Introduce yourself in a few words.

My name is Radislav. I am 19 years old. I finished secondary school (lyceum) in Ukraine, with a specialization in mathematics and computer science.

I studied at STEP Computer Academy and Amplify Academy, where I explored web development (WordPress), programming, game development, design and photography. I also worked for 6 months at 4M Studio, where I designed websites.

My hobbies include playing chess, making content for my YouTube channel (with over 78,000 subscribers), and managing Telegram channels. I am also very interested in physics and history.

Have you volunteered before?

This is my first time doing volunteer work. I joined the project through Innovator, where I am currently doing my internship as a backend developer.

What motivated you to apply for this project?

I wanted to join this project to meet new people, adapt to a new environment, work in a real team, and learn soft skills. I also wanted to do something useful and improve my technical abilities for my future career.

Tell us about your experience as a volunteer.

I am working at Innovator as a backend developer. I use PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and MySQL with the Laravel framework. I also actively use AI tools like ChatGPT and others to help me in my work and learning.

During my internship, I learned Git and GitHub, studied Laravel, and completed two training projects: a coworking platform (21 tasks) and a restaurant project (10 tasks).

After that, I joined the main development team as an intern. Now, I fix bugs and add new features to the company’s CRM system, based on tasks assigned by team members. I also wrote technical documentation for the modules and database structure.

I learned that I really enjoy editing code and adding new functionality to web applications. I discovered that I prefer backend development much more than frontend.

Thanks to this experience, I improved my programming skills, teamwork, and communication. I now feel much more confident working in an IT environment.

I also completed a Bulgarian language course, where I practiced speaking with the teacher and volunteers in both Bulgarian and English.

During the internship, I made several new friends and met many international volunteers. Sometimes we visit Halle3 together and play board games. I also took part in group events and excursions, including a trip to Balchik and Cape Kaliakra. I was especially impressed by the beautiful bamboo forest.

What challenges did you face during the project?

One challenge was the language barrier, but the Bulgarian course helped a lot.

Another challenge was working on real company tasks — it was both difficult and interesting. But with practice, support, and the help of AI tools, I improved quickly.

What is your favourite moment of volunteering?

My favorite moment was when I completed my first real backend task and it was accepted into the live CRM project. It gave me confidence and motivation to do more.

What would you say to young people to motivate them to volunteer?

I would say that volunteering is a great way to grow as a person. It helps you learn new things, build your skills, and become more confident. You also meet interesting people and get real experience for your future.

What awaits you after the end of the project?

After the internship, I plan to find a job as a backend developer. I want to continue improving my skills, using modern tools and AI, and building a strong IT career.

Follow our website and our Facebook and Instagram profiles for current opportunities and offers!

The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the content, which reflects the views of the authors alone, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.