ESC volunteers 2023 Barbara and Luka
Welcome Barbara and Luka, our ESC volunteers!
Barbara is from Georgia and loves everything to do with language and art. After adventures in the Czech Republic and Austria, she is now eager to get to know our country too. Luka loves photography, film and games. He even runs his own startup around virtual reality in games and education. They both look forward to meeting our guests in Destelheide and Hanenbos. So feel free to speak to them if you bump into them!
My name is Barbara Pavlenishvili. I am 25 years old. I live in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. I studied international relations as my bachelor and have a degree in IR and English Philology. After 4 years of studies I went to the Czech Republic with AIESEC. I was volunteering in the project called ‘Break Cultural Barriers’ in Prague for six weeks. Later, I received a scholarship from the mayor of Innsbruck in Austria for intensive German courses and had another amazing experience in Tirol for one month.
Right now, I am in Belgium with the European Solidarity Corps project. I enjoy the whole learning process with the whole team, my voluntary partner and with all the artists a lot. It is an unforgettable experience. You can learn a lot by doing different tasks, which is very interesting. It is a great adventure.
Hey there, I'm Luka Trbović - a 19-year-old creative hailing from the vibrant city of Belgrade, Serbia.
I am passionate about photography and film. Besides this, I also make games. Additionally, I have a small Virtual Reality startup that specializes in education and games. There's something about being in nature and outside in general that makes me feel alive and connected to the world around me. And when the day comes to an end, there's nothing I love more than settling in for a long, cozy night and watching the sunset paint the sky with brilliant colors.
After much contemplation, I decided to take a gap year before starting university to travel, explore, create, and give back through volunteer work. I knew it was a risky decision, but my desire to embark on an unknown journey outweighed my fear of the unknown. And now, I find myself at Destelheide in Belgium, where my passions have led me to new creative heights.
This is my first ESC project and I love it so far! The experience and the opportunity of meeting so many inspiring people and being surrounded by the beautiful landscape and architecture of the residence has brought me a sense of peace and quietness that is simply amazing. Moreover, I've fallen in love with Belgium for its openness and diversity, which makes me feel welcomed and appreciated.
Whether I'm making movies, taking photographs, or creating games, I strive to send a message and add meaning to my work that can inspire and motivate others. I believe that movies and games have the power to move people from their seats, and one of my storytelling games, "Alex," won an award for the IEW High School Challenge for raising awareness about the challenges faced by members of the LGBT community.
Personally, I consider empathy to be a crucial ingredient for a successful life. It seems to me that we often neglect the importance of understanding the world around us, and this approach can lead us down a path of negativity and despair. This may sound childish - but lets be more kind and more empathic.
If you're curious to learn more about me and my work, don't hesitate to follow me on Instagram: @luka_trbovic.
