The people behind the project

Special

Green Your Mind Project

Afroditi Zafeiraki - 22 years old, Greece

I am a psychology student and I joined for the second year the ECS project in the psychiatric hospital in Thessaloniki. The reason I participated in the project at the beginning was the interest I found in this. I wanted to participate in a project as a local volunteer and I selected the psychiatric hospital because it’s related to my studies as a psychologist. Also, I wanted to join in a summer project as a volunteer to spend quality time while I was on a summer break. Then, I found out that I liked the idea of being a local volunteer, and the next summer I was really excited to join the same project in the psychiatric hospital with different tasks and different people. The gaining of volunteering in this project is huge because not only did I acquire skills that I didn’t expect but also I interact with many people and I listen to their stories, which is very interesting.

Alexandra Kontou - 19 years old, Greece

This volunteering Program was a challenge and a first acquaintance with the concept of voluntary help. I signed up for the program because I would really like to help in my own way people who need help. I also wanted to meet people with different cultures and from all over the world and finally spend part of my summer more creatively. And that’s exactly what it was, a beautiful memory, full of experiences.

Eleftheria Kokkinidou- 21 years old, Greece

The reason I chose to participate in this project was because art, and especially writing, is something that’s very close to me and I enjoy the creative process. Also, it’s really interesting for me how the restrictions and difficulties of various artists made them create such big art pieces we still know and recognize to this day.

Eleftheria Tsirigoti - 31 years old, Greece

I chose to participate in this program because I wanted to experience something new. This is my first-time doing volunteering activities, I am inspired by nature and it is beneficial to my spiritual and mental balance.

Gabriel Emilio Rivera Gallegos- 29 years old, Greece

There were two main reasons for me to join this program. First of all, I thought that it could be very helpful for me to socialize with foreign people. Second, I wanted to gain a brand new experience!

Gianluca Capozzo - 24 years old, Italy

This is my first volunteering experience, and the reason I chose this program was the practical approach of the whole project. The proposal to work in the agricultural unit of a psychiatric hospital turned out to be very interesting from the first moment, and with time passed I can say that it was a very formative and authentic experience.

Isidora Arabatzi - 24 years old, Greece

I’m a volunteer from Greece, currently based in Thessaloniki. I chose to participate in this volunteering project because I found it interesting, and I would gain a lot of experiences while widening my mind and my soul.

Gonçalo Januário - 22 years old, Portugal

I chose to participate in this project because the topic resonated with me on a personal level. I’ve had mental health issues in the past and I also have family members who had the same problems and even dealt with substance abuse. Therefore, I felt like it would be something good for me to be involved in.

Kaiti Leivaditi - 21 years old, Greece

As a student of journalism, I decided to participate in this project for multiple reasons. First of all, I would like to give voice to everyone struggling with their mental health or their addiction, to open up about their life and share their journeys. Also, I would like to contribute to the elimination of stigma and stereotypes around these conditions and show their true side without filters or exaggerations. Another aspect of the program that piqued my interest was the mixing of people of different nationalities and backgrounds.

Nelly Khachatryan - 23 years old, Armenia

Let’s accept that the “home-work-home” routine is kind of boring when you have the opportunity to have the extra cool “home – volunteering – another volunteering – traveling – meeting new people – partying – learning new things – experiencing new emotions – volunteering again – returning to your extra cool home” routine.

I just chose 2nd option, that’s it.

And I found out about the “Green your mind” project. In my country, everyone is escaping from talking about mental health and the socialization of people who have some addictions or mental health problems. This approach is really bad, so I came here to face it, talk about it, help somehow, and green my mind.

Nikolozi Patsulaia - 20 years old, Georgia

The main reason I chose to participate in this program is to help people who had hard times in their lives. Also, I needed to develop myself, get out of my comfort zone, to do something different in my life. This project helped me gain new experiences and connect with new people from all around the world.

Salome Chochua - 23 years old, Georgia

I wanted to gain new experience, break down prejudices and stereotypes among the Europeans and help someone in need.

Syuzanna Grigorian - 26 years old, Armenia

I am doing monitoring in my country at a psychiatric hospital and of course, I was excited when I heard about this program. I could see and experience how hospitals are working in Greece, plus I could be involved somehow in activities.

Also, this is the first time that I am abroad, and it’s a bit challenging for me, to meet new people, new culture, and communicate in English, but I am happy that I come here, out of my comfort zone, and now I can say, that this project becomes my new comfort zone.

Valeria Paluan - 21 years old, Italy

I decided to join the “Green your mind” program because I wanted to be more social and I thought it would be a unique experience to step out of my comfort zone and broaden my horizons.

Vaso Arkoumani - 21 years old, Greece

I participate in this project because I want to offer something during my free time. I have experience as a photographer and as an editor as well, so it seemed like a great chance to learn new things while meeting deadlines and requirements of actual working conditions. Other important factors were the enrichment of my portfolio and my CV.

Venni Metsäranta - 28 years old, Finland

My main reason to come to Thessaloniki to do the volunteering was to connect nature and social work. I feel humbler and more fulfilled when I am able to dedicate my time to a valuable cause. I also wanted to connect with Greek culture and the way of life, which I knew to be different from Finland. I wanted this project to pave the way for better personal development, and bring a small improvement to the society of Thessaloniki.