Building Bridges Through Volunteering

A place where volunteering comes alive

Walking through the halls, it’s easy to notice the little details that make Spin unique, like murals painted by children and volunteers, shelves filled with books and games, and rooms where volunteers rehearse short plays or prepare creative workshops. For many young Europeans, this is their first volunteering experience abroad. Here, helping doesn’t feel like a task, but a part of a rhythm of life where learning and growing happen naturally.

You can feel this energy in a short teaser created by Travel Different for Future volunteers in the summer of 2025. It was filmed during the international youth exchange ‘Youth Creating Digital Footprints for a Sustainable Future in Tourism’, where young people explored how volunteering can be part of sustainable travel. The exchange was not only about research, but also about meeting peers from different countries, sharing creative ideas, and discovering new ways of connecting volunteering with responsible tourism.

More than just a local project

The Spin organisation is primarily funded through the Erasmus+ programme, collaborating with two national agencies in Portugal: one focused on youth, sports, and education, and the other on adult education and vocational training. Through these partnerships, Spin coordinates and hosts numerous projects under the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and holds a seven-year accreditation to carry out Key Action 1 projects, including training courses, youth exchanges, and capacity-building initiatives.

Spin also supports mobility initiatives for older adults, runs internship programmes for students from across Europe, and organises workshops that combine social engagement, creative expression, and skill development. Some volunteers are involved in community gardens, cultural events, or environmental initiatives, while others focus on social projects for children, teenagers, and elderly residents. All these initiatives reflect a common goal: empowering people of all ages to learn and grow through volunteering.

Whether through short-term exchanges or long-term volunteering placements, Spin plays a key role in connecting people. Every project contributes to a broader mission, such as fostering solidarity, mutual learning, and personal growth in both volunteers and locals.

Voices from the volunteers

The heart of Spin is its volunteers. Each brings a unique story and motivation, but all share a desire to make a difference.

Gia, from Italy, found volunteering closely connected to her academic journey: “I had previously worked as an Italian teacher for migrants, but here I learned what it means to work side by side with people from many different cultures. It’s not just about the project—it’s about understanding how people think, how they live, and what they care about.”

Nella, from Brazil, reflects on the personal growth she has experienced: “I noticed I had changed when I started taking initiatives on my own, without waiting for instructions. That autonomy gave me confidence not only here, but also for my future. Even small decisions—like planning a workshop or leading a group game—made me realise I could trust myself.”

Goad, from Armenia, highlights how volunteering has been a continuous thread in her life: “I started volunteering as a teenager, and Spin became a place where I could bring all those experiences together. It showed me that volunteering is not only about helping—it’s also about growing as a person. Every small effort can leave a lasting impact, sometimes in ways you don’t even notice at first.”

These experiences were also brought to life through short Instagram interviews with a volunteer from France named Jules, who shared how volunteering in Lisbon became a meaningful pause from the race of everyday life—a chance to give back while discovering what truly inspires her.

Together, these stories show how volunteering is not just about helping, but about connection, growth, and finding your own place in a wider community.

A day in the life at Spin

Life at Spin moves quickly. Volunteers might start their morning preparing activities for children, then run a small workshop on painting or music. In the afternoon, they could be organising a cultural evening, helping residents with small tasks, or simply sharing time and conversation over coffee.

Even seemingly simple activities, like playing a game with a child or leading a group discussion, become lessons in patience, creativity, and empathy. Volunteers often remark on the challenges of learning new routines, navigating language barriers, or figuring out how to connect with children from very different backgrounds. And yet, it is in these small, sometimes awkward moments that the most meaningful learning happens.

These everyday moments at Spin were also captured on Instagram, showing how ESC volunteers engage with the community and each other. In one post, Ilaria from Italy reflected on the joy of community living—highlighting the friendships, the laughter, and the freedom to simply be herself.

Stories that stay with you

Volunteers leave Spin with more than professional skills. Gia returned home with ideas about her career she hadn’t considered before. Nella discovered independence and the confidence to trust her own decisions. Goad continues a lifelong commitment to volunteering, enriched by every encounter.

Spin shows that volunteering is not just about giving. The bonds created, the small victories celebrated, and the challenges overcome make the experience unforgettable for both volunteers and the community they serve.

This is one of the articles in a series exploring youth volunteering across Europe. Very soon, we will dive into the Travel Different for Future project, showing how young people engage with sustainable tourism and create meaningful connections beyond Lisbon. Make sure to follow us so you don’t miss anything!