Meet Bogdan !
Volunteer at COCAT, in Barcelona.
While being a volunteer of the European Solidarity Corps in Barcelona, Bogdan put in place his own initiative of solidarity : Volunteering Vocabulary.
Initially, Boki’s plan was to create a series of portraits featuring the participants from our summer camps, allowing each of them to write their own captions in their native languages, sharing some meaningful or interesting words. This would have showcased the diversity of the group and highlighted their unique perspectives through personal expressions.
However, as the project developed, he decided to shift the focus and create something that would offer a broader view of the work and effort involved in organizing a project like this. Instead of individual portraits with captions, he collected all the photos taken during various stages of COCAT’s events — before, during, and after a work camp season — and put together a chronological photo exhibition.
The exhibition aimed to illustrate the behind-the-scenes work that goes into organizing a project that lasts only two weeks, but involves so much preparation and coordination.
The photos included in the exhibition captured a wide range of activities: meetings with partner organizations, promotional events, pre-work camp training sessions with new volunteers, and COCAT’s annual event held after the camp season was concluded. He also decided to include photos from his own ESC experience, to offer a more personal touch and give a complete view of the project from his perspective.
Throughout the process, Bogdan took on the role of the photographer, while other people became the subjects of the photos, representing the various stages and experiences involved in the project. This shift allowed him to tell a more comprehensive and visually engaging story, showcasing the dedication and teamwork required to make a project a success.
This initiative was supported along the CLIC project. C.L.I.C. for “Coordinating Locally in order to Increase More Changes with the European solidarity Corps” is a cooperation partnership we participate in with 9 other like-minded organisations from 9 European countries. Together, we want to increase the impact and the visibility of the European Solidarity Corps in our communities, while providing young people with a strong educational value along their volunteering projects.