Hongbo... Beyond Borders: Leading, Learning, and Living in Thessaloniki

Hongbo Zhao, ESAI EN ROI Volunteer; Candidate Youth Worker   || Chinese

SC volunteering in teams  be SUSTAINABLE SPORTIVE & CULTURAL project  2/12 to 21/12 2025

2024-1-EL02-ESC51-VTJ-000200188

The Experience: City and Connection Looking back on my first volunteering experience abroad, I feel an immense sense of fulfillment. Despite the initial challenges of time management, I absolutely enjoyed this 20-day project. It was a perfect blend of elements: wonderful people to vibe with, an honorable mission to work on, and a beautiful city to explore.

Four years ago, I visited Athens for the first time. While I was stunned by its historical and cultural heritage, I found that Thessaloniki offered a superior urban experience. It felt more livable, with clean streets, safe neighborhoods, organized traffic, and well-preserved green spaces. Most importantly, the accessibility to the sea provided a sense of calm. These factors combined perfectly with the amazing group of volunteers I worked with.

During my university years, I took part in an Erasmus exchange in Finland. That was an eye-opening experience regarding intercultural dynamics in Europe. However, comparing that to this volunteering mission, I found the connections I made here to be much deeper. Working together toward a common goal, rather than just studying side-by-side, fostered more meaningful bonds with fellow volunteers from across Europe.

The Mission: Leadership and Achievements Professionally, this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone. I was assigned as the lead for a project supporting eight fellow volunteers. Even though I have lived in Europe for years, I initially harbored some doubts. I worried that my mixed background—representing Estonia but with ethnic and cultural roots in Asia—might cause friction or communication clashes.

Fortunately, none of those fears materialized. While we faced minor struggles regarding task timing, we avoided major conflicts. We managed to deliver quality results within our resources and limits.

In hindsight, I admit I allocated a large amount of focus to the work itself rather than purely bonding. If I were to do it again, I would balance my time better. However, I still cherish the unforgettable moments we shared: watching the sunset from the Castle of Thessaloniki or the seaside promenade, dancing at house parties, exploring the city’s coffee and dessert scene, and cooking for one another.

Key Competences and Learning Outcomes During my European Solidarity Corps project, I significantly developed my Personal, Social, and Learning to Learn competence by taking on the role of Research Lead.

Personally, I practiced self-management by capitalizing on my strengths in analytical thinking to lead the research, while simultaneously stepping out of my comfort zone to participate in theatrical and musical performances.

Socially, I fostered a supportive team environment through empathy and reciprocity. Recognizing that some team members faced uncertainty, I conducted one-on-one and group meetings to align tasks with their personal motivations and comfort levels. I also actively supported my research team in their artistic initiatives, which built trust and encouraged their deeper engagement in the research work.

Regarding Learning to Learn, I structured the creation of our animal welfare manifesto by combining AI-assisted tools (NotebookLM) with empirical data from observation as well as field visits to shelters/ clinics. By applying frameworks like the 'Five Freedoms' and the animal hierarchy of needs, I helped the team transform complex information into a clear conceptual framework, making the learning process faster and more accurate for the entire team.

Future Outlook Even now that the project has ended, I see the "ripple effects" of these competences benefiting my future career and academic life. However, the most profound impact is my perspective on the European Union.

People often have varied opinions about the EU, but as someone originally from Asia, I view it through a relative lens. What the EU is doing—creating programs that bring young people together to eliminate prejudice and historical discrimination—is unique. I have witnessed how different nationalities can live under one roof, laugh together, and work on common goals. This lays the foundation for sustainable peace.

I am proud to have participated in this project, representing both Estonia and Asia, to witness this process in action. My hope for the future is to share this experience with people from my home country and continent, showing them the power of this cross-border integration.

Thessaloniki's Seaside