Arts Lab 7.0: Mohamed Eddaif | Month V

This month was full of new people, new challenges, and warm experiences. All of these experiences helped me grow as a person and as a member of the team, from the training we had to the short trips we went on and the special events we planned.

I attended the midterm training that took place in Bucharest. It was a combination of big groups, workshops, and sharing our stories. It was great to meet all the other volunteers working on similar projects as I am. It was great to share our experiences and learn from each other’s stories. It was great to share the methods we use during our activities and to promise to visit each other soon.

Immediately after the training, my team had a short trip to Budapest. We went around the city, visited some galleries and markets, and tried several local dishes. We spent long evenings chatting and laughing around the city. These experiences made my team grow closer to each other and made the streets magical.

This month was special because I had my first experience of fasting during Ramadan outside my home country. Living with people from different backgrounds was another experience that made me grow as a person. It was a challenge to coordinate our daily routines while fasting, but it was a great experience to belong to a community of people who went through the same experience.

During this time, the French Institute came to visit our exhibition. This was a positive experience that recognized our work. This experience opened the door to possible collaborations in the future. This experience also proved that our small exhibitions could be effective in reaching a wider audience.

This month, we held various cultural nights. We began with the Spanish and French cultures. Each evening featured a talk, recipes, music, and casual performances. This experience allowed us to practice our public speaking skills in a casual atmosphere. We gained knowledge about these cultures. This experience also brought the community to our home.

This Month  taught us to be patient.

This monthly report was written by Mohamed Eddaif, our Moroccan volunteer taking part in a six-month Arts Lab 7.0 mobility, co-funded by the European Union under the European Solidarity Corps.