“Moja Mavrica” how do you even pronounce that? Before coming here, I definitely got it wrong. But it didn’t take long to learn not only how to say it properly, but also what stands behind it. Step by step, I got to know the NGO, its people, and its spirit.

I chose this internship because I wanted to understand how an NGO works, how to write project proposals and reports, how to facilitate workshops and how ideas turn into actual projects. And yes, I did learn all of that. But looking back, I realize that these technical skills are not the most significant aspect of what I take away.

What remains most meaningful to me are the people I met and the connections I built. The team created an environment where ideas were taken seriously and encouraged. There was always this shared mindset of “let’s do it” and even more importantly, “let’s do it together.” This created a space in which I felt encouraged to contribute my own ideas and see them develop into reality.

What inspired me most was the creativity around me. Every day, someone came up with new ideas, which were then transformed into street actions, workshops, podcasts, or focus group discussions. One day I was organizing activities about climate justice and nature rights, another day learning about mental health, LGBTQ+ rights, rethinking sports, or exploring mindfulness in digital spaces. One day I found myself playing bowling with people with disabilities, and the next day sitting in a park playing experimental music. It was a constant process of trying new things and stepping out of my comfort zone. It also showed me how much the concepts of social and climate justice are interconnected.

What stood out to me in particular was the idea of street actions. In a world where more and more interaction happens online, going out into the streets to talk, connect, and engage with people face-to-face felt especially meaningful. Raising awareness about active citizenship, sustainable food consumption, climate justice, heatwaves and nature rights in this direct and human way made a strong impression on me.

Alongside our daily work, we also organized Erasmus+ exchange weeks about the topics of active citizenship and career counselling, meeting young people from all over Europe. Seeing how passionate they were about topics close to their hearts was genuinely inspiring. Facilitating workshops for these exchanges felt special, we would prepare and facilitate everything, but watching it come to life through the participants made it all feel meaningful. 

So when I look back, what stays with me are these experiences: meeting inspiring people and being part of a supportive and collaborative team. I am deeply grateful for this experience. Thank you to everyone!