Hi, I'm Ludovica Fraccalvieri, I come from Altamura and I just turned 18.

I had a short term European Solidarity Corps experience. Specifically, I was in Vienna and I participated in a three-week project with the Grenzenlos association, focused on inclusion. The young people in my group not only came from different cultures, but also from completely different ways of life, in fact among us there was a refugee girl and two boys with severe disabilities.

During the three weeks of exchange, we had the exciting task to create a performance aimed at making people understand that diversity often represents a value and an asset, and that differences in real life can be overcome if you really want to.

They were very intense weeks also dedicated to the discovery of the city and the deepening of relationships between the group members. Vienna is a jewel and it really fascinated me, as no other city before.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t learn much German, apart from the usual words of greetings and thanks, both for the short time spent in Austria and because, coming from different countries, we had to communicate only in English.

As for the discovery of local life, fortunately we could get closer to the "Viennese nightlife" mainly attending the Danube area where there were several clubs and a lot of young people; we visited many bars, pubs, typical restaurants, and above all we took a swim in what they call "the pool" that is the Danube. I think those were the best moments in which I was able to really see what the Austrians were like on hot August Sundays, and even have a close encounter with an Austrian swan!

I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, and even before the experience ended, I knew I wanted to replicate it as soon as possible for a longer period.

At the end of my studies, or maybe earlier, I really hope to have the chance to actively be an ESC volunteer again and be able to tell many other new stories!

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

For many years I had the idea of what it would be like to work and live abroad, whether for a shorter or longer period of time. In the summer of 2020, I decided to quit my job and started my volunteering experiences. This new, uncertain future was nothing more than a year in Estonia's second largest city, Tartu, where I spent my volunteering time at a youth organization (Tartu Noorsootőő Keskus). 

Fears and doubts struck me on the day of departure about my decision. Wasn't it crazy to leave my job? Won't I miss my family and friends? Won't it be hard to live with people you've never seen before? However, the answer to these questions is NO!!! I had the greatest adventure of my life that I wouldn't trade or change for anything. 

The youth center was located in the mainly Russian-populated part of the city. It functions as a kind of leisure institution, where workshops, games and various other programs – performances, concerts – are provided every day and where young people can be together after school. 

In addition, the organization is actively involved in organizing events in the city, so three of us volunteers – a Spanish girl and a Lithuanian boy – got to see the process of organizing and brainstorming, as well as the implementation. They also tried to take into account our interests, so very quickly I became the photojournalist for their events. 

What have I gained from this one year?

• I was able to work within an inspiring and exciting environment,
• Confident use of English.
• Lots of new friends and super memories.
• International experiences.
• Today's opportunity must be taken advantage and do not skip it!

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

My participation in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is a personal and professional achievement.

My participation in ESC gave me the opportunity to develop, learn, expand my knowledge and embrace all the fundamental values ​​derived from it. I have participated in many programmes supported by the European Solidarity Corps. The main reason I actively participate in various projects, whether as a volunteer, mentor or trainer, is my "thirst" for action, volunteering, social contribution and self-expression.

I have recently been an active member in the coordination group in Solidarity Projects and as a mentor in a volunteering program between Greece and Spain. The experiences I get? Countless! I gained opportunities and knowledge I would not have had if the European Solidarity Corps didn't exist. I had the chance to interact with young people and provide them with the opportunity for free expression, creative engagement and highlighting new elements in the local community. At the same time, I contributed to promoting the active participation and democratic citizenship of rural youngsters in the effort of European construction and in cultivating their European identity.

I am proud that I have contributed to the young beneficiaries to develop individual and social skills, learning within the framework of non-formal education and cultivating feelings of altruism, solidarity, volunteering and social contribution.

Of course, all this could not happen without the support of the Association of Active Youths of Florina (OENEF), an organization that supports the youth to the fullest, and I thank them warmly.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

In the summer of 2021, I applied for an ESC programme in Tarragona, Spain. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

While volunteering, I had the chance to experience and support various Erasmus + projects and consequently discover the value of non-formal education as a tool for the holistic development of youngsters. At the same time, I appreciated more the importance of collective actions and teamwork for completing an activity. In such a short period, I had the chance to meet dozens of people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds. I talked with them, exchanged ideas and thoughts, sang and danced traditional dances from each country and, most importantly, celebrated love and solidarity, which unite us all.
Moreover,  I have the opportunity to get to know a new country, its people, history, customs and language. Spain is a beautiful country with welcoming people, delicious food and lovely music. My Spanish skills improved a lot while being there since there was always some local person willing to talk and help me out with it!

All these experiences have enriched and expanded my horizons as I could never have imagined. I am grateful for this opportunity.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

As Lao Tzu once said, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, my journey started with Erasmus+.

I have heard a lot about these projects, and I was too afraid to make my first step and participate. Now, after participating in several Erasmus+ projects as part of the Youthmakers Hub team, I feel like a storyteller. Every journey is a new experience, a new adventure. Through these projects, I realised how unique we are and, at the same time, how powerful if we have a common vision. Communication, collaboration, synergies, action, inclusion and accountability are only a few words connected with Erasmus+. It was an excellent opportunity for me to be out of my comfort zone, interact with other young people and co-create. These initiatives are a safe place for someone to make mistakes, develop their personality and face their fears. By participating in such projects, you can understand how few you know about the world around you and that you can broaden your horizons.

The overall experience is remarkable! If you have second thoughts, I will definitely suggest making the first step and you won’t regret it.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Since I have already been on an exchange during my high school years, I was more or less aware of the importance, responsibility and role an exchange could have on someone's life.

However, the experience you get when you are a university student living in a dormitory with other exchange students definitely changes your perspective and, without avoiding an obvious cliche, your life.

PLANNING

Planning and organization is everything and it starts way before the actual E+ exchange takes place.

I am not going to go into all the documents you need to fill, nor in the process of matching subjects between your home and E+ unviersity. It can sometimes get painful but trust me, it is definitely worth it!

During E+, as it is in life, you need to plan your days and weeks since you are living alone and the opportunities to go on activities, trips and parties pop out every day. If you want to make the most out of your exchange, make sure to take these opportunities! In order to be able to that, plan your work, essay writing etc. and everything else you want to do accordingly.

If you want to live in a student dormitory (which I strongly suggest), don't make a mistake and wait for the moon to match the Venus in order to apply for it. I was one of the people who took too much time and procrascinated with applying and almost lost the opportunity to live the full experience of E+.

ACCOMMODATION

The Brno (Czech Republic) student dormitory is more than a decent dormitory allowing you to have a comfortable stay while located relatively close to the city centre.

Staying at a dormitory has its own strenghts and weaknesses, but if you want to do well in your studies and have fun, figure out a way how you can concentrate when you are 1) having a roommate literally 1 meter beside you and 2) having loud dormitory neighbours. Particularly if you want to make the most out of your faculty obligations as well.

ACTUAL STUDIES

It probably depends on the university, but my experience with classes I took was so good it actually directed me towards my future interest. Afterwards, I firstly took classes because of this experience and I have afterwards written my master's thesis on the same subject.

This was also due to a professor whose strongest characteristic was to present both sides when talking about a specific conflict that happened in history. That was the period of time I started to think more about the importance of critical thinking.

Unfortunately, during the biggest part of my elementary and high school years, there weren't too many subjects nor professors who encouraged critical thinking. Therefore, I can really say that it took a Czech university, E+ and a Balkan professor to enlighten my perspective on critical thinking and trying to take into account both sides.

Moreover, since you take different classes with people from all around the world, there are various perspectives, ideas and suggestions that occur during classes. With the leadership of an adequate professor, a lot of these perspectives from different cultures must be taken into account during classes.

Therefore, what E+ also taught me is the importance of having the confidence to present those ideas in front of other people.

LANGUAGE, PLEASE

OK, if you are reading this then you probably know the importance of language and understanding. However, in some cultures, people are less likely to go outside their comfort zone and speak a language that is not their mother tongue.

Croatian and Czech are not so different, but the experience I had at a public transport station when trying to figure out how to get a smart ticket for taking local buses was really uncomfortable. When you take into account that this happened during one of the first few days in another country, it contributes to this discomfort. The point is, be prepared that some locals are not prepared to be particularly helpful. Oh, and prepare yourself before as much as you can before you go sorting these kinds of things where you know you will need to talk to locals.

PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND RESPONSIBILITY

A lot of an E+ exchange has to do with stepping out of your comfort zone. It is normal that you doubt yourself and feel anxious about it, but this kind of exchange really is what you make out of it. You are old enough to be your own decision maker so you need to take responsibility.

The same goes for specific prejudice against different cultures and people that you will be able to meet and experience during your exchange. Some of the prejudice, whether it is good or bad, you will (think) you have confirmed, and some you will not. However, if you are one of the lucky people to go on an exchange, you also have the responsibility to share your experiences with others. Your experience will be invaluable and only if you have been through it you will be able to understand it. It is definitely not a walk in the park, but if you have just a little something in you telling you „OK, maybe I should go and try it out“, I strongly encourage you to do it, even if it is only for one semester.

What's the worst thing it can happen? You could go back home earlier than you thought you would. Is that really something you are not willing to risk in exchange for a potential opportunity of a lifetime?

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Through DiscoverEU, Fien won an Interrail ticket that allowed her to travel through Central Europe. She participated in several meet-ups organised for DiscoverEU travellers and met many other young people from all over Europe. Fien was also among the lucky ones to get a plane ticket to Iceland through DiscoverEU. So she experienced a whole DiscoverEU summer! She talked about her experiences during the Club Talks at the Go Strange Event in Belgium.

Through DiscoverEU, you can travel alone or with a group of up to five friends. For many young people, it is their first time travelling alone. Fien had already done some travelling with her parents, but alone was different. For her, it was a fantastic experience and a boost to her self-confidence.

Those who win a ticket through DiscoverEU can also participate in meet-ups organised especially for DiscoverEU travellers. These meet-ups are completely free and often even include an overnight stay in a hostel or hotel. This allowed Fien to travel smoothly on a budget of €50 a day. She participated in three meet-ups and met young people from all over Europe. 

Want to know more?
DiscoverEU is a European Union programme where 17- or 18-year-olds can win an Interrail ticket to explore Europe by train. 
More about DiscoverEU

Travelling by train, it has its advantages. Not only will you enjoy the beautiful landscapes, it's sustainable too!
More about sustainable travel

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

My first experience of participation was in primary school. I was allowed to go to a meeting on environment at school (MOS). I remember that only two people per primary school were allowed to go there. "What an honour!", I thought. It really left an impression. 

Sharing your opinion and standing up for yourself is not always obvious. In my city, I chaired the youth council through which we tried to influence policy. In hindsight, I didn't consciously do enough of that at the time. 

I then volunteered abroad via the European Solidarity Corps. During my volunteer work, we gave presentations for schools to promote international experiences. That way, we wanted to inspire young people to do the same. What has really been a lesson for me is that you are never as open-minded as you think. In a foreign country, you learn so many things. You push your boundaries and you get to know yourself really well. It's a super fun time and you meet so many people. 

Participation for me is ... active young people thinking about a better society. Everyone should have a voice and look at the world with an open mind. You should not only defend your own interest groups, but also try to represent other voices.

This story was originally published in JINT vzw's SCOOP #07, as part of the article Listening, thinking, speaking and doing: three young people on how they make themselves heard in society.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Hello there,

My name is Danai and I’m 27 years old. Three years ago, in September 2019, I joined an opportunity that completely changed my life, a European Solidarity Corps volunteering project in Italy. At this point, I was 25 years old, in my last semester at University and ready to graduate. I had friends that joined Erasmus+ projects before and they were always coming back full of experiences, stories and new friends, so I decided to search for the ideal opportunity for me.

In the summer of 2019, I found a volunteering project in Italy, in a small city called Faenza; for 12 months, I applied and got selected. I spent a year in Faenza, a challenging year also due to Covid 19 pandemic that arrived in early 2020 in Italy, and I had an experience that empowered me and engaged me like never before. I had a variety of activities on a daily basis to keep me busy and active. Still, the experience, the opportunity to visit different cities in Italy, meet so many people from all over Europe and actively volunteer inspired me to be active with Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects after my project’s end. I decided to stay in Faenza and continue collaborating with the association. I had the opportunity to write and organize my projects and invite other young people to share information, reflect on issues we want to address, and find solutions.

There are many stories that I could share and, as always, some difficulties that I had during my ESC year. Still, overall the experience changed me on a personal and professional level. It helped me acquire competencies and try new things for the first time without being afraid of making mistakes. Saying all that, I recommend to all young people to join an ESC project and see the benefits of volunteering to them and others.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Everybody should have a nice and fun future. We are playing football outside on real grass, not the synthetic one that was projected 20 years ago.

We must find solutions to combat climate change and have new technologies to have real grass when the climate is warmer. We should fly less and use less cars, autonomous bikes are a very cool alternative!
 
We have to change our thinking, teach more about environment at the school. If we learn that at school, we will know that all life.

Feeling

Worried that it might get too warm. Confident that we can invent new things to prevent this.

Influence

Works only if we work together on global level, everybody needs to contribute.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026