In July, I attended a Community Integration Summer Adventure Camp in Sligo as part of the Communities Integration Fund in Ireland to support communities and new arrivals to come together.

I arrived in Ireland from Ukraine some months ago and saw the opportunity to sign up to take part in the integration camp. The aim of the camp was to give young people from Sligo based communities the opportunity to come together, learn some new outdoor based skills and meet some new people along the way.

I learned how to orienteer and completed various orienteering challenges in groups. We visited one of the local trails and did a lovely hill walk and some yoga in the sun at the top of the walk. We did some bushcrafting and learned how to build our own fire to toast some marshmallows and relax with a cup of hot chocolate! On the last day the sun started to shine in time for our hike up and over Knocknarea, one of Sligo’s famous mountains, to see the stunning views at the top and learn about the local folklore of Queen Maeve’s Grave at the top.

‘I heard about the opportunity from friends so I thought I it would be a good way to spend my time. It was interesting to do different tasks and go on the hike and especially roast marshmallows. I learned lots of new skills and met new people in the community. I really liked cycling the most and learning bushcraft skills. I would really recommend other young people to get involved with Community Integration events as it a great way to get to know the local area and people.’ - Mykola, 14

Updated on Friday, 25/10/2024

It just happens - a sentence that I constantly say when something changes in my life. How did I end up living 6 months in the capital of Romania for 6 months? While of course the answer is it just happened. Hitchhiking from Bucharest to Timisoara? Just happened. My experience here has been something out of the ordinary, life changing and eye opening to how different yet similar people are. Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, minutes away from a wonder of the world that is a daily normal scene for me. My name is Ahmed Elzomor but if we met before you would know me as “Zee'', and this is my Experience in the ESC volunteering project “A Sustainable Life in Romania”, organized by GEYC Association.

“The people there are cold” is what I always heard from everyone before going to Romania. Day 1 there already broke that stereotype while being in the airport waiting for my already late luggage in a heavily rainy day a group of Romanians that was on the same plane with me that had nothing but warm smiles on their faces asked me “Did someone gave you a hug yet?”. Being alone my answer was obviously no. They followed by saying “Let us be the first then! Welcome to Romania!”. From that point my mind shifted to expecting the best in people and being the light you want to see in others.

Coming here I had so much that I wanted to achieve and do and thankfully I got to do them. Since day 1, my coordinator told me “It is a marathon, not a race, you have to pace yourself.” Through that I learned that I need to slow down and take things as they are. Embrace the uncertainty and that knowing that nothing is constant - which is fine. I had the chance to work and live with a diverse group of people from different parts of the world. Sharing the ups and downs, having people now that I can’t imagine my life without.

I realized that no one really cares about where you come from rather who you are and what you believe in. Many people in Romania opened their houses for me, shared their life with me and showed me that solidarity knows no borders.

I experienced first-hand how hard it is to be far from home in a different culture, how difficult yet beautiful it is to learn more about others. I came here as a stranger and will leave feeling like I have a home here. Friends, colleagues and students from our workshops that I learned more from them about how to engage with people and how to speak “their language”, I’m not referring here to the spoken language I mean how they say things, how they feel and express themselves.

“It just happens”. Well, it does not just happen, people make it happen. Individuals that choose to be the change they want to see in the world.  I realize that now and plan to live with those words.

Updated on Monday, 09/09/2024

I was sitting in my weekly meeting when my phone buzzed. It was my friend, calling with an unexpected invitation: would I like to leave for Latvia in TWO DAYS for a week-long project focused on youth work? 

At fifteen, I was shy, curious, and a bit uncertain. Naturally, I hesitated before agreeing to embark on this adventure but just a couple of days after, someone arrived at my house to pick me up. My friend had assured me he was the funniest and most caring person alive, and he certainly did not disappoint.

The six-hour car ride was wild but the conversation shifted my mind in a way I will never forget. That’s a great start to the week, isn’t it?

They say well begun is half done, and so the project was nothing short of amazing. The knowledge I gained during the week was transformative, and the people I met are still a part of my life today.

In more recent projects, we had the opportunity to visit youth centers in Lithuania. It was fascinating to observe the various types of youth work being implemented and to learn from the local practices. We talked about and learned how to react to turbulent times in youth work and how it impacts youngsters. 

Now, I’ve participated in four Erasmus+ projects. After each experience, I returned not only inspired but also empowered to create change. They gave me clarity on where I want to head next and have motivated me to think not only about organized and engaged youngsters but also about those with fewer opportunities.

I encourage everyone, especially young people, to consider participating in an Erasmus+ project. They are life-changing and offer incredible opportunities for personal growth, cultural exchange, and the chance to network with like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds. Stepping out of your comfort zone may be scary, but the rewards—lasting friendships, broadened horizons, and a renewed sense of purpose—are well worth it.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/09/2024

My friend Line and I seized the opportunity in 2019 and applied for a DiscoverEU travel pass, which turned out to be a good idea. In January 2020, we received the good news that we were among the lucky ones to be awarded a travel pass, and in August 2020, we embarked on our trip.

We started our journey in Rome, where we then continued to Pompeii to see the volcano Vesuvius. We also managed to squeeze in a day trip to the Amalfi Coast. We had an enormous cultural experience in Italy, but Croatia was calling, so we took the night ferry to Italy. However, the journey there was much more hectic than planned, with canceled and delayed trains, which resulted in a last-minute dash and a quick switch to a taxi instead of a train. We felt like we were part of a TV show. However, we made it to the ferry, and at 07:46 the next morning, we saw the Croatian coast. In Croatia, we visited the city of Split and the small island of Hvar, and it was undoubtedly here that we had some of our best experiences.

Probably the best experience was when we rented an ATV and drove around the island, which offered a lot of beautiful beaches with the most stunning blue water. The town of Hvar had beautiful buildings with charming streets filled with lovely restaurants. We quickly agreed that we had to come back here again someday.

After Croatia, we had to hurry on to Budapest as we needed to catch a flight due to the Corona situation. We were familiar with the city, as we had been on a school trip the previous year, so there was plenty of time to enjoy the city for two days before heading back to Denmark.

We had a fantastic trip that didn't go as planned, but it was still perfect. 30 days turned into 15 due to the rising infection rates across Europe, which was of course unfortunate, but we made the best of it and adjusted our trip accordingly.

Updated on Friday, 23/08/2024

Why did you chose to go to school abroad?

First of all I chose to go abroad because I always been adventurous. I wanted to go far away from Denmark and experience a completely different culture than the one we have at home. Moreover I had a wish to be at one destination for a longer time, instead of a quick journey. By doing that I became a lot more familiar with the Vietnamese culture. It was just my luck that I was able to combined this travel experience with my interests in communication, journalism and social media.

What was the biggest experience?

Personally, I think the greatest experience was trying to live in Vietnam and getting as deep under the skin of their culture as we did. Because we were taught communication, journalism and social media at the school, we found it natural to have an investigative approach to the country and its culture. The country is very different from what we are used to, so there was many questions, and it was generally incredibly exciting to delve into it. 

What were the biggest challenges?

In general, most Vietnamese people are not very good at English, so you could quickly run into some language barriers. In addition, the country has a communist government and not the same freedom of speech that we know and are used to here at home. Therefore we had to tread a little carefully when having the investigative approach. For the same reason, it could also be difficult to get people to open up.

But after all, Vietnam is just a big and beautiful country, and it is difficult getting to see everything you want.

What did you get out of the stay?

I think I got a lot out of it. As I said, I have gained an insight into Vietnam and their very different culture, but in addition I have also gained an incredible number of experiences and friends for life. You quickly become very close when you travel and experience so much together. In addition, I have learned a lot about communication, journalism and the whole media industry in general, which has helped me get closer to finding out what I want going forward.

Would you like to go abroad again, e.g. for work or during your education?

I will definitely go abroad again. I'm not done traveling around and experiencing a lot of different cultures. I could also easily imagine taking a semester abroad when I start studying at some point.

Did your stay at the school help prepare you for your further education?

The stay at the school has definitely helped to prepare me for my further education. First of all, for better or for worse, I have gained insight and knowledge about the media industry, which I did not have to the same extent before. In addition, the teachers have given us some tools that we can use for both applications, entrance exams and in teaching, if we are lucky enough to get in. In other words, I feel better prepared to step into an industry that is incredibly exciting, but at the same time known for everything being tough and competitive.

Updated on Friday, 23/08/2024

At the end of an experience as profound as an European Solidarity Corps project, it is inevitable to look back see what you have experienced and what you have achieved.

Two years have now passed since I decided, after completing my degree in intercultural mediation, that it was time to put my books aside and get down to practice!

Salzburg was the perfect city for me to do so: I had been here before and had already fallen in love with the city (and the ‘Christkindlmarkt’).

After one year in Austria, I can say without a doubt that even the longest study programme would not be enough to get to know a new culture and that it is always worth immersing yourself in a different reality.
Sure, it could be quite shocking at first, at least it was a bit for me. In my case, however, it was less about a culture shock and more about a ‘thermal shock’. I remember travelling from Italy to Salzburg at the end of August, convinced that it would still be summer in Austria...and yet...what a cold!

This little anecdote just illustrates that we usually think what we think is normal and universal...well, maybe it is not after all. Anyway...even if the cold is my first memory of Austria and even if, because of the pandemic, I wasn't able to fully experience my volunteer year, this experience has certainly enriched me personally. 
At akzente, I was able to contribute to the promotion of cultural exchange and to the organisation of various events, such as ‘Demokratie Atelier’ or ‘Girls Day’, which are aimed at promoting the basic principles of the European Union. This has undoubtedly changed my perspective on the EU, as well as giving me a new hope for the future. 
So, I was able to experience this ‘cosmopolitanism’ on the one hand, and on the other hand I also experienced the Austrians‘ (or at least Salzburgers’) attachment to old traditions and their country.
After a year, I am no longer surprised when I see dirndls or lederhosen on the street (and I think they are soooo beautiful!!!) but I can hardly imagine wearing a pacchiana (the Italian traditional dress) in everyday life...

And one piece of advice? Never say to an Austrian, that mountaineering is not quite one of your passions.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/09/2024

My experience with LevelUP Greece, traveling on a DiscoverEU Inclusion Action project named "The Greek Getaway!", was more than just a journey to the countries of the European North. We traveled to three Scandinavian nations: Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, spending a week and dividing our time equally in each country.

Our team had the opportunity to explore not only foreign countries and cultures but also our own capabilities and, ultimately, ourselves. My experience was multifaceted. To begin with, I managed time and a budget with a group of five people, none of whom I had met before. It was also my first time managing digital money. Additionally, conducting practical research for our needs and wants was crucial, and I learned to consider all variables for the well-being of my group. This included food, transportation schedules, and the opening times of tourist attractions.

It is important to mention the great beauty we witnessed in these countries. Traveling by train allowed us to see the Swedish and Norwegian countryside, which was remarkable. Furthermore, we used alternative means of transportation, such as electric scooters, with which we explored our surroundings quicker and in motion. The main cities we visited were all beautiful in their own ways: Copenhagen for its traditional architecture and museums, Stockholm for its excellent transportation system, beautiful metro stations, and greenery throughout the city, and Oslo for its blend of modern and traditional aspects, along with its green spaces, gardens, and statues.

I want to emphasize the importance of communication and emotional intelligence during this journey. Traveling with five other adults would not have been as functional and smooth without direct communication skills. Moreover, I value my interactions with the locals even more, as they were a significant part of my experience. Some locals shared with me that people in the North tend to be more reserved, and they found our interactions refreshing and heartfelt. We exchanged ideas, emotions, and feelings, and overcame language barriers. While English was our main language of communication, I was bold enough to ask locals to write Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian phrases in my pocket journal, which I used whenever possible. The locals were all so kind and hospitable, making me feel like a part of the European community. Despite being separated by sea and thousands of miles, I discovered a deep connection between us that I had not known before.

This, I believe, is the spirit of discovering Europe, and I am truly proud that I had the opportunity to travel and experience this journey in such a vivid and fulfilling way. It felt like a dream come true.

Updated on Tuesday, 30/07/2024

After being awarded a DiscoverEU ticket by the European Commission, I wondered how I should use this experience. Having pondered, I decided to try my luck visiting all of the locations of the European Space Agency as I am a massive fan of astronomy and space exploration.    

My route would go this way:

• Start of Travel – 9.7.2022
• European Space Agency Headquarters [ESA] – 11.7.2022 (Paris, France)
• European Centre for Space Applications [ECSAT] – 12.7.2022 (Harwell, United Kingdom)
• European Space Security and Education Centre [ESEC] – 13.7.2022 (Redu, Belgium)
• European Space Research and Technology Centre [ESTEC] – 14.7.2022 (Noordwijk, Netherlands)(Participation in Euroscience Open Forum) [ESOF] – 15.7.2022
• European Astronaut Centre [EAC] – 18.7.2022 (Cologne, Germany)
• European Space Operations Centre [ESOC] – 19.7.2022 (Darmstadt, Germany)
• European Space Astronomy Centre [ESAC] – 22.7.2022 (Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain)
• Centre for Earth Observation [ESRIN] – 25.7.2022 (Frascati, Italy)
• End of Travel – 27.7.2022
   

During the time of my travels, I had the opportunity to explore all these Agencies and learn about the different projects and missions each one is responsible for.

When visiting the European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands I was amazed by the size of the facilities. I had already considered it to be the largest of them all. Nevertheless, I believe that one could likely spend months viewing everything at the enormous complex and still be left with new things to discover as with nearly 2.500 employees ESTEC dwarfs all other facilities.

Another Agency that I was really looking forward to visiting was the European Space Operations Centre. In a way, I’ve been looking forward to my visit to ESOC the most out of all of the other ESA establishments, in large part due to popular media and always having had sort of a childish dream to perhaps one day work in a control room. Being in ESA’s main control room was certainly breathtaking for an avid fan of space exploration like me. There are many things I wasn’t able to see as with many other establishments of ESA, ESOC is simply too large to be experienced within a single day.
 

The summer heat was a struggle during my visit to Spain. During my tour at the Centre for Earth Observation located outside of Madrid, I had the chance to see how to operate the telescope from the computer interface within the observatory and opened the viewport to expose the telescope to the sun and make a solar observation. We did the observation and moved onto a small office pod nearby where we were more protected from the heat as the interior of the solar observatory was quite hot.  

All along my travels, I had the opportunity to meet people which I deeply admire. In my visit to the Centre for Earth Observation, I was particularly happy to have the chance to meet with people working at the department of ESA’s Planetary Defence Office, the NEO (Near Earth Object) Coordination Centre (NEOCC) as it is something that I’d personally be interested in doing once I’ve completed my degree. I wholeheartedly wish to return one day to talk more in-depth about these topics with these experts in the field but alas time passed swiftly.

This experience has fulfilled my dreams and helped me to better understand how I could go into the field after my studies. Having the chance to visit all these ESA establishments has been really rewarding and I have learned a lot. What's more, travelling by myself through the continent has enabled me to grow personally since I had to face many difficulties and unforeseen situations which I had to overcome to continue with my travels. 

Overall, I feel really lucky to have been able to experience this and I am really grateful for everyone who made it possible and took the time to show me around the different ESA facilities. 
 

Updated on Thursday, 29/08/2024

Last May we took part in a project named “Navigating Chaos 2.0”, in the framework of the Erasmus+ programme - Key Action 1 - Mobility projects for youth workers. It took place near Sofia, in the Bulgarian Red Cross training center, a magical place surrounded by nature. 

The aim of the project was to help us improve our way of facing and navigating chaotic situations -which can be found at work, in social life or within ourselves – through the use of tools and activities including effective communication, problem-solving, decision-making, leadership and team building. 

We found ourselves returning to our everyday reality somewhat puzzled, but certainly more aware of ourselves and others around us.

The project was completely funded by Erasmus+ and we met amazing people from Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Latvia, Romania and Serbia.

We stayed only nine days but it felt like a month. They have been very tiring but enriching days and words cannot fully express what this project has meant to us. We can simply say that it challenged, tested, helped, filled and emptied us, opening us up to new points of view.

We will never forget the practical lessons, the team games, the dynamics and the relationships we managed to create.

This is the right experience for you if you are looking for something new that will make you take one or more steps outside your comfort zone, and at the same time make you have fun and learn.

Updated on Tuesday, 07/10/2025