On November 5-9, 2024, our long-term volunteers went to an on-arrival training in Bakuriani to learn more about the European Solidarity Corps and to meet other volunteers from Armenia and Georgia.
We arrived in snowy Bakuriani on Tuesday afternoon, kicking off our training with some fun icebreakers to get to know each other and learn everyone’s name. Afterward, we dove into team-building exercises and collaboratively established some ground rules for the week ahead. In the evening, we celebrated Baptiste’s birthday with a fun party!
The next day began bright and early. We focused on understanding our individual projects as well as the history and structure of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). First, we designed a poster to illustrate our personal “ESC stories,” then shared our experiences in small groups. In the afternoon, we tested our ESC knowledge with a competitive Mentimeter quiz.
Day three was dedicated to managing conflicts, crisis situations, and navigating cultural challenges. Our trainers guided us through strategies for dealing with crisis and culture shock when living in a foreign country. We also explored the principles of non-violent communication and conflict resolution. In the afternoon, we delved into stereotypes and the cultures of Armenia and Georgia through an insightful presentation.
On day four, we learned the essentials of creating projects at our respective organizations and discovered learning strategies. We then ventured to Borjomi for a field trip, where we engaged in an exciting Action Bound challenge.
On our final day, we took time to reflect on all the lessons we’d learned throughout the week, wrapping up the training with a sense of accomplishment and connection.
It was really great to meet other volunteers, share our experiences and make new friends!
Check out our photos!
