Arts Lab 7.0: Anes Taki Eddine Zerrouni | Month II

Hi everyone,

I began my second month in the Arts Lab 7.0 project by working on my personal artwork; a large folkloric Romanian egg sculpture about 40 cm tall. The inspiration came from Romanian traditions, where people give decorated eggs as gifts to friends and family during holidays and special occasions. After that, we attended the Pumpkin Festival in Pașcani, followed by a fun day of activities with local volunteers.

Then we had a full and exciting week of On Arrival Meetings led by Mihaela and Roxana from the National Agency. We learned a lot about our volunteer program, our rights as volunteers, and how to manage daily life here. It was also a great chance to meet other international volunteers living in different Romanian cities. After the training, I took a four day break with some friends and traveled to Constanța, a beautiful city by the Black Sea. The trip was relaxing and refreshing before returning to work.

Once back in Târgu Frumos, I dedicated a lot of time to finishing my sculpture. It was a long process, but completely worth it, the result started to show beautifully. My coordinator, Mihaela, was very happy and surprised by how it turned out. On November 5, we held the long awaited MAF Exhibition, attended by local officials and many guests. We also organized three other exhibitions, one at the House of Culture, another at the Hub, and the last one at the Moldova School, where the students’ joy meant a lot to us.

Later, we had mentoring sessions with Iasmina and Oana, discussing different topics like NGO budgeting and project management, which were very useful. We also met one of the mentors to start our journey with the new JEMOM project. Toward the end of the month, we visited the Jewish cemetery in town, which sadly was in poor condition, covered by plants and neglect. It was a sad but eye opening experience.

This month was full of excitement, pride, and learning. I felt truly happy seeing my artwork come to life after many hours of effort. The exhibitions gave me a deep sense of accomplishment and belonging. Meeting new volunteers and working together helped me feel part of a supportive community. The visit to the Jewish cemetery made me feel emotional and reflective about the importance of remembering and respecting history.

Throughout this month, I learned that creativity is not just about art  it’s also about collaboration, communication, and adaptability. I discovered new ways to manage my time and balance personal projects with team activities. I also realized how art can be a powerful way to express cultural identity and connect people beyond language and background.

In the coming months, I hope to further develop my artistic and organizational skills through the JEMOM project. I want to take part more actively in planning and implementing cultural activities that inspire young people. My goal is to keep growing as both a volunteer and an artist, using creativity to promote understanding, cultural exchange, and positive change within the community.

This monthly report was written by Anes Taki Eddine Zerrouni, our Algerian volunteer taking part in a seven-month Arts Lab 7.0 mobility, co-funded by the European Union under the European Solidarity Corps.