Hi, my name is Niels. I am a volunteer from Belgium. Here in Croatia they call me “the handy man“. I have one brother, his name is Bjorn, he is twelve years older than me but we look the same. My hobbies are soccer and biljart, but I like to work too. I am glad that I made the trip to Croatia, met new people and made new friends. I did the trip with five new people and my girlfriend Steffie. I would like to come back to Gvozd some day, to see how it changed and to see everybody again.
I realized that there are many things different between our countries. Here is everything is relaxed and in Belgium it is a crazy life but we are used to it. I just finished my school and now I am going to work so the real life experience is starting. So study well and work hard! In closing, I would like to say thanks to Maja and Pega and the rest of Suncokret for giving us this chance.

 Many greetings, Niels

 

   Hello, I am Martijn, a Belgian volunteer. In the beginning, I was so nervous to come here  because it is my first time. I was asking myself the whole time how would the children be and what kind of work would I have to do. But it all worked out very well. I loved the kids at Suncokret and the work at the home was chill. And all this was thanks to Charlotte because she asked me to come with her.The volunteering also helped me to know myself a little bit more and that is something I needed very badly, now I can think straight and deal with problems. And that is the most beautiful thing, helping somebody else while helping myself. Thanks to all the children and the local people.
I ll definitely come back next summer but not with the organization anymore because I want to stay for a month!

 

 
   The past 14 days flew by. We had a wonderful first encounter with Maja, Predrag, Branko and Sarah. They are very friendly and helpful people. The second day our work really started. We had to work in the garden, clean rubbish, plant and maintain vegetables in our yard, paint, install showers, and take care of our new dog Bonnie. It was a pleasant experience which cost us a lot of sweat but also satisfaction. Each afternoon we visited Suncokret to meet with the children. We played, we teased, listened to the children, and got to know a new way of living. The people here are all so close to each other. Each child has his/her qualities and joy of life. I am going to miss each one of them including all the people that are part of this beautiful organization. Keep up the good work you deliver here, I hope I can return some day and meet you all again.
 It was a positive experience I will never forget!

 Greetings, Shana

 

  Hi, I am Katrien and I am a volunteer from Belgium. It is the third time I am here and I have enjoyed it a lot. At school I learn a lot about kids from psychology, but also about persons with a handicap. Here for me I enjoyed everything, even working together with the kids. Also the nature and looking at the stars at night and the little party every evening around the fire and playing with the kids and youth. I am really going to miss this all a lot. The organization really works. The kids enjoy and learn a lot of skills and things about life. But not only the kids, also the volunteers. I will come back again as soon as I can. I do not want to go back home, but I need to. I am going to miss you all very much. See you soon! As soon as possible.

 Doviđenja, Katrien Storken

 

  Hi, my name is Steffie and I am 18 years old. I am one of the Belgian volunteers. At home, I like playing the piano and listening to music. Right now, I am going to school for being a teacher. I like languages, like Dutch (my own language) and Latin. It was really good to speak English here all the time, now my English has improved. I really enjoyed staying here. Most satisfying was playing with the kids, because they were very lovely. We played some funny games, but just talking to them was nice too. I also liked the volunteers from Croatia and from Belgium. Before I came here, I only knew Niels (the one that I am in love with).
 We think we are coming back one day! I am going to miss you guys!

 Doviđenja, Steffie
 

  
    Hi everyone, I am Charlotte, a 18 year old girl from Belgium. I study art-photography and film and live in a family of seven children. Travelling means for me also finding new creativities. I came here to learn about Croatia but in some way also about myself. I think Suncokret is a very good and meaningful organization. I have learned something about my own capacities but I saw also how satisfied the children are. Suncokret gives them a way to have more possibilities. I will come back and while I am in Belgium I will think about Croatia and the people I have met here.

 

 Greetings, Charlotte

 

 
    Hi, I am Elisa. I am 23 years old and I live in Belgium. There I just finished my study of  physiotherapy. My hobbies are playing volleyball, dancing, and playing violin. For me Suncokret is a warm and beautiful organization, because they bring people of different ages and different nationalities together. They offer the children a lot to develop themselves and to have fun with each other. I really enjoyed my two weeks here. It gave me peace to be in a country with a lot of nature and a country where people take care of each other and of the community. It was really nice to play with the kids and talk with the youth about similarities and differences between our cultures. I will miss it here and in the future I want to come back.

 Greetings, Elisa