Meet Viktoriia !
Volunteer at Concordia in France.
While being a volunteer of the European Solidarity Corps in France, Viktoriia put in place her own initiative of solidarity with “A la découverte de l’Ukraine“
Viktoriia organised a cooking event to celebrate her culture. This event was an opportunity for her to showcase aspects of Ukrainian culture in an accessible and engaging way.
The project consisted of two workshops, one in Lyon and one in Clermont-Ferrand, where she introduced participants to traditional Ukrainian desserts while traditional folk music played in the background. Participants actively engaged in cooking, asked questions about the recipes, and learned about the cultural significance behind the dishes and music.
The activity brought together young participants between the ages of 18 and 26, living in Corum Saint-Jean, from various countries including Albania, Portugal, France, and Ukraine. It fostered solidarity by creating an inclusive environment where people from diverse cultural backgrounds could share experiences and connect. The event engaged individuals who are often less confident or face challenges with maintaining attention, helping them feel more included and valued.
Viktoriia believes her project was successful because participants not only learned a traditional recipe but also had the chance to discover more about Ukraine in a warm and engaging atmosphere.
The project strengthened her leadership, organisational, and intercultural communication skills, while also giving her experience in event recruitment, participant engagement, public speaking, time management, and problem-solving. It boosted her confidence, adaptability, and ability to manage a project from start to finish, enhancing both her personal and professional development. She feels accomplished for proving to herself that she can successfully lead a project and make a meaningful impact.
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.