcome the volunteers and introduce them to the host country and the ESC program. Volunteers are provided with a detailed explanation of the ESC's goals, values, and expectations. Also they’re provided with essential information about the country, culture, and practical aspects of living and volunteering abroad. There are activities and discussions to help volunteers understand and adapt to the cultural differences and dynamics of their host country.

From my personal experience, the trainers were trying to facilitate team-building activities among volunteers and create a network of support. We were also given Information about our rights as volunteers, our responsibilities, and support mechanisms, including insurance and safety guidelines. As well as, Guidance on daily living in the host country, such as transportation, health care, and local customs.

In my case On-arrival training lasted 5 days, I had it with a group of other volunteers, all foreigners, who were volunteering at the same time as me, but in different parts of Slovakia. For me this was the biggest perk, as I was able to meet my peers who were in the same exact situation as me, far from home, in a new country, with new people and different cultures, trying to figure out our daily lives and function with unknown language.

The second training, which is mid-term training, takes place a little later, around the 5th or 6th month of your volunteering, with the same group of people as before, and usually lasts for 3-4 days. The purpose of this one is to reflect on the experience so far and evaluate the progress of the volunteering project. Now the trainers want to hear about your personal experience and feedback with the project, to address any challenges or issues that may have arisen. Activities and discussions were encouraging us to reflect on our experiences, achievements, and challenges. We had a special problem solving session to address any difficulties faced by volunteers and provide solutions or strategies to overcome them. For me this training was also helpful To prepare for the remaining period of the project. I received guidance on how to make the most of the remaining time in the project and tips for life after the ESC experience, including career advice and further opportunities within the ESC or other programs.

These trainings also gave me an opportunity to travel around Slovakia and discover more of its beauty. Usually you won’t have these trainings in the same town, where you volunteer at, rather, you get to travel to a different city or a village, for example for my first training we went to Stará Lesná in High Tatras, it was during Fall, and the mountains were already covered in snow, which was absolutely beautiful. And during Mid-term training we went to Smolenicé, where we stayed in Smolenicé castle, and that was definitely an unforgettable experience.

So, I will not spoil any more details, and just hope you will also find these trainings interesting, and make tons of memories from them.

Text a fotka: Ani Datashvili

Ani je dobrovoľníčkou programu Európskej komisie Európsky zbor solidarity na dobrovoľníckom projekte v organizácii Mládež ulice pod koordináciou Bratislavského dobrovoľníckeho centra. Projekt bol podporený z programu Európsky zbor solidarity.

After (almost) finishing with the cold winter I can finally start enjoying the city with a lighter jacket! Winter has been cold but cozy with a super warm room, loads of hot beverages and of course the shine of the beautiful Bratislava Christmas market.

To those who are lovers of tea I can totally recommend buying a few bags from the amazing Sakura tea bar, that has such a huge variety of teas! One more highlight worth mentioning of the winter that I passed in Bratislava is the lovely events of Nova Cvernovka. This is a creative cultural space that has a different program of events and happenings every month. There are even parties or concerts happening on a weekly basis. A memorable and new event for me was the silent disco. I have never attended a silent disco before in my life and the experience actually was quite fun and definitely healthier for the ears. So I can definitely recommend a night out or even, if your Slovak is good enough, a cultural event in Nova Cvernovka.

However, now the weather is slowly getting prettier and I can feel the spring entering. The energy is very different from the winter and I feel ready to do even more activities, enjoy the outside and ready to make plans come true. It is high time to enjoy walking or running outside and see how the nature is flourishing. The changes of nature are astonishing. I live in Raca and there is just the loveliest place to walk and run just at 10 minutes walking. I try to walk daily outside, preferably in the morning and I try to also get some running done every now and then. There are huge vineyards and loads of nature in this place and of course some mountains. My next step is to borrow a bike and bike to the next village but I would rather do that with other people too. The most incredible thing is that in these fields you can find a small café-restaurant with the friendliest owner. The buffet is all colorful with plenty of sitting outside but also there is a quite big inside area. They serve coffee and sweet Slovak dumplings with plum jam, which is my preferred order. But also you can find beer and proper food, which is what a lot of families or friends get after a long bike ride from the neighboring villages. It is just the most amazing place! With the spring entering I can feel my excitement rising and I am also welcoming future projects related to my volunteering because they are on the field I mostly love, which is the Circus Arts. After passing the winter I feel that now the life has become more stable for me. I am putting more focused energy into my weekly tasks; the weekly kids’ circus classes, the training, the studying for my circus workshop and the development of my personal project. I am not searching how to do the things anymore because I have found my rhythm now. Therefore, I am striving to make the things even better than before! I want to bring quality in my work and I want to progress here physically and mentally as an artist and of course as a person. But most importantly I want many lifelong friendships from this ESC program and want to make this an unforgettable experience. Anyway, still the cold of the winter was a challenge for me, which I am very happy and proud to have successfully marked as done!

Text a fotka: Christina Bakain