My journey with Erasmus+ trainings and programs began quite a long time ago, but in the spring of 2025, I experienced something completely new for the first time - becoming a European Solidarity Corps volunteer.

Together with my partner, I spent a month in Greece, in one of the tiniest villages imaginable. Whenever I told people I was volunteering in Greece, they pictured sunny beaches, endless summer, and cocktails by the sea. The reality, however, was very different - and even more magical.

We lived in the mountains, in a small village near the largest lake in Greece. Our days were filled with meaningful work: tending the organization’s garden, learning from locals, and building genuine connections within the community. Living so close to nature taught us how to slow down, observe, and be more mindful of our surroundings - from how food is grown to how resources are shared and reused. Instead of cocktails, we enjoyed homemade goat-milk ice cream, and instead of tourist attractions, we experienced real village life. We also helped local families with small tasks around their homesteads and built garden boxes for a kindergarten in a nearby town.

Sustainability was not just a topic we discussed - it was something we practiced every day. Through simple routines like composting, working with local materials, and respecting the natural rhythm of the land, we learned how small, conscious choices can have a meaningful impact. These experiences taught us a lot about responsibility toward a community and the environment, no matter how small or remote it may be.

Without our host organisation, we would never have discovered the true Greek countryside or felt such a strong sense of belonging. We didn’t just visit a place - we became part of it. Challenges were met with smiles and quickly turned into lessons that we still reflect on and share with each other today.

At times, we even wondered whether we were “too old” for this experience (we were 27!), but it quickly became clear that age didn’t matter at all. In fact, the skills we had gained through previous experiences allowed us to contribute more meaningfully, while also learning deeply about sustainability, community engagement, and building friendships with people from completely different realities.

I am incredibly grateful for this experience and would gladly repeat it. Volunteering gives and teaches so much that it’s hard to put into words. In such a short time, I felt myself learn, grow, and reconnect with nature, community, and what truly matters.

Updated on Thursday, 08/01/2026

I’d always been interested in human topics and perspectives, and also in helping others, thats why I studied psychology.

I made a gap in Canary Islands year during my bachelor and that changed my live and perspective. After that I discovered that what I want to learn from people is not only in the books.

I want to make connections, discover world through the people living there. 

Thats why, after finishing my bachelor, I decided to unite my passion about human learning and my desire of help by volunteering here in Lithuania.

Now I´m in Lithuania for 4 months and I can say that volunteering is a whole experience that challenge you in ways you was not even expecting: you can doubt about your purpose, about your path and, sometimes, even about yourself. 

But that is the most interesting part of this trip. Through volunteering you don’t only get into know others, you get into know yourself. 

Of course you can do this in so many ways, this is not the only option. But, volunteering abroad push you to do that. Going out of your country, your social net and your regular rhythms push you to rethink about what you are doing, what you are thinking and, in the end, push you to meet with a deeper version of yourself.

Updated on Tuesday, 23/12/2025

This year, I took part in an Erasmus+ youth exchange in Tallinn, Estonia. The project brought together young people from different countries, creating a diverse and supportive environment for learning and collaboration. Taking part in this exchange helped me build more self-confidence and step outside my comfort zone.

Throughout the exchange, I had the chance to meet many new people and make friends from different cultural backgrounds. By working and living together, we shared experiences, ideas, and perspectives, which helped me better understand other cultures and ways of thinking.

The project activities were based on creativity, teamwork, and active participation. We took part in workshops, group work, and creative tasks that allowed everyone to use their skills and express themselves. These creative processes were reflected in the final outcomes of the project, which showed the effort and cooperation of the whole group.

Overall, the Erasmus+ youth exchange was a meaningful experience that contributed to my personal growth, improved my communication skills, and motivated me to take part in similar international projects in the future.

Updated on Tuesday, 23/12/2025

My name is Maksim, and I’m from Visaginas, Lithuania. Throughout my life, I’ve had the privilege of participating in numerous Erasmus+ youth exchanges, which opened the door for me to travel across Europe, to countries like France, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, and beyond. These experiences did more than show me new places; they introduced me to diverse cultures and helped me develop skills that have become essential in both my personal and professional life.

However, what truly shaped who I am today, and ignited my passion for activism, were Erasmus+ youth participation projects. As a member of the youth council in my hometown, we often struggled to turn ideas into action due to a lack of resources. Even organizing the smallest initiative felt like an uphill battle.

Everything changed when we secured funding for a youth participation project. Over the course of a year, our youth council was able to significantly strengthen youth advocacy in Visaginas. We organized a youth empowerment conference, held meetings with local officials, conducted youth-needs research within the municipality, and even hosted a symbolic sleepover inside the local municipality building.

All of these initiatives became possible thanks to the Erasmus+ program, not only by providing financial support, but by giving young people the tools, confidence, and legitimacy to actively shape their communities.

Updated on Tuesday, 23/12/2025

My name is Kamėja Lukoševičiūtė. I’m from Vilnius, Lithuania, but at the moment my life is split between studying, working, and living in Amsterdam. Last summer, however, my centre of gravity shifted completely. I packed my backpack, boarded a series of trains and planes, and began what became one of the most defining journeys of my life.

I didn’t travel alone. I went with a friend I’ve known since middle school, and together we won DiscoverEU tickets, an opportunity that still feels a bit unreal. The pass meant that most of our travel costs were already covered, and if you’re quick and clever with your itinerary, DiscoverEU even includes flights to island countries. For two students on a budget, that kind of freedom is priceless.

Portugal was an obvious starting point. We wanted to begin as far from Lithuania as possible, and I already had a strong connection to the country from a previous visit. I had unfinished business with Portugal - memories to revisit, places to explore, and a quiet thought that I might live there one day. Knowing that Festas dos Santos Populares takes place in June only confirmed the decision.

Before arriving, I associated Portugal with surfer culture, pastel de nata, bacalhau, and festivals. Once there, those ideas gained depth and texture. We visited Porto, Lisbon, Faro, Vilamoura, and several towns in the Algarve region. To our surprise, Porto became my favourite. What was meant to be a one-night stop turned into a longer stay, as we shortened our time in Lisbon instead.

Porto felt calm and intimate - a city I imagine as an old man enjoying a slow life. Lisbon, in contrast, felt like an artistic girl in her twenties, loud, energetic, and curious. I loved both, but in very different ways.

Starting our Interrail journey in Portugal came with challenges. Seat reservations couldn’t be made online, meaning we often had to take our chances at train stations. While reservations were cheap, usually around 5€, this wasn’t the case elsewhere in Europe, where they could cost much more. It taught us flexibility early on.

Portugal proved to be a great starting point, although distances were long. We chose to fly from Faro to Madrid to save time, and mixing trains with flights made the journey more realistic and affordable.

The main Interrail lasted three weeks, covering Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, France, Switzerland, and Italy. After returning to Lithuania for my graduation, I used my last DiscoverEU day to travel with my mom through Bratislava, Vienna, and Budapest, followed later by another short family trip.

This journey changed me. It became my Roman Empire - a summer of constant movement, new people, and unforgettable cities that I still carry with me.

My advice to future Interrailers is simple: plan ahead. Preparation takes time, but it’s also part of the journey. Researching routes, finding hidden gems, and imagining future experiences makes the adventure start long before the first train departs.

Updated on Tuesday, 23/12/2025

Hi, my name is Victoria. I am 20 years old and currently taking a gap year.

During my first gap year, I worked as a volunteer through the ESC programme for a full year. I joined five different projects in four different countries, and it truly became the best year of my life.

I was inspired to do this by a close friend who had completed a similar project the year before me. He spent 10 months in Spain, but I wanted something different. I wanted to see more of the world, experience a variety of cultures, and try different types of projects. Because of that, most of my projects were short-term, except one that lasted four months.

I first left home with the idea that I wanted to work with animals. So I went to Slovenia for two and a half months to work with horses. I loved this experience so much that, when I returned home, I realised I still wasn’t done. I then travelled to Bulgaria for four months to work with event organisation for local young people. After that, I spent one month in France working at a castle with construction and archaeology. From May to June, I worked with the Ljubljana Pride Festival, and my final project was in Croatia over the summer, where I worked at a summer school for children.

It is actually very difficult to describe briefly what these projects gave me, both personally and professionally. I was able to experience other cultures and gain a much broader understanding of life outside my own bubble, which was both amazing and educational. It was also a huge step outside my comfort zone. I had to communicate in English every day, and often with body language, because not everyone speaks the language. It showed me how much communication is possible despite language barriers, and it opened many doors for me.

I also had to learn how to live and work with people from all over Europe, with different backgrounds and personalities. This gave me the chance to try so many things I never even knew existed: from new hobbies and languages to food, traditions and ways of travelling.

In my free time, I did all sorts of activities with the friends I met through the projects. In Bulgaria we were very active – we trained together, went running, and did other sports. In Croatia, we became obsessed with café trips and playing card games. And in France, I learned a huge variety of card and board games.

For me, this was the best year of my life, and I strongly encourage my friends and everyone I meet to do the same. You gain so much personal growth, you meet wonderful people who share your interests from all over the world, and you get an unforgettable experience overall. It can be scary to leave, but once you take the step, you will not regret it – I can guarantee that.

As I am writing this, I am actually on my way to Poland to meet some friends I met during my project in Croatia five months ago. They now hold a very special place in my heart, and I am incredibly excited to see them again.

— Victoria

Updated on Thursday, 18/12/2025

My journey with Erasmus began almost six years ago when I participated in a youth exchange in France. After that first project, I took a brief break but later found another youth exchange thanks to a friend, this time in Hungary. Clearly, I enjoyed it, because over the next two years, I joined four projects with the same organization—two youth exchanges and two training courses. During this time, I also learned about the European Solidarity Corps and the incredible opportunities it offers, which I hadn’t known about before. I had the chance to meet several volunteers and hear their inspiring stories.

That’s when the idea of volunteering started to take root. It wasn’t an easy decision, though, it took me a couple of years to finally commit. The thought of leaving my home, family, and friends for a whole year was daunting, but I knew that I would exchange it for an amazing and once in a lifetime experience. 

I eventually chose to do long-term volunteering with Európa Ifjúsága Egyesület in Hungary. Now, more than five months into the program, I couldn’t be happier. The organization hosts nine volunteers each year, divided into three groups, so we get to do a lot of activities together, whether it's visiting schools to share our experiences, doing team-building activities or traveling to exciting new places in Hungary and abroad.

I mostly work with two other volunteers. Our main tasks include running a weekly English club for local primary school students, engaging with young people, and organizing events like Halloween parties and game nights at the youth house. We also share our cultures and promote Erasmus+ and ESC opportunities to high school students.

There have certainly been ups and downs throughout my volunteering journey, but the positive experiences far outweigh the challenges. I’ve met so many amazing people, made valuable connections, and had unforgettable experiences. Every day is a new adventure, and I’ve learned that stepping outside your comfort zone is where growth happens. Taking risks, embracing change, and pursuing opportunities, no matter how daunting they may seem, can lead to transformative experiences that shape who you are. I’m excited to see what the rest of my time here will bring, and I hope it inspires others to follow their passions and create their own life-changing stories.

Updated on Wednesday, 17/12/2025

I spent 5 months in Thessaloniki, Greece, with the support of the Youth for Participation Association, and you can read about my experiences below.

What made the experience truly special was the people. I had the chance to work with volunteers from all over Europe, each bringing their unique perspectives and energy. Together, we worked on projects that mattered, learned from one another, and formed friendships that I know will last long after the project ended. It was amazing to see how people from different backgrounds could unite for a common purpose.

Of course, living in a new country came with its share of culture shocks. One of the first things I noticed was the relaxed approach to time. At first, it was frustrating when things didn’t go according to schedule, but I gradually learned to embrace this slower pace of life. It taught me to be patient, to live in the moment, and to appreciate the journey rather than rushing to the destination. Another surprise was the incredible hospitality. Locals would often invite us for meals, sharing delicious homemade dishes. These moments of connection and conversations made me feel at home, even though I was far from it. 

Beyond the cultural differences, this experience pushed me to become more adaptable and open-minded. Working on community projects wasn’t always easy—there were challenges to overcome, from language barriers to unexpected changes—but these obstacles only made the experience more rewarding. I learned resilience, teamwork, and how to find creative solutions.

For anyone considering volunteering abroad, I wholeheartedly encourage you to go for it. Greece offers more than just stunning scenery and delicious cuisine, it offers an opportunity to grow, connect, and contribute. Volunteering through ESC will not only allow you to make a difference but also to discover new sides of yourself. It’s a chance to step out of your comfort zone, gain new perspectives, and create unforgettable memories.

Updated on Wednesday, 17/12/2025

When I was in secondary school, I heard a lot of people talk about Interrailing the summer after graduation. But at the time, I was saving up for a work and travel trip to New Zealand, so I couldn’t do that as well. A friend of mine was lucky enough to win the DiscoverEU Pass, which you can apply for when you turn 18. When I asked her about her experience, these were the memories she shared:

“When I won the DiscoverEU Pass I was super shocked and surprised, because that year so many of my friends who went into the competition also won. So, I was thinking that statistically I wouldn’t win, but in the end I did. I went from Nancy to Lisbon, passing through Paris and the north of Spain. I also went to the south of France after and then I came back up to Nancy. I actually travelled on my own because I was meeting my family in the south of France, and a friend to go to Nice and Marseille. So technically I was travelling alone, but I remember when I arrived in Lisbon I met these other girls who had won the ticket, so we spent a few days together. We did walking tours and we went out, so it was super fun.”

Like my friend, many young people make wonderful memories, have great first-time experiences and meet amazing people along the way.
As for me, I thought my chances to go Interrailing had passed, because it seemed to be a trip people only did right out of secondary school. But luckily I learned that I was wrong. So, during my winter break in my second year of college, I decided to take the month to do Interrail. It was chaotic and didn’t turn out the way I had planned, but it was an exciting experience overall.

Instead of my planned route to travel from Germany to Hungary, I spent some time in Austria and made a trip to Poland, because the friend I had planned to see in Hungary got Covid. It was January 2022, when Covid was still a thing and FFP2 masks were your companion. This was my first trip around Europe, and I have since gone twice more. Each time, I have used the Interrail pass to visit friends and family in different cities and was fortunate enough to save a lot of money on accommodation. I have come to appreciate the Interrail pass as the perfect way to travel flexibly, on a low budget, and with the chance to visit friends across Europe.

A lot of people have the illusion that the Interrail pass is only for young people or people who are European. But that isn’t the case. As long as you live in Europe, you can get as many Interrail passes as you want. And if you’re lucky, you can find really good deals and save even more money. If you think about it, you can see three countries in one day if you wish or go for a coffee across the border. I once took the train from Copenhagen to Malmo to spend an afternoon in Sweden, only to then take the night train the same day to travel to the Netherlands. You can even get a special Interrail pass to travel to your Erasmus destination or for your trip to your European Solidarity Corps project. Interrail offers endless possibilities.
And if you miss a connection, you just wait for the next one.

Updated on Thursday, 18/12/2025

I am co-founder of the Dutch Sikh Association, which was created to contribute to society, inspired by the core values of the Sikh faith. We wanted to create a platform where we could both express our identity and offer practical help to others. Through the foundation, I set up a Solidarity Project with four other young people, in which we cook weekly meals for homeless people in The Hague. We do with young people from different backgrounds.

My inspiration for setting up this project comes from the concept of “langar” within the Sikh faith: the tradition of offering free meals to everyone, regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status or ethnicity, in the communal kitchen of a place of worship. This really ensures equality. The first Guru of the Sikh faith said that we should always think of others. In the Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple in India, hundreds of thousands of meals are prepared every day, 24/7, by volunteers. We want to implement that concept here in our own way.

The grant from the European Solidarity Corps gave us the resources to further professionalize our volunteer work. We had previously provided meals to homeless people, but now we were able to work structurally and with a permanent team. This has increased our impact. We also received excellent guidance from the organisation. 

The Solidarity Project not only helps the homeless, it is also a valuable experience for young people. They see that their time can be put to good use when they help others, and that is rewarding.

Would I recommend others to start a Solidarity Project? Absolutely! Money is not the most important thing, but it does make life easier. With this grant you have the opportunity to make more of an impact.

Updated on Monday, 15/12/2025