ESC – Finding purpose and community through volunteering with JRS Greece

What can two months of volunteering change? For Daniela SanchezWauthion, an European Solidarity Corps volunteer with JRS Greece, they became an opportunity to build meaningful relationships, discover a new community and confirm her desire to pursue social work.

Before arriving in Athens, she expected that two months away from home might feel like a long time. Instead, within just a few days, she realised that leaving Greece would be much harder than she had imagined.

Together with three other volunteers, she became part of a small community that extended far beyond their daily work. They shared meals, explored Athens and supported one another through the challenges and rewarding moments of their volunteering experience.

During her placement, Daniela contributed to several JRS Greece projects supporting refugees and other forcibly displaced people.

She spent much of her time at the Welcome Centre, a safe and welcoming space where people can relax, have a drink, play games, charge their phones and connect with others. Here, she discovered the importance of simple gestures and genuine encounters.

“They taught me that even small gestures, such as remembering someone’s name, can make a real difference.”

She also supported the Women’s Day Centre, where she led jewellery-making workshops. As the weeks passed, she developed meaningful relationships with the women and children attending the activities. During her final workshop, the women surprised her with a handmade necklace to remember them by, creating one of the most touching moments of her experience.

In the Playroom, she cared for children while their mothers attended language classes. One memory remained particularly vivid: watching a baby who could not yet crawl when she arrived gradually learn to move and begin taking her first steps.

Her volunteering also brought her into contact with other JRS Greece initiatives, including language-learning activities, the Magazi distribution centre and educational support for children.

Through these experiences, Daniela witnessed how safe spaces, education, practical assistance and human connection can help people feel welcomed and supported. At the same time, the people she encountered contributed profoundly to her own personal growth.

“My journey at JRS Greece has been one of the most beautiful and meaningful experiences of my life.”

Most importantly, the experience confirmed that social work is the path she wants to follow. She returned home with unforgettable memories, lasting friendships and a clearer understanding of how she hopes to contribute in the future.

“It is not only a chance to help others, but also a chance to discover yourself, grow as a person and see the world from a different perspective.”