Hi, I’m Ivan Zahorin and, at 19 years old, I am the youngest among the ESC volunteers at Sunce. I come from Ukraine, specifically from Chornomorsk. I am a law student and I enjoy it. My favorite hobbies are sports and similar activities, especially judo. I am really outgoing and I love participating in activities for community improvement, volunteering, ecology, and so on. ESC volunteering is a new experience for me, although I have had the opportunity to visit Turkey and Romania through other European mobility projects. I remember looking forward to the start of the ESC project, staying in Split, and volunteering at Sunce for months, and now I can say it was for a good reason.
Why did you choose Split and Sunce?
Croatia has always seemed to me like a beautiful country with relaxed residents and an exceptional quality of life, especially Split. Split is beautiful, full of interesting people, and the culture is something really special. Sunce is an exceptional opportunity for me, and through my work, I can and want to contribute to the rise of quality of the city and create new contacts. The atmosphere at Sunce is very pleasant, colleagues are friendly and cheerful, and the activities are great. My favorite regular activity is the Swap Fair.
Hobbies and free time in Split
I am extremely interested in photography because Split and Dalmatia are wonderful opportunity for perfecting this craft. Natural beauties (e.g., Vranjača cave) and the city’s architecture with its monuments (e.g., the old town center) are, you’ll agree, the best motivation and incentive for quality photography. However, since childhood, my number one activity has been judo. I even found a club in Split, but unfortunately, due to a sports injury, I am not practicing it as much now, so I spend my time discovering Dalmatia and its beauties.
Gastronomy: Ukraine vs. Croatia
I was raised on Ukrainian food and nothing in Croatia can compare to my mother’s boršč – the perfect and amazing traditional Ukrainian thick soup. Although not a Ukrainian dish, my grandmother’s apple strudel always makes me especially happy, and I have to admit I miss that too. As for Croatia, although it’s not a Croatian specialty, I have grown to love burek. It’s simply everything I need – extremely tasty, and it gives me the energy and strength for a quality and productive part of the day.
Split as a long-term solution
I really liked Split and I can imagine it as my new home. This is a year of discovery and exploration; I need to discover my chances, opportunities, and potentials, but my wish is to stay in Split even after the ESC project. I would like to end the interview with this invitation:
You must come to Split, one of the most beautiful cities I have visited. It’s truly a great experience. Try volunteering at Sunce, where you will quickly develop the right values and ideas important for the future.
The project “Solidarity for Green Dalmatia 2023” is funded by the European Union through the European Solidarity Corps program. Learn more about the European Solidarity Corps program here.
