During my time with Hope For Children, organized by Bridges by Mentors in Nicosia, I
faced challenges that pushed my understanding. The boys, aged 7 to 10, were curious and
smart, but often their attention drifted, and some days tested my patience. Working
closely with the officers, I helped run sessions on communication and emotional skills, but
I also had to face my own limits.
A few session didn’t go as planned. We asked certain questions or for the boys to interact,
many times the room went quiet or even disrupted into chaos. II worried I hadn’t built
enough trust or that they didn’t take me seriously. Still, I didn’t give up. I kept showing up,
listening without pushing, and over time, some started to open up. It wasn’t perfect, but
each small connection gave me a glimpse into their world, a world where they needed
patience, routine, and someone steady, even when things were tough.
Looking back, these moments weren’t huge successes, but they were real and important. I
didn’t solve everything, but I learned to sit with the uncertainty, to adapt, and to trust
that even small steps mattered.
Working in Nicosia didn’t just grow my skills; it helped me stay present, even when things
weren’t perfect. During these weeks, I also got to know the boys more deeply. I learned
about their lives, some came from fragile homes, others from schools that didn’t have
much support. Each day, I saw a bit more of the weight they carried, struggles for a world
so different from my own. This was a real eye-opener. It showed me how many different
struggles people face and how easy it is to assume everyone sees the world the same way.
At the same time, it was also powerful to see how resilient and strong the boys could be.
Watching them play together and simply be kids was both surprising and comforting,
because in the end, they are just children trying to make the best of their situation. I
would strongly recommend this kind of work to anyone thinking about a future in
psychology, education, or just wanting to understand the world better. It was a humbling
lesson in empathy, and it gave me a deeper, more balanced view of a world I had only
partly known before.