Our First Weeks of Volunteering in Split

“Volunteering in Split is not only about helping others — it’s also about discovering new places, new friendships, and new parts of ourselves.”

When we first arrived in Split, we were both a bit nervous but mostly excited about what was waiting for us. The city welcomed us with warm sunshine, the smell of the sea, and friendly faces. During the first few days, we had time to organize our stay, get to know the area, and adapt to our new routine.

From the very beginning, we received a lot of help from Katarina and the other girls from the organization. They made everything easier — from practical things like finding our way around, to emotional support whenever we needed it. We always feel that they are there for us, ready to listen and help.

Every week, with the help of our mentors, we plan our activities and prepare everything for the upcoming events.

Creative Beginnings

During our first two weeks, we took part in many interesting and joyful activities. One of the first was making decorative autumn wreaths. We even went on a little road trip with Katarina around the Split area to collect colorful leaves for our project. It was so much fun!

Another beautiful workshop was decorating old shoeboxes using the collage technique. With scissors, paper, glue, and a lot of imagination, we transformed simple boxes into “memory boxes” — perfect for storing small treasures or personal memories. It was a creative and relaxing time, full of laughter, music, and friendly conversations.

Dancing, Singing and Connecting

We also visited one of the groups of singing and dancing beneficiaries. From the first moment, their positive energy filled the room. They sang traditional Croatian songs, danced, and invited us to join them. Even though our Croatian is still quite limited, we tried our best to speak a few words — and everyone appreciated our effort!

We shared stories about our countries, traditions, and favorite music. It was inspiring to see how easily people can connect through smiles and shared joy, even when speaking different languages. These meetings remind us why volunteering is so powerful — it creates bridges between people and cultures.

Our First Workshop at the Golden Age Center

The most memorable moment of our first weeks was definitely the workshop at the Golden Age Center, which took place on the first Friday after our arrival. That day, we organized a decoupage workshop. We decorated glass jars with colorful paper and small quotes, and then we planted succulents inside them.

The atmosphere was amazing — people were singing, chatting, and helping each other. Some volunteers from another organization visited us and played live music. The whole room was full of laughter, dancing, and warm energy.

Of course, after all the creativity came the cleaning part — there was white paint, soil, and glitter everywhere! But even cleaning was funny and it only made us laugh more. It was a bit messy, but absolutely worth it!

Looking Ahead

These first two weeks have been full of creativity, learning, and new friendships. We are grateful to be here, to learn from others, and to contribute to this amazing community. We can’t wait to see what the next months in Split will bring! 😊