Our volunteer Franziska Schmitz from Germany has successfully completed her 2-month volunteering activity in Sinop within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme.

With the support of her sending organisation, Kreisjugendwerk der AWO Karlsruhe-Stadt, Franziska actively contributed to a wide range of activities aimed at improving the living conditions of stray animals. Throughout her volunteering experience, she supported the care of animals in the shelter, villages, and protected living areas by helping provide food, fresh water, medication, and general care.

She also participated in sterilization programmes, contributing to the humane and sustainable management of the stray animal population. In addition, she assisted with transporting animals to veterinary clinics and helped organize and coordinate clinic visits whenever medical treatment was needed. At the shelter, she supported the veterinary team during procedures such as sterilizations and eye surgeries, contributing to the animals’ health and well-being.

For Franziska, this experience was about much more than helping animals. Living in a foreign country, adapting to a new culture, overcoming language barriers, and coping with moments of homesickness helped her develop valuable life skills. Throughout the project, she strengthened her sense of responsibility, patience, and empathy, while also improving her teamwork and communication skills.

As she reflected on her experience: “I learned that I cannot save every single animal, but seeing how much difference our work makes in the lives of so many animals gave me strength and motivation.”

We would like to thank Franziska for her dedication, compassion, and hard work in supporting our furry friends. We wish her all the best in her future journey and hope the memories she made in Sinop will stay with her for many years to come.

#EuropeanSolidarityCorps #ESC #Volunteering #Solidarity #AnimalWelfare #Sinop #Youth #InternationalVolunteering #EPEKA #EuropeanUnion