Happy 2026 year!
On the threshold of the new year, we often declare our desires in front of the mirror – a little scared of their height, but also eager to reach. We believe that 2026 is the year to stop putting ourselves off.
Our mission has always been to create an environment in which timid dreams turn into sure steps. Therefore, we wish you:
- Be brave in your dreams! You are not looking for the sure thing, but for what makes your heart beat faster. Fear is simply proof that your goal is worth it.
- Be shared! No road is too long when it is walked with people who believe in you even before you do it yourself.
- Be a seeker! Look for new thoughts, new cities and new versions of yourself. you have to go far to finally feel “at home”.
The following lines are not just text – they are a confession and a promise. The words of Alex, a volunteer who returned (or not) from Poland, are the best proof of what happens when you say “yes” to the unknown. If you are currently hesitating whether to set off for your “Poznan”, start this…
If I Could Talk to Myself Before ESC
By Alex Ilieva
I would sit next to myself for a moment
and let myself feel the excitement and the thrill that come with fear.
Because that, too, is part of the process – and it’s completely normal.
And then I would say this:
You’re not weak because you’re afraid.
You’re brave for even considering going.
You’re brave because you trust yourself enough to take this step.
Leaving your comfort zone will be challenging.
You’ll doubt yourself.
You’ll imagine hundreds of possible failures.
Yes – the unknown is scary.
But staying in the same place? That’s even scarier.
And deep down, you already know it.
The decision you’re about to make
will turn out to be one of the best decisions of your life.
It will make you stronger than you ever imagined.
When you arrive in Poznań, everything will feel new –
the streets, the language, the people,
even yourself in this new version of your life.
There will be moments of uncertainty,
but soon you’ll start to feel the change.
You’ll laugh more.
You’ll breathe more freely.
You’ll feel lighter.
You’ll realize that you don’t need to change who you are –
you just needed the right environment to finally bloom.
You’ll discover a new side of yourself.
Creativity – not just creating art, but telling real stories.
You’ll start capturing moments words can’t fully describe.
Through your camera, your videos, your content,
you’ll show the heart of volunteering from your own perspective.
You’ll work a lot.
You’ll manage social media, create visuals and posters,
film and edit videos, organize events, help with administrative tasks,
and coordinate festivals.
Some days will be chaotic. Some exhausting.
But you’ll feel alive.
You’ll feel that you matter.
That you’re leaving a mark.
And then come the people – the ones who change everything.
The people of CIM Horyzonty,
the organization I shared one year of my life with.
This is where the magic truly happens.
You’ll meet Kamila, the founder of the organization,
and she’ll completely change the way you see leadership.
She’ll trust you, challenge you, laugh with you,
and believe in you even before you fully believe in yourself.
Working next to her will feel safe, real, and empowering.
She’ll give you responsibility, not just tasks.
And that trust will slowly build something inside you – confidence.
You’ll meet Kuba, your coordinator – calm, funny, endlessly kind.
He’ll feel like an older brother.
He’ll make even the hardest situations feel lighter.
With his humor and perspective, he’ll help you breathe
when everything feels heavy
and see solutions where you once only saw problems.
You’ll meet Marta, your mentor – the one who truly listens.
The emotional anchor.
She’ll sense when something isn’t right
even before you say it out loud.
She’ll hold space for you when emotions overflow
and remind you that vulnerability isn’t weakness – it’s strength.
They’ll become your shield, your compass, your support.
Your Poznań family.
You’ll meet people from all over the world,
some of whom will become lifelong friends.
You’ll dance, laugh, learn, and support each other.
You’ll discover how much you can give
and how much you can learn,
when you believe in yourself and in others.
For the first time, you’ll feel truly seen and understood.
And that will change everything.
You’ll discover what leadership really means,
and you’ll surprise yourself.
You’ll realize you can guide people, support them,
and create a safe, motivating atmosphere.
Leadership built on care, empathy, and presence.
You’ll open the world for children
and watch curiosity light up their eyes.
You’ll dance with elderly people
and see joy return to their smiles.
You’ll listen quietly to life stories.
You’ll help in animal shelters
and feel gratitude without words.
You’ll learn something deeply important:
sometimes, just being there is already enough.
One day, Poznań will stop feeling like “abroad.”
It will become your new home.
And when it’s time to leave…
You’ll miss your favorite bar.
The beautiful parks. The Warta river.
Summer picnics with music
and the sparkle of winter ice.
Crispy pierogi, freedom, movie nights, late-night talks.
But most of all, you’ll miss the people,
in a way you never knew was possible.
And instead of emptiness,
you’ll carry a heart fuller than ever before.
You’ll return different –
more confident, more open to the world, more alive.
You won’t fit into your old frames anymore,
and that’s perfectly okay.
You weren’t made for them.
Why ESC Changes Lives
Don’t become a volunteer if you want everything to stay the same.
Don’t do it if you’re not ready to leave pieces of your heart
in other people and places.
Don’t do it if you’re not ready to be challenged, changed, and expanded.
Because ESC doesn’t just give you experience.
It gives you courage. Perspective. Community.
Deciding to go is a leap into the unknown,
a leap that changes your life.
And you are already brave enough to take it.
This experience will show you who you are
when you feel in the right place, supported, and free.
It will teach you how capable you are,
how deeply you can connect,
and how much you matter – sometimes simply because you’re there.
So if it’s 2 a.m.
and you’re scrolling through opportunities, scared but curious,
listen to this:
Do it.
Say yes.
Trust the process.
You can always go back.
But you’ll never regret discovering who you can become.
You’re about to spread your wings.
Dare to do it.
Compliments to Alex’s welcoming organization: CIM Horizonty (Poland)
and thanks for the support of the EU European Solidarity Corps program
