Every year, thousands of international students travel to other countries trying to achieve their dreams and make the best out of their lives. Once they arrive, they are suddenly faced with a whole different culture, new people, unknown languages and sometimes even a sky that looks different! Doubts and fears slowly seep into their hearts, and suddenly, their goals seem unreachable. This is when you, me and fellow ESNers all around the world step in and, as heroes do, save the day.
The Erasmus Student Network has been operating for many years, with new sections joining our big family annually. The true superpower behind ESN is the motivation of every volunteer who works to make the motto ‘Students Helping Students’ a reality. Whether international students arrive feeling confident or scared, alone or with friends, they all face the same challenges while adapting to a new environment. And how wonderful it is when someone welcomes you into a new culture, organises fun activities, helps you meet others, listens to your worries, guides you through the hardest tasks and makes sure you never feel alone.
Your Impact as a Volunteer Is Bigger Than You Think
If you ask international students about their best Erasmus memories, many may say that, beyond the great adventures, it was the ESN volunteers who made their experience unforgettable. And who are these people? You. You were part of their story, perhaps without even realising it.
Like many new ESN volunteers, I began my role simply thinking it would be a fun new experience. I never considered how much my actions could impact others. Volunteers, new or experienced, often don’t realise how a welcome party helps shy students make their first friends, how a city tour helps them adjust to a new environment, or how one message from a buddy can chase away doubts and loneliness. Becoming aware of your impact not only boosts your motivation after a long day, but it also guides your volunteering journey and inspires you to support even more people.
Growth Through Volunteering
While helping others, you also help yourself. Every role you take in ESN and every task you face reveals new strengths and shows you a different version of who you can become. When I joined the Communication Team in ESN Georgia, I never saw myself as a leader or someone resilient enough to handle stressful situations. But through learning from others, organising events, and being inspired by exchange students, I grew. Within a year, I became a Communication Manager who is ready to bring even bigger change.
Many volunteers share a similar journey. They are all learning to work under pressure, manage events, build teamwork, solve unexpected problems, promote inclusivity and create safe spaces for people from all around the world. Think about your own experience, and be proud of how far you’ve come through volunteering. These may seem like ordinary moments in the life of an exchange student or an ESN volunteer, but if you pause and reflect, you’ll see that it is actually an extraordinary life. While supporting one another, we grow from strangers into friends, from beginner volunteers into board members, and sometimes even more.
Why Volunteering in ESN Matters
Many doubt their abilities or place, thinking their contributions are too small or that someone else could easily replace them. But imagine if we all chose not to volunteer. Who would welcome exchange students with a warm smile? Who would guide them through a new culture with patience? Who would make them feel seen and supported? You, the student full of enthusiasm and kindness, are one of a kind. You cannot be replaced. It is your time, your energy and your love that make ESN what it is today.
Students helping students means building the world we want to live in. We create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive world. ESN teaches us that people from diverse backgrounds can connect and grow together to achieve one mission — supporting one another. No role is too small, and no action is insignificant in achieving this goal. So keep connecting with others, organising events, leading workshops, sharing mobility opportunities, bridging cultures and inspiring the next generation of students. If not you and me, then who?
That is what ESN truly means.
