Even being a foreigner, I feel very well integrated as part of the community.

Since I began to volunteer for unidos.eu, I have been able to take part in events that have enabled me to bring young people closer to European affairs.

For example, I had the opportunity to organize a workshop with the unidos.eu community and the European youth organization One Hour For Europe, which I am a member of, and which also enables me to update young people on the EU’s goals and interests, traineeship options at the institutions, and so on. 

My belonging to the unidos.eu community also gave me the opportunity to come into even closer contact with European Parliament officials, for example, at a meeting held at the European Parliament office in Portugal, with other young Portuguese activists and unidos.eu volunteers, with Jaume Duch, and to share my opinion on what can be done to motivate young people to take part in European elections and how we can foster a feeling of Europeanness among young people.

By volunteering for unidos.eu, I have been able to engage with values I identify with, and to contribute through volunteer work. I have also been able to hold workshops, take part in fairs – to share information about who we are and what we do with other young people – and share my ideas with people with the power to influence how the European Parliament operates. Even though I am an outsider, being part of the community makes me feel really well integrated.

By volunteering for unidos.eu, I have been able to engage with values I identify with, and to contribute through volunteer work.

Mariana, Portugal