Volunteering is an integral part of civic culture in many European countries, and the European Union, through various programmes, gives people, particularly young people, opportunities to travel, discover new cultures and leave a lasting, positive impact on local communities across the continent.
Taking part in one such opportunity, HVSA (Humanitarian Volunteering for Solidarity Activities), supported by the European Commission through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), two young women, Italian volunteer Maria Sole Crespi and Spanish volunteer Marina García Gómez, spent several months in Novi Pazar, a city they now consider their second home.
They knew little about Novi Pazar before arriving, apart from the fact that it was a city with a unique culture and tradition. They did not know what to expect.
“The warmth and hospitality of the people helped me feel part of the community from the very beginning. Every day I spent in Novi Pazar was unforgettable,” says Maria.
For Marina, her time in Novi Pazar was one of those rare experiences that quietly transform you as a person.
“This experience opened my mind in ways I could never have imagined. It encouraged me to question my assumptions, listen more carefully and understand a reality completely different from my own. It grounded me, made me more patient and helped me recognise the beauty of being fully present for others,” she says.
Maria and Marina volunteered with the Muslim Humanitarian Society Merhamet in Novi Pazar. Maria worked on administration and project writing, while Marina worked as a facilitator and provided support to young people.
Both, however, say that it was their relationships with the people of Novi Pazar that made the experience truly special.
“The families who hosted me, the young people who trusted me, and the colleagues who supported me, laughed with me and shared their world with me became part of my everyday life and, eventually, part of my chosen family. Leaving Novi Pazar did not mean closing a chapter. The chapter stayed with me, and I continue to carry it with me,” says Marina from Spain.
Her time in Novi Pazar also taught her to appreciate the effort and dedication of people who give their best despite limited resources and the challenges they face.
Her Italian colleague says that living and volunteering in Novi Pazar also changed her understanding of what volunteering truly means. It is not about “travelling to Africa and playing the role of a saviour, without understanding the depth, responsibility and humility that genuine commitment requires.”
“As I became more involved in the community and worked with my colleagues at Merhamet, I learned about the history of the region and the challenges people face. The experience was incredibly valuable, both personally and professionally. I strengthened my project management skills and learned to approach challenges with a solution-oriented mindset, greater patience and empathy,” says Maria from Italy.
At Merhamet, they are equally enthusiastic about Maria and Marina. The organisation has been implementing the HVSA project for six years and has also hosted Joana Lima from Portugal. Together, the three volunteers spent a total of 26 months in Novi Pazar.
“Merhamet is also developing through this form of humanitarian volunteering, based on solidarity, exchange and new perspectives that enrich our work. Volunteers are not an end result. They are people who bring a youthful spirit to our organisation and leave behind a lasting legacy of kindness,” says Ajsa Bahović Latifović.
She adds that Merhamet expects to welcome new volunteers from EU countries in the coming period. At the same time, the organisation is working towards obtaining certification that would enable young people from Novi Pazar to take part in volunteering opportunities across Europe.