There are moments in life when you feel lost. Especially when you are young. The path ahead of you seems already decided, and you’ll never really know why. There is always a “next step” already established, one that you are expected to move towards. Graduate, find a good job, become independent. What no one tells you is how difficult it can be to follow this path and find your place in this succession of stages that seems to be made for everyone except you. 

And that is how I ended up getting lost along the way. I felt like I didn’t fit in. But at the same time I didn’t know where I wanted to go next. I was about to graduate with a Master’s degree in International Relations and clearly, and I’m sure many of my peers will recognise themselves in this frustrating experience, I couldn’t find a job. I was spending my days sending dozens of CVs that disappeared into a dark void, never to receive a response. 

That was when I realised that perhaps I was looking in the wrong place, a place that simply wasn’t meant for me, and the European Solidarity Corps programme became part of my journey. A journey that was beginning to take me somewhere different, and it felt really frightening. But in the end, I told myself: why be afraid of changing direction where you are already lost? 

There are moments in life when you make a decision almost by chance, pushed by circumstances, without giving it much thought, and it ends up becoming something much bigger than words can explain. Especially when you are young. That is how my ESC project began, and how it became something much bigger than I had imagined. 

One day at the end of January, I was on a plane heading to Santander, with my 20 kg suitcase. What I didn’t know was that this journey would take me to a place full of people who, with great patience, would teach me that sometimes, when you feel lost, you simply need to learn to look at things differently. I wasn’t lost. The path ahead of me just wasn’t mine. 

I learned many things during these seven months. Among them, how EU-funded projects work, what non-formal education is, and that there are people, the youth workers, who work every day to support young people who, like me, feel lost, helping them to find their voice. I lived in a wonderful city, sharing a flat with volunteers from different countries. I learned a lot about their cultures, and I started to see my own in a different way. I cried, I laughed, I went hiking and I swam, so, so many times, in the ocean. But, most of all, I learned that our journey is not divided into predetermined stages. It is divided into small steps. And every step matters. Every step needs its own time. 

There are moments in life when you need to feel part of something bigger. Especially when you are young. The ESC is such a special programme because it offers you exactly that: the opportunity to be yourself while committing to something that truly matters to you. Something bigger than you and me. To play your own small part to building a better future. Your future. 

The biggest mistake I made when I felt lost was thinking that the solution would be to go somewhere that could give me all the answers. The ESC taught me that, in order to find your path, what you really need is to keep asking yourself new questions.

Updated on Monday, 31/08/2026

Through the WELLme Transnational Experiential Training of Trainers, I had the opportunity to meet participants from different countries, exchange experiences, and share knowledge on youth training and education. 

Spending three days with people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds gave me a broader perspective on how youth work and educational practices are approached across Europe. It also highlighted how many of the challenges, aspirations, and dreams of young people are shared, regardless of their country or background. 

The experience reinforced the value of collaboration, intercultural learning, and knowledge sharing. As educators and trainers, we have the privilege and responsibility to inspire others, and this programme introduced me to new ideas, methodologies, and practical techniques that will help me become a more effective facilitator and enhance my future training sessions.

Updated on Tuesday, 25/08/2026

Through the WELLme Transnational Experiential Training of Trainers, I had the opportunity to meet participants from different countries, exchange experiences, and share knowledge on youth training and education. 

Spending three days with people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds gave me a broader perspective on how youth work and educational practices are approached across Europe. It also highlighted how many of the challenges, aspirations, and dreams of young people are shared, regardless of their country or background. 

The experience reinforced the value of collaboration, intercultural learning, and knowledge sharing. As educators and trainers, we have the privilege and responsibility to inspire others, and this programme introduced me to new ideas, methodologies, and practical techniques that will help me become a more effective facilitator and enhance my future training sessions.

Updated on Tuesday, 25/08/2026

Taking part in an Erasmus+ program for people working with young people was a first for me, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Before applying, I wondered whether it would be worth it and if the experience would truly make a difference. Looking back, I can confidently say that it exceeded my expectations. My Erasmus+ experience in Warsaw was both enriching and inspiring. It helped me grow professionally by gaining new knowledge, exchanging ideas and good practices, and developing new skills. On a personal level, I met amazing people from different countries, discovered new cultures, and created memories that will stay with me for a lifetime. Erasmus+ is much more than a training program. It's an opportunity to learn, grow, and see the world from a different perspective. If you're thinking about taking part, don't hesitate. Step out of your comfort zone and embrace the experience. It might just be one of the best decisions you ever make.

Updated on Tuesday, 25/08/2026

Participating in the training course in Warsaw, as part of the WELLME project, was a unique experience of both personal and professional growth. During the two-day training, I had the opportunity, together with 17 other youth trainers from different countries, to acquire practical skills and tools based on the five dimensions of wellbeing: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual wellbeing. 

Through hands-on workshops, we tested wellbeing activities that we will later implement in our local communities. Beyond the knowledge I gained, the programme gave me the opportunity to meet people from different cultural backgrounds, build international friendships, and exchange ideas and experiences that helped me see the world from a new perspective.

What I value most from my experience in Warsaw is the realization that true growth begins when you dare to step outside your comfort zone. Every new experience, every journey, and every collaboration is an opportunity to discover new possibilities and develop both personally and professionally. 

I would encourage every young person to take advantage of the European opportunities available to them. Participating in such programmes is not only about education and acquiring new skills. It is also about meeting people from all over Europe and creating relationships and experiences that can have a meaningful impact on your future. Sometimes, all it takes is taking the very first step.

Updated on Tuesday, 25/08/2026

This year, I had the opportunity to take part in an Erasmus+ project called Back to Basics in the Netherlands. The project took place in the small and beautiful village of Orvelte from 29 July to 14 August. It was a great experience because I had the chance to meet new people, try new things, and experience a different way of life. During the project, we took part in many activities that challenged us and encouraged us to work together. Most importantly, we had the chance to take a break from everyday life and from the constant need to use our phones and other electronic devices. It was refreshing to talk to people face to face, enjoy nature, and simply be present in the moment. 

One of the best parts of the exchange was spending time with people from different countries. We shared our traditions, music, food, and stories. Even though we came from different backgrounds, we quickly became friends and learned how to work together as a team. Towards the end of the project, we spent four days camping in international groups without phones or money, so we really had to rely on one another. We had to find solutions to different challenges, support each other, and work together as a group. At the end of the challenge, we paddled all the way back to Orvelte by canoe. It was tiring, but also one of the most fun and memorable parts of the whole experience. 

This Erasmus+ experience taught me that sometimes we need to step away from our usual routines and learn how to enjoy the simple things in life. I will always remember the people I met, the friendships I made, and the memories we created together in the Netherlands.

Updated on Tuesday, 18/08/2026

I went on exchange as part of my degree. That may sound like a relatively ordinary achievement, but for me, it was a huge hurdle to overcome.

In 2021, I fell while roller-skating and hit the back of my head hard against the paving stones beneath me. I sustained a concussion and whiplash. I had to take a year off from my studies, and I still struggle with long-term symptoms every day, including post-traumatic headaches and migraines. My day-to-day life as a student of Danish at the University of Copenhagen is carefully structured around these symptoms: lots of short breaks throughout the day, physical rehabilitation, and a ruthless weighing-up of how much of a social life I can afford to have.

That was why the prospect of going on exchange seemed like an insurmountable mountain. My everyday life already felt like a fragile house of cards, and I was afraid that if I tried to transport it beyond Denmark’s borders, the whole thing would come crashing down.

More specifically, I was worried that being taught in English would be cognitively challenging, and I was nervous about having to explain my low energy levels to a whole host of new people. Would I have enough energy to form friendships while simultaneously navigating an entirely new city and living situation?

When you acquire a disability, you experience your old self crumbling between your hands. Many of the activities I used to enjoy and identify with are no longer things I can take part in. Simply not being in control of how you spend your time, because a migraine attack can strike without warning, leads to a loss of personal agency. I had always wanted to go on exchange, preferably to Paris. Did I really have to give up yet another of my many dreams?

As the application deadline for exchange programmes began to approach, I therefore went to my SPS adviser — SPS being the Danish system for Special Educational Support — with my dilemma.

In Socratic fashion, she asked me why I wanted to go on exchange. It annoyed me. Because why does anyone want to go on exchange in the first place? Surely the answer is: well, why not? You do not go on exchange with a specific purpose in mind; it is precisely the uncertainty of the experience that makes it appealing. Whether you have a disability or not, going on exchange is both expensive and a hassle. And yet thousands of University of Copenhagen students go abroad every year because, why not?

Her question made me feel as though having a disability meant I ought to have a compelling argument for applying. A good reason or a purpose that could justify taking on the additional stress an exchange semester would inevitably involve.

But even though I have a disability, I want to live a life driven by desire and dreams. So I decided to give it a try.

As the saying goes, if you have to eat an elephant, you do it one bite at a time. So I took matters into my own hands and got started.

My strategy had two parts. First, I made an agreement with myself that I was allowed to back out at any point. Going abroad and completing the semester would not be the measure of success. The attempt itself was the goal. Second, I would make the whole process as easy as possible for myself.

I chose my destination carefully. I was determined to choose an EU country because that would automatically make me eligible for an Erasmus grant. No stress of applying to foundations for funding. Students with disabilities are also eligible for a Fewer Opportunities top-up. Having more money at my disposal would make the whole experience considerably easier.

I had to let go of my dream of Paris. It would simply have been too challenging, as teaching at the host university would primarily have been in the national language.

The same applied to countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy. At Dutch universities, I could see that many courses were taught in English, but warnings about Amsterdam’s housing crisis put me off.

I decided instead to take a closer look at Eastern European countries, where the cost of living is also lower than at home. And so I settled on Charles University in Prague.

Since I had never been to Prague before, I went there for a long weekend to get a feel for the city. Knowing the place a little before putting so much effort into moving there gave me a sense of calm. It made what I was working towards feel more tangible.

As I write this, I have just completed my semester in Prague.

At first, learning how to navigate the host university’s systems was stressful. Then there were all the rules surrounding credit transfers when studying abroad. A truly Kafkaesque experience — and in Prague, of all places!

It took extra energy to form new friendships with the other Erasmus students, but I rose to the challenge and discovered that although the others could go out drinking beer several nights in a row and still have the energy for weekend trips to other cities, we nevertheless shared some of the same worries — albeit to different degrees.

I can now conclude that feelings of inadequacy and the fear of doing exchange “wrong” are rife among all Erasmus students. It is like a revival of that adolescent form of FOMO. A new city lies open before you, and suddenly you have to do Everything.

But nobody can do Everything, and because of my long-term symptoms, I was nowhere near able to do everything I would have liked. But those of us with disabilities tend to develop an immunity to FOMO over the years.

Once you have missed enough parties and festivals, eventually you stop tormenting yourself over it. You have to.

It is a useful skill to bring with you on exchange — and through life in general.

I have to admit, though, that this immunity can come with side effects: it can kill the spontaneous desire for fun and new experiences.

My attempt at the exchange adventure brought that desire back to life.

My stay was educational and, in many ways, wonderful. But the most enriching part was actually the simple decision to put desire in the driver’s seat and try to go in the first place.

We usually only celebrate those who manage to fulfil their dreams exactly as they imagined them. But for those of us living with chronic pain or other forms of disability, there is something admirable in simply continuing to dream and continuing to try to make those dreams a reality.

Sometimes dreams can come true if you are willing to adapt them a little. That is what I would encourage anyone to do. Adjust things here and there if doing so brings you closer to a positive experience with something that feels overwhelming or frightening. And, above all, give yourself credit for trying.

Updated on Friday, 21/08/2026

After graduating from high school, I knew that I did not want to start university right away. I wanted to travel, see the world and do something meaningful—and that was when I heard about the European Solidarity Corps. Volunteering in Finland was one of the best decisions I could have made for myself, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Moving from a big city to the small town of Nivala in the Finnish countryside was a major change for me. Suddenly, I found myself surrounded by strangers, a foreign language I did not speak and a completely new culture. However, I did not feel alone for long. My co-workers immediately took me under their wing and showed me the beauty of their country and culture. I also had the opportunity to participate in volunteer training sessions, where I made lifelong friends from all over the world who helped make Finland feel like a second home.

During my time in Finland, I had so many new experiences, including ice swimming, celebrating a traditional Finnish Christmas, seeing the Northern Lights and living through temperatures as low as −37°C with at least knee-deep snow. Looking back now, it feels incredible to remember all the things I had the opportunity to experience.

As part of my project, I worked with young people at the local youth centre and in schools. I also helped organise events together with the city’s cultural services. This allowed me to learn more about Finnish culture and made me realise how much even the smallest things can matter.

I grew immensely as a person and had to step outside my comfort zone many times. These six months gave me more than I could ever have hoped for. My time in Finland and the people I met there will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will never forget this project. <3

Updated on Monday, 17/08/2026

My name is Nanette, and I recently had the pleasure of volunteering with Asociación AELV in sunny Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. As part of a short-term volunteering project, I had the opportunity to support the organisation for two months and gain many valuable new experiences.

At the organisation, I worked in an international team alongside other volunteers, which helped me settle into life in Jerez very quickly. We usually worked around 20 hours per week in the office, managing the organisation’s digital archives and social media channels. Our tasks ranged from answering emails and other enquiries to creating and publishing our own posts and campaigns. Through the organisation’s Instagram account in particular, I informed young people in Jerez and the province of Cádiz about EU initiatives such as DiscoverEU, other Erasmus+ opportunities, news from our organisation and important information about the European elections.

Outside our regular office hours, we occasionally organised and facilitated activities for young people. On my very first day, for example, the other volunteers and I visited the university in Seville to inform students about Erasmus+ opportunities. We also organised Actionbound activities in Jerez and El Puerto de Santa María with Erasmus+ trainees, primarily from Italy and Finland, and visited some of them at their workplaces.

My favourite activity outside regular working hours was the language exchange we held at a bar every Thursday evening. It was wonderful to see how we managed to encourage more and more people to join and step outside their linguistic comfort zones. Most of the Spanish participants wanted to learn and practise English, while some were also interested in German. The language exchange also gave me the opportunity to improve my Spanish and connect with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.

It was a very exciting and intense time for me, as it was my first experience of living independently, sharing a flat and living in a country where a different language is spoken. I quickly formed close friendships and had the chance to meet many new and interesting people. I was also very fortunate to experience the Feria del Caballo in Jerez. Ferias are large, traditional and vibrant fairs for which Andalusia is well known.

I found it incredibly interesting to discover the cultural differences compared with what I was used to and to adapt to local customs. I also found the differences in architecture and the natural environment very refreshing. Although I initially found it challenging to step outside my comfort zone so often, it turned into an incredibly rewarding experience. I improved my Spanish, travelled extensively, learned Spanish dances and grew through a wide range of challenges. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone, and I would also love to volunteer abroad again for a longer period in the future.

Updated on Monday, 17/08/2026

Hey there! My name is Angjela, I'm 24 years old, and I'm from Skopje, North Macedonia. When I applied for a European Solidarity Corps project (thanks to my dear colleague, Mars), I wasn't just looking for an opportunity to volunteer abroad. I was looking for change. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, become more independent, challenge myself, and discover what I was capable of. Looking back after ten months in Split, Croatia, from 1 September 2025 to 20 June 2026, I can confidently say that this experience gave me all of that - and so much more. 

Moving from Skopje, North Macedonia, to Split marked the beginning of an entirely new chapter in my life. Living in a different country taught me to adapt, embrace uncertainty, and appreciate different cultures and perspectives. Over time, Split became much more than the place where I volunteered - it became a place where I truly felt at ease. 

Volunteering at Info zona allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. Every day brought new challenges and opportunities to learn. I was involved in organizing youth events, creating social media content, managing a team of photography volunteers, planning activities, and supporting projects that encouraged young people to become more active in their communities. I was trusted with real responsibilities, which gave me the confidence to take initiative and develop skills that will stay with me throughout my life and career. One of the most valuable parts of this experience was the chance to constantly try new things. I stepped into roles I had never imagined myself in, learned by doing, and discovered parts of myself that had remained hidden until then. Every project pushed me to become more creative, open-minded, and confident, while also teaching me the importance of teamwork and adaptability. 

Beyond the professional experience, I truly immersed myself in the local community. I didn't want to simply live in Croatia - I wanted to become part of it. By embracing every opportunity that came my way and through everyday interactions with people in Split, I built meaningful friendships and gained a much deeper understanding of the local way of life. Knowing that I was growing into a stronger, more resilient version of myself while also making a positive impact on the community made every challenge worthwhile. The 

European Solidarity Corps gave me much more than volunteering experience. It gave me confidence, lifelong friendships, valuable professional skills, unforgettable memories, and a new perspective on both myself and the world around me. Most importantly, it showed me that growth begins the moment we decide to take a chance on ourselves.

Updated on Thursday, 13/08/2026