Leyla Tahmazli ****************************************************************************************** * About Leyla ****************************************************************************************** Before joining the project at FTVS, I was involved in several youth and social initiatives country. I have always had an interest in community development, health promotion, and int exchange. I studied public health at university, where I gained some experience in awarene student volunteering activities. I value collaboration and learning through practical expe motivated me to seek new opportunities for both personal and professional growth. I also p a few sports and wellness-related programs, which I felt aligned well with the mission of arriving, I researched the Czech Republic and FTVS and believed it would be a supportive e for learning. I was looking forward to working with people from different cultures and con meaningful projects while exploring how similar initiatives are run in other countries. WHY INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERING AT FTVS Why did you choose to volunteer in general? Volunteering has always been a way for me to give back to the community, learn new skills, people with similar values. I see it as an opportunity to grow both personally and profess contributing to something larger than myself. Through volunteering, I can support causes I be part of positive social change. Why did you choose to volunteer abroad? I wanted to challenge myself by stepping out of my comfort zone and experiencing life in a cultural and social context. Volunteering abroad allows for deeper intercultural understan provides the opportunity to develop global competencies. I was also eager to see how socia initiatives are organized in other countries. Why did you choose FTVS UK? FTVS offered a unique combination of academic excellence, an active volunteering environme on health, sports, and education. The university's strong community spirit and ongoing pro with my interests. I saw FTVS as a place where I could make a real impact while learning f professionals and fellow volunteers. OUTCOMES What did you learn during your volunteering placement (500–1000 characters): During my time at FTVS, I learned a lot about teamwork, event planning, and intercultural developed better organizational and leadership skills while working on different activitie with students and staff. I also became more adaptable and confident in new situations. The helped me grow both as a volunteer and as a person, teaching me how to work effectively in environment. What did you consider to be the most successful event/activity that you have participated One of the most successful activities I was involved in was the international culture day. together students and volunteers from different backgrounds to share traditions, food, mus I was part of the organizing team, and it was rewarding to see how engaged everyone was. T a sense of community and mutual respect. It also highlighted the diversity and inclusivity made the experience even more memorable. What was the biggest "challenge" you managed to solve during your stay? One of the biggest challenges I faced was adapting to the new environment and communicatin in a language that was not my native one. At first, it was intimidating, especially when c with different departments or presenting ideas. However, with time and support from the te more confidence. I started to find creative ways to express myself and became more proacti initiative. Overcoming this helped me become more resilient and resourceful. FEEDBACK What do you recommend/would like to say to FTVS as an institution? I am truly grateful to FTVS for creating such a welcoming and supportive environment for i volunteers. The institution’s commitment to inclusion and cooperation made a big impact on I recommend continuing to strengthen the visibility of volunteer contributions and offerin opportunities for interaction between students and volunteers. What do you recommend/want to tell FTVS as a team? To the FTVS team—thank you for your support, patience, and encouragement throughout the pr always approachable and open to ideas, which made it easy to feel part of the community. I continuing this hands-on, collaborative approach—it truly empowers volunteers and motivate their best. What do you recommend/want to say to future volunteers? To future volunteers: don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. ask questions, and share your ideas—your voice matters. This experience is what you make o offers a great platform for learning and growing. Enjoy every moment and take time to conn amazing people around you.