Here's a little inspiration and reflection - let's use it!

A volunteer eager to explore

As a final year Masters student, I decided to mix up my everyday life and explore the world. I had my doubts at the time, but looking back now I am grateful for the courage and curiosity that inspired me to embark on this journey.

3 weeks to prepare for a new life

I fell in love with one of the volunteering project. They were looking for people last minute, so within 3 weeks I applied for the placement. The quick decision still inspires me today to dare to take spontaneous steps in my life, because of the awesome things that can come out of it.

10 months volunteering in Burgos

I arrived in Spain with a hand luggage and now I believe that my time there has deeply shaped my personality and my vision of the world. I had never been to the north of Spain before and I was able to discover the wonderful landscape. Burgos and its surroundings are beautiful, a well-known stop on the El Camino. I appreciate every moment I spent there.

2 supporting organisations

My work was supported by two wonderful organisations, one Hungarian and one local. A supportive community is really important and due to that we are never alone on our journey.

3 wonderful housemates and fellow volunteers

During the project I was able to work with 3 other volunteers, an Italian, a French and a German girl who became my family in Spain. Our time we spent together, and all of the memories were made, I can still recall today.

32 days in quarantine

We started our volunteering with quarantine. We weren't always happy there, but looking back two years later, I realized that this challenge strengthened my relationship with my fellow volunteers and made our team even stronger.

1 inspiring project

As a volunteer for the Green Hands Burgos project, I worked for the rural development association Asociación Ábrego. I organised and coordinated trainings and projects, as well as taking part in marketing activities and developing internal projects. It's exciting how my studies were useful for working in a small association in a small town, 2000 km far from home.

450+ participants

I am very proud of the events I organised had an impact the lives of more than 450 children, young people and adults. From survival camps, to music heritage camps, to children's environmental education, a wide range of agro-geographical trainings (e.g. conservation course, mushroom picking, beekeeping, organic gardening).  

15+ Spanish villages and towns discovered

Beside the cities Bilbao, Santander and Madrid, I also visited the stunning villages near Burgos. These trips have enriched my cultural and historical knowledge, and finally I have different perspective on the communities and places I had before.

2 years at home

Two years ago, a new, unknown world opened up to me.  The community experience was a powerful resource for active social participation The experiences during of my time became a selfguide for my future. . The experience of my time abroad has been a guide for my life.

Here is my recipe.

I wish you good luck to discover it on your own!

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Hi, I’m Myrto a twenty-year-old student from Greece, and alongside my best friend, I got to live my dream through the DiscoverEU program.

I remember watching documentaries with my mother when I was young, about the trains of Europe, and thinking to myself ‘Oh to be on that train and see the views with my own eyes’. So, after learning about the program through a friend, I knew I had to apply to make my dreams come true.

After thinking about it a lot, I and my friend decided to travel for fourteen days through Croatia, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland, staying on average, two to three days in each country. Long enough to fall in love with the locals, the museums, the parks, and landmarks in every country.

Although I loved every destination, I must admit that Croatia won my heart. The country’s stunning natural beauty, incredible food, and unique culture were captivating, but most importantly we met the kindest people whose hospitality was unmatched. We were fed fresh fruit by a lovely old lady (grandma, as we refer to them in Greece) during our train ride to Rijeka who did not speak English, but still communicated through the language of love and giving. We were also helped by a journalist when we had to board a bus, suddenly in the middle of our train ride, due to construction on the railway. A very frightening experience as we did not know what was going on in the beginning, but fortunately he guided us through the chaos.

These experiences and difficulties were what made my journey unique and memorable. The challenges of this experiment made me stronger, teaching me how to best work under pressure and think of solutions while working together with people from different backgrounds and ethnicities. As a result of my interactions with the locals, I steadily realized that I am not just Greek, I’m also European.

This journey was so much more than what I had dreamt about. So, I must thank the European Commission for creating this opportunity for me and so many other Europeans who want to challenge themselves. And to those of you who are hesitant to take the step and participate in the program, I urge you to live a life you are proud of, and that for me, means making your dreams come true.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

On the beautiful weekend of May 17-19, the EuroPeers of Estonia and Latvia gathered together in Riga to network, learn, brainstorm and collaborate. There were 18 participants along with the national coordinators.

We started on Friday by melting and breaking the ice with some fun activities carried out by both the Estonians and Latvians – for example, all of us got a portrait drawn as a co-creation by the rest of the participants. We learnt about how both of our networks operate and what are ways for us to collaborate in the future.

Saturday was filled with sharing our stories more deeply, planning a summer event together, creating social media content, watching some intense moments of hockey and having a Latvian cultural experience at the biggest Lido restaurant, dancing together with the elderly couples. We also got the chance to visit a unique exhibition called “Invisible World” which allowed us to experience how the world looks and feels like for visually impaired people. We were guided through several pitch-black rooms and we had to use all other senses to understand what was going on around us. This was an eye-opening experience and also great for team-building as we had to communicate and help each other a lot as a group.

On Sunday, we had a wonderful trainer Ieva joining us. She led us through a big amount of fun little activities, some of which took us out of our comfort zone. We all got some great ideas for energizers and icebreaking activities that we can use in the future. We also assessed skills that are necessary for performing in front of a crowd and ways how to engage the audience. We were divided into little groups and we taught each other about topics such as Visuals, Preparations for a Presentation, Content and Structure, Body Language and Speech, and so on. This was very useful for us as EuroPeers, since it is linked directly to what we do!

Author: Roosmari Pihlak, Member of the Estonian EuroPeers Community. First published on Europeers webpage: https://europeers.org/news/baltic-europeers-mingle-estonians-visited-the-latvian-network/

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

 Hi!! Today I'm here to tell my story, the wonderful experience I lived with DiscoverEU that in certain way it changed my life. That's why I want to encourage everyone to travel and embark on this adventure without fear. I am very grateful to have participated in this program and to have been able to make the most of it. 

My interrail with DiscoverEU in 2023 lasted from July 8th to August 1st, 3 weeks. The first two weeks I travelled with 3 friends, and the last week they returned home, and I decided to continue traveling alone. I come from a city near Malaga and because I live so far from the border, it was not possible for me to go to France in a single day by train, so we decided to take a super cheap plane to Paris, thus saving time and money. 

Our itinerary then begins in Paris, later Stuttgart, Salzburg, Venice, Rome, Pisa, and Milan. I continued to Vienna (night train and seventh day of travel) and then went to Bratislava to take a very cheap flight that took me to Kaunas (Lithuania), and then I visited Riga and Tallinn. I travelled through the Baltics by bus (cheap and with a better connection than the train), it was beautiful, worth going and very underrated. Initially this was not the itinerary, but in the end, we ended up doing an open route and I attended the Baltic meetups, something I had not planned at the beginning. 

The good thing about the interrail pass was that we had enough flexibility to cancel a train and get on another one that would take us to another city quickly. I remember that going to Pisa was completely improvised. I am aware that we went to many expensive cities, but with enough time in advance, we were able to find cheap hotels and hostels.

 Many people are afraid of solo traveling but there are really many advantages, mainly you can do whatever you want without depending on other people. When I solo travelled in my interrail, I was just scared at first but then I met people along the way, and I had an even better time. To this day I still have contact with the friends I made and this year I will visit some of them. This doesn’t mean that traveling in a group isn’t good, I advise taking a long group trip only with trusted people willing to explore and travel and not just "go on vacation." I could give many tips on what to do and what not to do but I will mainly say that organization and communication is essential. If you are going to move a lot, it is better to wear a backpack, I survived with it by washing the clothes in the way.

 To conclude, I want to say that my organization and planning skills have increased exponentially, I feel much more independent, and I am not afraid to travel alone. I learned a lot about other countries and their cultures, and the truth is that I am very grateful for living in Europe and the fact that I can travel safely. DiscoverEU is a perfect opportunity, free trains, it convinced me enough to try it and travel :) I hope that your trip doesn't remain as a planning anecdote, put it into practice, it will be worth it. If I could do it again, I would do it 100%!

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

When I first discovered the "The Eye of the Wood" project on the Adventurers Brotherhood website, I felt excited and ready to face new challenges. I was thrilled to be accepted and couldn't wait to see what adventures awaited me.

The project theme, "The Eye of the Wood," was intriguing. It involved camping in the forest and living in nature, with all activities, including cooking, taking place outdoors. The first day was quite calm—everyone arrived, got to know each other, and our group, consisting of Italians, Estonians, and Belgians, was very friendly and welcoming.

However, on the second day, an unexpected disaster struck. A storm in Belgium flooded our tents, making it impossible to sleep as everything was wet—clothes, belongings, sleeping gear, and even the food tent were affected. My few clothes were soaked, and the situation was quite difficult. Fortunately, we found shelter in a house near Zilvermeer. Although it was far from luxurious—dusty, cold, and without electricity—it provided much-needed respite.

That night, despite being cramped in a small and somewhat eerie space, something wonderful happened. We spent the evening having deep conversations and taking walks with the Italians and Belgians, which helped us understand each other better and grow closer. The opportunity to share thoughts and emotions brought us all closer together.

Later, we secured a new accommodation in Leuven, thanks to a friend of one of our group members who had an empty, unused house. It felt like a rescue, allowing us to be together, share experiences, and support each other.

Not everything was smooth, though. We faced challenges, such as communication difficulties with one partner, who struggled to integrate into our international group and expressed their frustration through their behavior and attitude. They also had difficulties speaking English. Despite some disagreements, the overall atmosphere of the project remained positive and friendly.

As for the project leaders, I must say their organizational skills and creativity were admirable. They managed to find solutions in difficult situations, making the whole experience memorable and enjoyable. Their contributions were invaluable, and their ability to turn the situation around 180 degrees earned great respect from all of us.

Additionally, it's worth mentioning that the police were called on us three times. The first time was when we arrived in Leuven and began staying in the empty house. Neighbors were concerned and called the police, thinking we were breaking into the house. The second time happened during a game when one of the Belgian group leaders, who was quite large, ran around clumsily with a toy axe. Locals thought it was a real danger and called the police again. The third time was near the Yellow Castle in Leuven, where our final party led to noise complaints, even though we were just talking at a normal volume.

In summary, this Erasmus youth exchange in Belgium was a true adventure, filled with both challenges and joys. It allowed us to discover the richness of our own and other cultures. This experience left a lasting impact on me and is something I will never forget.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

I attended a training in Berlin, Germany, called "Introduction Training for Newcomers to Youth Exchanges - BiTriMulti," from November 5th to November 10th, 2023.

By then, I had participated in international youth exchanges three times. I approached the director of the Tartu Youth Work Center to ask if I could become a youth leader in these exchanges, as I felt passionate about it and believed I could excel in a leadership role. The director sent me an opportunity listed on the SALTO-Youth website. I created an account, filled out the application, and waited for a response.

After some time, I received a message from the Estonian agency, expressing their willingness to support my participation, but I had to wait for a final confirmation from the German agency. The wait felt long, but eventually, a very positive response arrived. The Estonian agency began actively communicating with me, encouraging and reassuring me that they would be there for me throughout this journey. This was my first time traveling alone, and I was the only participant from Estonia.

On November 5th, I started my journey from Tartu at 2:30 AM and arrived in Germany just before 2:00 PM. Since there were no activities planned for the arrival day except for an evening meet-and-greet, I had time to rest for the upcoming days. The training lasted only three days, making each day intense and packed with workshops and discussions.

The first training day involved introductions, sharing our backgrounds, understanding what youth exchanges are, and learning how to support and engage young people in these exchanges. We also discussed the steps necessary for creating a successful youth exchange.

On the second day, we listed topics of interest for potential youth exchanges. This led to the formation of groups, where we began drafting a short version of a project. We had to choose a theme, set up partnerships, determine the number of participants, identify the target group, and decide on the location. Although it was a simplified version, it took almost two days to complete. The time constraints created a lot of pressure, and being one of the youngest participants in a group of seasoned youth workers initially made me feel insecure. However, I quickly realized that everyone was equal and that all ideas were valuable. It was heartening to see that our group members' ideas aligned, and we could start writing.

We had constant support from the trainers, who provided advice and encouragement. After the second training day, we all went to a museum and then out for dinner, where we had meaningful conversations. The evening went longer than expected, making it difficult to wake up on the third and final day.

The last training day was dedicated to making final corrections to our projects and meeting a set deadline for submitting them for review. The day started under significant pressure. Once we submitted our project, we awaited feedback. In the afternoon, we received insightful feedback, which boosted our confidence in bringing the project to life. After the feedback session, we reviewed the final steps and recapped what we had learned. The training concluded with a cultural evening and goodbyes, where we sang karaoke, shared stories, and reflected on the training.

When the day of departure arrived, it was hard to say goodbye as we had grown close over the week. However, I was also happy to return home, rest properly, and start sharing my experiences with other young people.

I am incredibly grateful for this experience, which has filled me with courage and determination to organize my own youth exchange. Who knows, maybe soon I will be sharing my experiences from an exchange I have organized.

Reelika Punkar

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Starting at a new school, I felt stuck in a monotonous routine. Every day seemed the same, and I yearned for adventure. Then, I remembered a youth exchange trip to Poland with my previous school two years ago, which had been an amazing experience. Inspired by that memory, I began scouring the websites of various organizations, hoping to find a new opportunity.

It didn't take long to find a youth exchange program in Romania that seemed perfect for me. Without much to lose, I submitted my application, although I doubted I'd be chosen since I'd already participated in several international projects. To my surprise, one day during a music class, I received an email saying I'd been selected. I was ecstatic and excited, but also nervous—what if I didn't like it there? Despite my doubts, my parents encouraged me to go, assuring me I had nothing to worry about.

With their support, I confirmed my participation and soon found myself at the airport, ready for my flight. A mix of excitement and fear swirled within me. Once on the plane, I realized there was no turning back. Arriving in Romania felt surreal and wonderful at first. However, my excitement waned when we reached our accommodation. I had envisioned staying in a luxurious hotel, but the reality was far from it; it looked more like an abandoned shack. My high expectations had set me up for disappointment, but once inside, I adjusted my perspective and found the place quite acceptable.

As I unpacked and prepared for bed, I noticed my roommate hadn't arrived yet. I assumed they'd come the next morning. In the middle of the night, I heard someone enter the room. Initially terrified—imagining a burglar in the middle of Romania—I was relieved to discover it was just my roommate. To my delight, we hit it off immediately and spent the night chatting and meeting her travel companions.

The next morning, I met the rest of the participants. The following days were filled with conversations, karaoke, laughter, and countless other activities. I knew I'd made the right choice by coming. By the midpoint of the exchange, everything was going smoothly. Then, one evening, our room's balcony door was shattered. Panic set in, and I didn't know whether to cry on my group leader's shoulder or seek comfort from other participants. Ultimately, I did both, and everything turned out fine. What was initially a shocking incident became a funny story to share.

The rest of the exchange was fantastic. I grew closer to everyone and had the time of my life. It became clear that this was one of the best decisions I'd ever made, and the memories we created would stay with me forever. I also realized I wanted to be involved in more youth exchanges in the future and eagerly began searching for new adventures.

When the dreaded departure day arrived, I was already feeling the sadness of leaving. We began saying our goodbyes the night before, as our flight was early in the morning. Although everyone around me was crying, it didn't hit me until our taxi arrived. As soon as I sat in the taxi, I started crying uncontrollably, a pattern that continued at the airport, on the plane, and even for several days after returning home. The thought of never seeing many of the people I'd grown close to again left me feeling empty.

It took a while to come to terms with the end of the exchange, but eventually, I found comfort in knowing I still had my wonderful Estonian team, whom I could meet up with back home. Our team was the best I could have asked for, and I am so grateful for having met them. I stay in touch with many from the exchange and even reunited with the Spanish team in Spain. This trip taught me so much, and I am deeply thankful to everyone who shared this incredible adventure with me.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026