My name is Blaž and by nature I am very curious, I like to meet new people and I love to travel. Therefore, I was very excited to have the opportunity to be able to be a participant in four youth exchanges, supported by the Youth and Sport Institute Trbovlje (ZMŠT).

The main language of all the exchanges was English. I have to admit that at first I was a little afraid, because I doubted my English knowledge from high school. But the initially clumsy search for words soon turned into a relaxed conversation, which dispelled my embarrassment and increased my desire to learn the language. The experience I gained this way also helped me pass my English exam at the Vocational College of Hospitality and Tourism Maribor.

At the Play with me and learn from me exchange in Greece in June 2019 we – participants from Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Poland and Slovenia – learned about the traditional games of each of the participating countries.

The youth exchange Leaving for a better life in February 2016 gathered participants from Romania, Slovenia, Italy and Portugal. The main activity was going to a border crossing called Dobova between Slovenia and Croatia, where we prepared and cleaned tents for migrants. After being there and having the chance to know their stories and the plight of these people, I was no longer indifferent to their problems. I was shocked.

During the youth exchange Touch in Amarante, Portugal in 2016 we gained some new circus skills and we had a circus show in different Portuguese cities.

I participated in the youth exchange Language up! since the begining – meaning I helped develop the idea and write down our application. This was in 2019. We hosted participants from Denmark, Portugal and Greece. Every day our programme was focused on the culture and language of one of the participating countries. Our main activity was learning languages. We learned about Greek, Portuguese, Danish, Arabic and Slovenian language. We also had a workshop on international sign language.

Youth exchanges will always remain in my heart as a very valuable life experience. I got to know new countries, new places, culture and gained many new friends.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Ever since I was in high school, I knew that one day I would be a volunteer abroad, helping people. All I needed was a good programme and when I received an e-mail from Hostelling International Slovenia with an offer to volunteer in Iceland in connection with sustainable tourism, I just knew I had to apply.

Starting in July 2020 I spent eight months in the European North, getting to know Iceland and its people. I have learned about their customs, of which I liked the most their Christmas traditions, because their Christmas trolls (yule lads) visit as many as 12 times. I swam in hot pools, which Icelandic people are just crazy about, and in winter I chased the northern lights in the wind. Yes, I truly learned there what wind really means.

During these months I spent in Iceland it became clearer to me what I want from life and what kind of job and colleagues I need and want later in life in order to go to work happy and fulfilled. I realized that simply sitting behind a computer just does not work for me, but I need to move and talk to people.

In the two hostels that I've worked in, I've searched for sustainable solutions for their work and I have become a true recycling master.

I knew about sustainable tourism before, but while volunteering in Icelandic hostels I have seen what it means in practice and how to bring it closer to employees and guests of the hostel. It's important that the messages are clear, imaginative and quickly grab people's attention.

My volunteering experience happened during corona times, so while being there I have also learned a great deal about adapting to new situations and finding new solutions for sustainable tourism during corona times.

I became independent and I learned to trust people. And it was the people who made this experience unforgettable.  

I lived in a small community, where there was always someone I could talk to about life's wisdoms. My co-workers were wonderful and working with them I learned the importance of good communication.

At the end of my stay the Icelandic sky was lit up by a volcano, so I spent my penultimate night in Iceland watching the volcano erupt and making myself a promise to return the following Thursday.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Between the end of July and the beginning of August I participated in a Youth Exchange, an activity that is part of the Erasmus + program. I was quite reluctant about participating in the Youth Exchange because it felt like some kind of leap into the void, I was headed for something new and didn't really know what to expect. Before this, I had participated in another Youth Exchange the previous year and had really enjoyed it, so I assume this helped me make a final decision to join the exchange. I travelled for about ten hours to my destination, the place where the exchange would take place, Tauchen. Tauchen is a small village that is quite unique because it is divided into two regions of Austria: Lower Austria and Styria. The place is truly enchanting, a spectacular village located in the hills and mountains of Austria, surrounded by nature. The train left us in the village, and we walked the little road that separated us from the place where we would sleep. On the same train, there were people who would participate in the same project with us, so we got to know each other better on the way. On arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the organizers of the project and immediately afterwards we went for a short walk to see the place in which we would live for the next eight days. I think that from that moment I already understood which people I would get along more or less well with. Usually, in real life, you choose for yourself the people you feel good with and embark on a path of friendship. During the project, on the other hand, you talk and have fun with everyone, obviously knowing with whom, in real life, you would really get along and with whom less ... or not at all. After the walk we took our luggage to the room and I met my roommate. A Hungarian boy, very nice and funny, with a radiant personality. I was thrilled because in a new experience like this, such a person makes you open up a lot more. The evening continued, after dinner, with games to get to know each other. Finally, two of the Polish girls arrived, who, having missed the train, had arrived late. They were very nice. The next day we started with the theme of the project, namely the inclusion of various diversities in the countries of the European Union. During the Youth Exchange we really discussed a wide range of issues around inclusion ... from gender discrimination to LGBT discrimination to racial discrimination as well as discrimination against people with disabilities. I was really very interested in the subject and I think this is a very important thing in Youth Exchange projects. You can only give your best if you know you are really interested in the subject. One of the activities that I liked most during the eight days of the project is certainly the debate. We were divided into four groups, and each group was charged with defending the opinion entrusted to it. After a brief organization within the group, in order to assign roles in the debate, there would be two debates, in which the first two groups, and then the remaining two, would have clashed on an equal topic, however, supporting an idea that was totally opposite. I love debates and comparing my ideas with those of others. I find it funny, and it inspires me a lot. And speaking in front of many people is fascinating. Other activities we have done are the creation of billboards and multimedia contents. Being Tauchen surrounded by nature, in our free time we also rode bicycles, one day even to the city closest to Tauchen. I think I've never ridden a bicycle so much in my life. Another experience that I really enjoyed is the national evenings. They are evenings during which each national group presents their country, traditions, and culture. I really enjoyed introducing Croatia to my exchange mates. We took a Quiz with little-known elements about Croatia, talked about our traditions and danced and sang cultural folk dances and songs. At the end of our presentation, we offered the other guys some traditional Croatian food, which they really enjoyed. Listening to the other national evenings was also interesting. Discovering other cultures and traditions of the member countries of the European Union is very important in my opinion. I think it is a great way to get to know the other states of the European Union, and despite the diversity to understand that we are all part of the same, great union of states. The guys at the exchange were all magnificent, and I think the saddest and most moving moment for this was the farewell. Is greeting the people you spent 8 days with so difficult? The answer is yes because it is not a normal context. You are literally in the same place, with the same people, for eight full days and you create strong bonds, which obviously in a normal context would not be created. Participating in a Youth Exchange is a wonderful experience, which makes you grow a lot. Talking about the differences but accepting them is really important. We are the ones to whom the world will be left by the older generations who still command it today, and it will be up to us to decide whether to change it for the better or leave it as it is. Experiences like this make you understand how everyone deserves the same rights and possibilities. I think projects like this go a long way in helping the people who will one day rule the world grow.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

In the summer of 2022, I had the opportunity to participate in an European Solidarity Corps (ESC) project in Galicia, Spain.

Through out the 2 months of living in Santiago de Compostela with other 5 volunteers (participants from Spain, Italy, Slovakia, Latvia and Lithuania) we worked in various areas: from walking a small portion of the Camino de Santiago French way, interviewing piligrims and working in hostels to creating workshops in local youth and elderly centers, managing social media and many more. During the project, me and other volunteers faced many difficulties, but we would always find a way how to work them out. While living with people from different backgrounds, all of us had to stay flexible and learn how to communicate our needs, especially if someone left a dirty bowl in the sink or forgot to clean the shower after using it. Besides living together, sometimes even working and reaching both, our personal and group, goals would become challenging. Almost always we would have to find a compromise between many opinions and ideas. The most challenging part of the volunteering was probably the language barrier. Organizing activities for small children about recycling and not knowing Spanish was interesting, but we managed to create a wonderful learning experience for them and of course learn a lot of new words as a non-Spanish speaker!

Although flying across Europe to a totally new country alone might sound scary (and it sometimes is), but after all you learn many new things, have a broader perspective on the world, share and get new experience, but most importantly – you grow as a person. Stepping out of your comfort zone is always rewarding at the end.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

Ciao tutti! My name is Amélie, I’m 18 and for three months, I followed a language course in Italy, in Bologna. It was clear to me that I wanted to have some sort of adventure abroad during my gap year, but I wasn’t sure what kind of trip it should be. Do I want to stay in Europe or travel to Asia or South America maybe? Should I travel alone or with a friend? And what exactly was my goal? I then realized there still was a lot to explore within Europe, and that I wanted to get to know more of the different cultures we have here. Italy was a new country to cross off my list!

There are many options when you want to go on a language trip. My main goal was to explore a new country and culture, but also to meet new people and to unwind and relax. Italy was the perfect place for that! I lived in one of the language school’s student houses, in the heart of the city. There were people from all over the world, and from different ages. I was the youngest, but there was also someone from 75 years old in my class. And all ages in between. That was very interesting and fun.

We had four hours of Italian class a day, so there was enough time left to experience Italian culture – and practice the language at the same time. It was a bit of a shock at first to just hear Italian around you, but after adapting for the first few weeks, it almost came naturally. You do make friends in school, at home and simply in the streets – it really has been a great experience.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

I’m Karim (28) and I’m from Curaçao, one of the Caribbean islands that are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Here on the island quite a few people deal with problems with debts, which is something I started to realize more and more when I was studying Financial Management. My thesis focused on ‘How financial literacy affected financial resilience during COVID-19 amongst young people of Curaçao’ and made me realize I wanted to do something.

What followed was the idea for our Solidarity Project called Finanserio, which I do together with nine other young people. We all are so-called creative leaders and try to give young people the opportunity to develop themselves and be a positive change in society. With Finanserio, we try and teach them financial literacy, through four different workshops: on personal budgeting, investment & entrepreneurship, taxes and insurances. Lots of handy things to know, that you don’t learn in school.

So far, the response has been great. We’re very happy to have received a subsidy through the European Solidarity Corps that gives us the option to host these workshops. It’s never too early to start teaching people about money, as we don’t have debt restructuring or counseling on the island, but there are financial problems. Our goal is to make financial literacy a part of the regular subjects in school – to really contribute to a better society.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

I’m Bente (19) and in 2019, I attended a youth exchange in Slovenia. A year before, I joined this training in Norway called Eye Opener, together with one of the youth workers from my organization. We learned about youth exchanges and I already got very excited to join one myself. Together with other volunteers from our regional youth center, we went to the youth exchange in Slovenia.

After we came back to the Netherlands, we were very motivated to organize an own youth exchange. Of course, it’s a lot more work than when you’re “just a participant”, as you have to keep in touch with all the partner organizations, write your idea down on paper and apply for Erasmus+ funding, plan the activities and all those things you haven’t even thought of. We decided on the theme Push your limits, with a separate subtheme for every day of the week – like Thinking outside the Box and Expressing Myself. We did creative workshops, volunteered for a day in local places like the neighborhood garden and the secondhand store, and made a scavenger hunt in Amsterdam. And of course, everyone got to experience Dutch culture with a visit to the fair and eating a traditional snack table. It was really nice, and I learned a lot from this experience. Like how to start such a big project and how to successfully make it work. And of course, as always, this youth exchange was a reminder of how different we all are, but at the same time so alike. I really made good friends and hope we get to see each other again sometime, somewhere.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

My name is Cilia, I’m 19 and after finishing high school I decided to take a gap year. I wanted to get to know another country and had heard about the European Solidarity Corps through a friend, who was volunteering in France. That sounded like fun! To me, the location was more important than the project, as I’m interested in a lot of things. I do recommend to only apply for projects that really sound interesting though, as you’ll be working with it for 30-38 hours a week during a longer period of time.

I ended up in the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, where I worked at an organization for people with mental disabilities. They can join different activities and it was up to us, volunteers, to help out with them! My schedule therefore differed from day to day, which was great. As I said, I like a lot of different things, so that was perfect for me! The one day I was painting or baking with them, the other day we went for a hike and a third day we focused on music or sports.

My project lasted for 8 months and after that I honestly was ready for a new challenge again. I decided to take the train home, all the way to the Netherlands. Another great adventure! A friend joined me and, on the way, we visited Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba, Madrid, Barcelona and Paris. Traveling green and being a European volunteer are both things I’d recommend to everybody.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

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