ESC Experience at InterMediaKT

Each year, InterMediaKT welcomes volunteers from diverse countries and cultures to join the European Solidarity Corps project. This initiative offers participants the chance to explore new fields while contributing to the local community in meaningful ways. In 2025, we hosted volunteers in four sectors: Fundraising, Web Development, Education & Youth, and Communication & Multimedia. Each of them brought fresh perspectives and creativity to our team, making the project a shared journey of collaboration. The best way to capture that journey is through their own voices. Below, you can read what the volunteers had to say about their journey.

Ani holds a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Education at Ilia State University in Georgia. Although her academic background is in education, she later shifted her focus toward digital communication and creative media. She completed a one-year Information Technology course at SBA College, followed by training in Social Media Management and Web Design at IT Step Academy. These experiences introduced her to content creation, digital marketing, and basic front-end web design.

“Working at InterMediaKT has been one of the most enriching and inspiring experiences of my life. From the very beginning, I felt welcomed into a warm, supportive, and truly motivating environment where every idea and contribution mattered. As a Communication & Multimedia Assistant, I had the opportunity to develop my skills in social media management, video editing, and content creation, while at the same time learning so much from the people around me.
What I’ll remember most is the amazing people I was surrounded by, so supportive, kind, and inspiring. Their warmth and trust made me feel valued every single day, and that gave me the motivation to keep learning and giving my best. 
I am deeply grateful for the trust, kindness, and encouragement I received throughout my time here. This journey helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect, both as a professional and as a person. I would genuinely recommend volunteering at InterMediaKT to anyone who wants to learn, contribute to meaningful projects, and be part of a team that genuinely makes a difference.”

Leire holds a degree in Economics and International Relations from the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid. She has a strong interest in education and has volunteered in school support and non-formal education programs for children in vulnerable situations, always striving to contribute to their development and well-being.

“I always knew that I wanted to work in a social field. Moreover, during my college years, I started traveling quite a bit, and learning about new countries and their cultures became an interest of mine. ESN voluntary work provided an opportunity to gain experience that combined my professional goals with my personal interests. That’s why when I finished my degree, I immediately decided to join. I chose InterMediaKT as my destiny organization because one of their main focuses was accessible and universal non formal education. Education to me is essential to achieve social development and citizen involvement, and it’s something I have already worked on in previous voluntary experiences. 

So, I joined as an Education and Research Assistant. After working for InterMediaKT for seven months, I can say that this has been one of the most enriching experiences in my life. I’ve learned a lot at a professional and personal level. I improved my English skills, learnt new educational strategies and theories, used new computer programs and helped in other fields I was interested in within the organization, such as fundraising or project formulation. I feel like I’m a more open-minded, resourceful, and well-prepared person. I’ve met lots of new people with different cultures to mine, made deep connections that I will cherish forever, got to visit amazing places, and lived as a local in a new country. I think I’ve been changed positively, and I’m recharged and ready for the new experiences life holds for me. I leave Patras grateful for the amazing experience I’ve had and all the valuable lessons and wonderful memories that I will always bring with me.”

Patrik is a Software Engineer specializing in Frontend Development and UI/UX Design. He studied in Denmark for 3.5 years, where he gained extensive experience in an intercultural environment and honed his developer skills through internships at software companies.

“I did an ESC volunteering for 8 months in sunny Greece, in the city of Patras, and this experience was one of those that I won’t forget anytime soon. I studied Software Engineering, and I wanted to escape Denmark for a bit before I continue my studies. and this opportunity seemed relevant to me, given my background. As for my role, I was doing web development, which I am used to, but also learning things in the UI/UX part, which I wanted to get better at. This resulted in me making a design and project identity for several European projects and topping it off with a workshop for the general public. Overall, I enjoyed the process and certainly the new knowledge will be applied to my new job.

The onboarding process was really smooth, people in the office gave me a warm welcome, gave me a lift from the station to the apartment and made sure everything was going smoothly. Even though Patras seems like a small city, which certainly is, there’s plenty of stuff to do; you just need to look or ask. I got to join the hiking club, Greek folk dances, Greek lessons, and later, during the volunteering, other activities. This made my stay really positive, and especially the roommates I had, who I’ll never forget.

Greece seems like a perfect place for me do to ESC volunteering, so I can only recommend it. Not only because of the country, but because of the project itself that you’ll get to learn a lot about other cultures, work on interesting things, meet new people, and have new experiences.”

Paola Fasiello holds a Master’s degree in Local and Global Development from the University of Bologna. She has always been passionate about cultures and stories, which is why she has focused her studies and career on exploring as many environments as possible. She began engaging with European projects to support NGOs and organizations in achieving their missions.

“Through this experience, I gained my first real insight into the NGO sector and its approach to project development. The ESC program allowed me to discover a new city and adapt to a different work environment, where I felt supported and welcomed.
I had the chance to build new skills and improve others during the project design phase, while also getting to know different partners and organizations from across Europe. It was a valuable opportunity to learn and try new things in a supportive setting.
Living in a new city helped me get to know the local context and share everyday life with colleagues and flatmates. There were many nice moments both at the office, thanks to the InterMediaKT’s team, and outside with the people that I’ve met along the way.
This experience confirmed my interest in working with NGOs and communities, and it has encouraged me to keep exploring both professionally and personally.”

The European Solidarity Corps program at InterMediaKT is more than a volunteering opportunity. It is a meeting point of cultures, ideas, and passions. By working side by side, participants and the local community exchange knowledge, challenge perspectives, and build connections that last far beyond the project itself. What remains after each year is not only the skills learned, but also the friendships, memories, and sense of belonging that define the spirit of solidarity.

Life as an ESC at InterMediaKT