There is something incredible about keeping in touch with people that we meet for very short
periods of time, like a vacation, a seminar, a ride on the train or even… a ESC Mid-Term
Training!

I had the luck of meeting a lot of wonderful people during my hiking training in Kozina, but I
particularly connected with a fellow volunteer who happens to work at a Youth Center that
has a stable!

Meet Airi, a 21 years old girl from Estonia, who dedicates her life to work with horses.

My love and interest for those wonderful animals has exploded this year, so my curiosity was
piqued. She also had more to show me about her own experience there and wanted me to
meet some very particular people who, she said, I resembled a lot.
Little did I know they will feel like long lost brothers to me, and I, to them.

So we agreed to keep in touch and organize my visit in the far east end of the chicken (in a
small town called Sveti Tomaž).

Last week I had the opportunity to, also thanks to the efforts of both Center’s coordinators!
(Thank you for making it possible). While I was there I slept in a barn, on a hammock,
guarded by two very caring shepherd dogs and I found it to be among the best sleep I have
had. (How cool!!!)

I helped with the horses while I was there, I was given the chance to cook for Airi and the
family, walk the horses through the forest, all while having very meaningful conversations
that managed to answer some questions I have been carrying with me for a while.

Words can do little to describe how intense and good it felt to experience. It is definitely
something I am willing to do again, even outside of the ESC program.

So i strongly recommend it, whenever you have the opportunity to visit and experience
something new that seems interesting, never shy away from it!! :D

– Ivan Nikolov.

ESC prostovoljec