From January 15, 2024, Anna Zvenihorodska volunteered with us for a full year, participating in two ESC projects that both carried the word Thrive in their title. Her engagement was focused on the digital sphere, primarily creating content for our social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, as well as for our website when needed. In the role of Social Media Volunteer, she excelled thanks to her prior knowledge and natural affinity for this type of work. As she herself describes, the opportunity to become a volunteer came unexpectedly, at a moment in her life when she needed it the most:
“Hi, my name is Anna, and I would like to share my twelve-month volunteering story with Ocean Znanja. ESC volunteering changed my life beyond recognition. The opportunity to become a volunteer came unexpectedly, at a moment in my life when I truly needed it even though I didn’t yet realize how much. Unexpectedly, I found myself in an organization where I could finally start working in the field I had long dreamed of: content creation, design work, and web pages creating.”
During that year, Anna contributed significantly to Ocean Znanja through her approach and creativity, especially in creating content for the project Social Health?. Through visually appealing and informative posts tailored for young people, she brought free opportunities for personal and professional development closer to youth in Zagreb and the surrounding area. Every post, visual material, and documented event created a space where members of our community could gain information, inspiration, and motivation to get involved. Anna’s work also helped improve our digital communication system, making it easier to connect with young people, Ocean Znanja members, and the wider community.
“During my year of volunteering, I managed to achieve all of this and even more. Alongside my main responsibilities, I took part in various projects, developed my language skills, and improved my Croatian to a fluent level, just like my English. I had countless opportunities to work with professionals and trainers from different countries and to exchange experiences with them. I also changed as a person. I began to think more broadly and analyze people more deeply because I observed how trainers at Ocean Znanja work, how they communicate with project participants, how carefully they choose their words, how clearly they express ideas, explain, and support others in simple and meaningful ways.”
In addition to digital content, Anna actively participated in activities organized for young people and community members in Zagreb, where she documented events but also assisted in their organization and implementation. Her presence and enthusiasm motivated the entire team, as she consistently demonstrated how a creative approach to digital content can connect people and strengthen community engagement.
Volunteering with Ocean Znanja meant more to Anna and the entire community than developing skills and gaining experience. It was an opportunity for mutual connection, creative expression, and growth in every sense. We will conclude with her own words:
“It was easy for me to implement my creative ideas and plans because I was always surrounded by people who would explain, encourage, praise, and offer constructive criticism, which is essential for growth. But the most important thing I gained at Ocean Znanja was not skills or competencies. It was people. People who shared both the hardest and happiest moments of my life with me, who witnessed my professional growth, and who became my second family. I always say that I have two families: my Ukrainian family, my parents, and my Croatian family, Ocean Znanja. If I could turn back time, I would choose this experience all over again.”
Anna’s project is co-funded by the European Union through the European Solidarity Corps program. The expressed views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union.