Ida Vogel is German, and at the age of 19, she moved to Portugal for six months to volunteer at an institution that cared for people with profound disabilities. “I left my country, my friends, and my family for half a year, and that represents a big change in my life, as I had never been alone,” she begins to explain to Blink. “Basically, I wanted to do something different after my school education. And I wanted to spend a year outside Germany without formally studying. Portugal came up because of the project involving care for people with disabilities.” The young German refers to the Association of Cerebral Palsy of Coimbra (APCC), explaining that “I wanted to be with people from whom I could learn something different and that school did not provide. But also because I want to study medicine, and I think this work is related, giving me skills that will be an advantage when I am in higher education.” Ida explains that life in Coimbra is very different from what she had in Germany, but that “after some time adapting, meeting people, and getting used to the language, I made friends, and everything became easier.” And she is not alone in this adventure, as, within the scope of the European Solidarity Corps, the institution received, along with the German, other young people from France and Turkey.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Rodrigo is Portuguese, and at the age of 18, he travelled through Europe using a community programme called DiscoverEU, which covered his travel costs. In a few weeks, he visited Norway, England, France, Monaco, and Malta. Although the European Commission's idea is to provide train travel, flights are also available, especially to peripheral or ultraperipheral countries like Malta. “I started by flying to Malta and from Malta to Oslo, where I was involved in volunteer activities,” says Rodrigo, who attended the Mela Festivalen, a music festival focused on the culture brought by migrants living in the norwegian capital. “This allowed me to meet people from many countries, particularly migrants from Asia,” he says. This volunteer work experience turned out to be an opportunity for Non Formal Education for Rodrigo, who claims to have learned a lot. “First of all, I learned about Europe and European citizens and how we have so much in common, despite the various contrasts,” says the young man from Lisbon, for whom “the Scandinavian environment can be diverse, but the truth is that I realised that the European Union is a kind of de facto union, which made me feel at home.”

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

After 30 days of continuous travel, my DiscoverEU Green Route has come to an end! I passed a total of eight countries and collected unforgettable moments in each of them!

My adventure began in the green city of Galway (Ireland), winner of the "European green leaf" award. The first part of the trip was extremely active, full of hiking, biking and foraging in the wild. However, by far my favorite memory of all is diving with seals!

From Brussels, I carry the memory of the European Youth Week and their strength as they advocate topics that matter to us in the European Parliament!

Both European green capitals I visited, Nijmegen and Essen, showed me the importance of community in making a city a green and healthy place to live.

I ended my trip by exploring the Natura 2000 area around the city of Brasov and learning the whole traditional process of making "amadou", an alternative leather material obtained from the Fomes fomentarius mushroom in a Romanian hamlet.

As a motivation to apply to DiscoverEU and expand your horizons, I would like to share a quote with you:
"You see, I'm not sure what the secret for happiness is, but I'm pretty sure it starts when you go outside." – Tom Rosenthal

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Oskar, a young and enthusiastic participant from Stuttgart, Germany, was thrilled to be a part of the youth exchange in Ghent. Organised by the Ghent European Youth Capital, this event brought together youth councils from Austria, Belgium, and Germany to share ideas, debate, and explore what Ghent has to offer.

For Oskar, the highlight was exploring the cultural and social landscape of Ghent, which left a lasting impression. “It was great to discover Ghent. There are so many cultural and social organizations here. So many different places for young people to just ‘be.’” The abundance of spaces dedicated to youth empowerment was unlike anything he had experienced in Stuttgart, where cars dominate the city landscape.

Particularly impressed by Broei, a youth hotspot in the city, Oskar admired how young people were the driving force behind the initiative. “If I were studying in Ghent, you’d find me there all the time!” His experience in Ghent has opened his eyes to the power of youth-driven social spaces, where culture, creativity, and connection flourish.

The international exchange was more than just a cultural immersion for Oskar—it inspired him to think deeply about the importance of youth participation and public space, showing how different countries foster unique environments for young people. 

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Victoria, a student of social work from Villach, Austria, found herself deeply inspired by the international youth exchange in Ghent. Passionate about human rights and social justice, she viewed this experience as an opportunity to connect with like-minded young people and explore new ways of making a difference.

Victoria was particularly fascinated by Belgium’s political system, something she knew little about before the exchange. “The conversations here motivate me to go home and pick up the political thread there,” she reflected. Having participated in demonstrations and served on her local youth council, Victoria was no stranger to activism. However, her time in Ghent broadened her horizons, sparking an interest in potentially joining a political party back home.

The highlight of her week was the exposure to Ghent’s approach to youth work, especially its efforts to empower young people with fewer opportunities. “The youth organisations here look for the people who are normally not so quick to participate in social or cultural activities and base the activities on their needs,” she said, deeply impressed by Ghent's inclusive approach.

Victoria left Ghent feeling more motivated than ever to take on a bigger role in her community, carrying the lessons learned back to Villach and hoping to inspire others to get involved in political and social change. 

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

For Mubarak, part of the Youth Council in Ghent, the international youth exchange was more than just an event. It was a chance to connect deeply with young people from different countries. Mubarak found common ground with participants from Austria and Germany as they shared ideas on critical issues like climate, mobility, and leisure. He was particularly struck by the realisation that youth councils across Europe share many of the same priorities.

“What made this week so special to me was the European connection among young people,” Mubarak said. Engaging in debates about lowering the voting age to 16 and discussing climate action gave Mubarak new insights into the shared challenges and opportunities for European youth. 

Mubarak’s key takeaway from the exchange was the powerful sense of unity among young people, despite coming from different backgrounds and cultures. He also appreciated how the exchange showcased youth-led initiatives and spaces like Broei and Overkop. For Mubarak, these encounters not only expanded his worldview but also reinforced his belief in the interconnectedness of Europe’s youth.

“This is where you are going to meet the future!” Mubarak concluded, urging young people to embrace opportunities like this exchange and continue building strong, transnational ties. 

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

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 Tuesday, 17/02/2026

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 Tuesday, 17/02/2026

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, 17/02/2026

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 Tuesday, 17/02/2026