Hey, hi, hello!

My name is Daria, and I’m here to take you on a little adventurous reading journey through psychology, life-changing volunteering, and YOUTHreach – with a sprinkle of internet communication woven in. This is a short story about experiences that shaped me, lessons I’ve learned and the incredible ways in which volunteering and international projects can change the way you see the world… and yourself.

But before we start, I would assume that you are wondering who I am and what I am doing here! Well, I’m MORE than happy to answer those questions. For over five years, I’ve been a psychology student at one of Poland’s universities. However, last year, I decided to pause that academic path to take a leap of faith and move to the capital of Europe, Brussels, to join the executive board of AEGEE-Europe (European Students’ Forum). There, I was responsible for the organisation’s communication, some of its projects and the overall functioning of the organisation! But thankfully, I wasn’t there alone but together with the rest of my amazing board and volunteers who were there to support us!

Working in such a diverse and international environment opened my eyes to so many different perspectives. I learned not only about project management and communication but also about collaboration across cultures, navigating challenges in large organisations and the value of different perspectives. And it was through this experience that I discovered YOUTHreach. For those who didn’t know, AEGEE-Europe is lucky enough to be involved in YouthReach, and thanks to that, I can be writing this for you now as a part of the Young Advisory Group (YAG)!

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. When I started volunteering almost five years ago in one of the European NGOs, I had no idea that I was stepping into one of the most transformative (and wonderful) experiences of my life. Words can’t explain what I went through, how many amazing people from all around the world I met, how much I challenged myself, how much I grew… and how glad I was to find YOUTHreach, a place that combines everything I love: mental health, European projects and youth engagement. I’m extremely happy that I can contribute to this amazing initiative, share insights on communication, what young people enjoy online, the importance of visibility in today’s digital world, and hopefully some thoughtful psychology insights too!

With that being said, I highly encourage you to follow along with YOUTHreach’s journey and consider volunteering yourself. There is something truly beautiful about putting yourself out there and contributing to a bigger cause. And who knows? It might just change your life… and you’ll have to thank me later.

So, dear reader, welcome to this adventure and good luck!