After returning home, I couldn't forget those children, their eyes, their cheerfulness, their happiness, or the family of my sponsored child, with whom we stayed in touch via WhatsApp. As the new year approached, the more I thought about visiting The Gambia again. And when a lioness sets her mind on something, she finds a way to reach her goal. Thus, my second visit happened this April.

Preparations for the visit to the land of smiling people went smoothly, like clockwork. The support from family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and people I socialize with at various events I attend was incredible. I am grateful for all the emotions I experienced through their support, both financial and emotional, reassuring me that I could do it on my own. This time, I travelled alone. Even after a Zoom meeting with other volunteers, I was still the only one set on the date I had chosen. But, as I said, I'm a lioness, and I don't stop before obstacles.

I might also mention that this was only my second trip by plane. The journey went without a hitch, and upon landing at Banjul airport, I wanted to applaud myself and give myself credit. I did it, I can do it! On such an expedition, you discover much more about yourself than you initially think. My intention was to help out at the kindergarten. But looking back today, this expedition helped me on many levels. The first is realizing what I am capable of when I trust myself and allow myself to try. If for no other reason, it was worth it just for this, but no, it was worth it for even more.

As a volunteer, you dedicate your time to other people who are ready to receive it. Volunteer Trails, which has been operating in The Gambia for 12 years, is such an organization. The heart-driven women, Urša and Jasmina, are the driving forces in The Gambia, backed by a team of volunteers in Slovenia who support the volunteers with information during the preparation period. Thank you, team; you can't help but love them.

So, when I arrived at the airport in the middle of the night, Buba, a kind-hearted guy who works for the organisation, was already waiting for me and took me to my accommodation. It felt so familiar, even though it had been a year since my last voluntary work at the kindergarten. Just thinking about the anticipation of going to the kindergarten on Monday to see all those children and especially my sponsored child Modou, gave me butterflies. Yes, I chose a boy, but after last year’s visit, I was charmed by a little girl named Aistou, who was constantly by my side. We sang, danced, and played counting games together. In October, when new children were added online who were enrolled in Nursery 1, I saw her. It was such a strong "call" that I couldn't and didn't want to ignore it. I felt as though I had been chosen by her. And indeed, I was.

So, when I arrived at the kindergarten on Monday, it was an intense experience, full of emotions. This experience was much more than just a visit. The children are incredible. Their big chocolate eyes, runny noses, sticky hands are the most beautiful things you get greeted with in the morning. They are constantly on the move, singing non-stop. And they love taking photos. Have I mentioned those chocolate eyes? And the headmistress, Sohna, is a "multipractical" woman, and I am immensely grateful to her for inviting me into her home, taking time after work to ensure I felt good. And indeed, I did. Sometimes I "caught" myself not even noticing that their skin was a different colour.

Comparing "our" and "their" worlds is pointless since they are entirely different ways of life, not just in material things but also in relationships, the friendliness of people on the streets, in stores, everywhere. They express gratitude daily for what they have. I will never forget the moment when I was with my sponsored child’s family, preparing lunch. Jarju, my sponsored child's mother, took me to a special room where they kept a fridge. Electricity is rare and precious for them; not everyone has it, just as not everyone has water in their yard. The fridge was the centrepiece of this small room. When I saw her grateful eyes as she opened it, I was struck by a completely different feeling. Inside the fridge was just one tomato, one green pepper, and one yellow pepper. My feeling was, "Just this?!" while her expression was, "I have vegetables that we will use for lunch." How often do we open our fridges with such a mindset at home?

It was a heartfelt and profound experience that gave me insight into how important relationships are and how even the smallest actions can make a big difference. I look forward to future meetings and collaborations with the local community in Brufut and the Volunteer Trails. This experience has shown me that people and the relationships we build are the most important things in life.