Chems and Lindsay are two young girls from Belgium and France who met each other while volunteering at Jauniešu studija “BaMbuss" in Riga, Latvia, within the framework of a European Solidarity Corps project.

In this video both volunteers sum up their experiences and discoveries, and share their views on the EU funded programme.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

My mobility experiences started about half a year ago when I was seventeen years old.

It started here, not that far from my town when I participated in the training. Little did I know then that I was going to travel constantly, have friends around the world and have fun while learning and growing as a person.

So, participating in Erasmus+ projects for the first time was an enormous step out of my comfort zone. First of all, it was living in another place, being surrounded by strangers and having to speak a language that is not my native.

Turned out that the scary part lasted only as long as I was on my way to a project place and everything was only in my head. Everything was going with the flow, people were generous and I felt like I had known them for my whole life.

After participating in Erasmus+ projects in Lithuania, I couldn’t stop thinking about how it would be amazing to travel somewhere too, it would be an even bigger step out of comfort zone. So, I found a project in Romania at the last minute, packed my stuff and my very first solo trip to a little Romanian village started. Even with some problems during the trip and being alone around strangers in a country that is far away from my home, I enjoyed every minute of it. After it, my self-confidence kicked in and I started to search, apply and go to more projects. Also, the stuff I learned during the Erasmus+ projects will be a great help while stepping to the future career path. So, it was the best decision ever. Even if I haven’t seen the most attractive sightseeing places in the country I lived in the small villages and I understood that travelling, mindset and best memories were about a variety of people that I have met. I perceive the world and beauty the of it through people and that is the best thing the mobility opportunities gave me.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

I want a cleaner air, no pollution, no animal abuse. I also want better life for people that live in North Korea or Belarus. I want them to be free and live a better life than now, because now they suffer from their presidents. I want everyone to be nice to each other and don’t make wars, because a war is not good for anyone.
 
I think the world in the future will be polluted, there will be less woods and trees and many things' robots will do for humans. The air will be not clean and the water in rivers and oceans will be really polluted and there will be more garbage than there is now.
 
If I will be alone to do this I can to nothing, but if the world will be together, we change the future that everybody thinks will be bad. If I don’t really need to go somewhere with a car, I can walk, or use a bike, a scooter, or public transport, because when car goes it throws away the gas and turns the air to not fresh one and later it will smell bad. I buy bags, packs or straws that are made from paper or other material that are good for nature. Be friendly to the world, don’t make it more polluted, if we will be together, we can change the future.

Feeling

When thinking about the future, I feel worried that the flora and fauna will disappear from the earth.  And I hope that everything will be all right.

Influence

Alone I can’t do anything; thus, it is very important that all people understand the danger and act together. I can share the information about the environment pollution in social media so more people would understand what environmental danger could do in the future.
 

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

In a recent Disney movie, the lyrics of a song say “[…] All I need is a change. All I need is a chance. All I know is I can’t stay on the side. Open your eyes […]” 

I think that idea simulates, precisely, a generic vision of what I expect from the future. Changes, opportunities, action, and a realistic vision of it. 

I hope that the future holds plenty of opportunities for young people, especially in those areas where we are lacking today, such as in the job market. Opportunities cannot be given in an environment where academic preparation and previous professional experience have the same value in the selection process. Because we are aware that a certain level of education is required and competition is increasing, thus, we study a degree, a master's degree, or two if necessary, languages, soft skills, etc. We do our best, and then we run into institutions and companies that do not risk giving us that first opportunity to gain experience. And, of course, at the educational level, you don't acquire the knowledge of what the job is in practice. 

I also hope that the future will be inclusive and with 0 discrimination. Where there is gender equality, and where color, race, sexual orientation, gender or any difference is not an issue. In other words, I hope we value diversity as a strength rather than a problem and everyone can simply be. Free and without prejudices.

I hope for many things in the future, but I also believe that all of this can only be achieved through, as I said, changes and opportunities. Based on taking action and working to make it possible. And it is in our hands; in those of all of us. I hope to achieve the future that I would like to see not only for me, but for those to come. And I believe that the start point to do so is education. The great changes will not come alone and immediately, but hopefully the youth will be educated in these values and among all, these changes and this eagerness to work on what is fair and necessary, will become a reality.

Feeling

I feel hopeful and encouraged. To continue learning from, moving forward with and being inspired by those who follow my same goal.

Influence

I believe that there is no better influence than the one you set for yourself when you have a clear objective. That determination and passion to achieve it will make others want to see themselves reflected and fight for their own goals. And that is what we need: people involved and willing to make the change.
 

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

My most interesting exchange project, in which I took part happened in autumn of 2016 with a number of young people. The project was called “Sports and culture for all”, it was an Erasmus+ youth exchange project to get to know Corfball – a popular sport in Spain. This type of sport is popular for them because it is integrated in different youth centres where young people from different risk groups reside. By such an informal method, young people at risk are educated about the importance and necessity of physical activity and are “rescued” from the streets where they are at risk of being exposed to crime.

Our organisation took part in all activities with interest and enthusiasm because we hadn't heard of many activities they showed to us. We learned more about the current situation of the Barcelona and Badalon youth centres and the introduction of the sport, not only in youth centres, but also in pre-school schools.

With the rest of the young people from our organization we explained the types of activities and good practices of youth centres in Latvia for the rest of the project; I remember most were intrigued by the increased involvement of youth councils and youth in public participation. We shared different methods and activities to be used in day-to-day work.

Of course, there was no informal rest – we hiked in the cliffs, we enjoyed the sun on the Balearearic Sea coast, and we enjoyed Spanish dishes in bars and beautiful restaurants. I still remember our member Raivo tasting the octopus for the first time and failing to chew the seafood properly. 

This project has left me with the most memory for a number of reasons: I flied for the first time, this was the longest project abroad, and I was in the working group when the project was being formed. During the exchange project, I gained a variety of knowledge – added communication skills, because not all participants had good English; I certainly learned patience because the Spanish temperament and lifestyle were quite peaceful and unhurried; as well as time management and planning to catch up with all the lessons and other technical specifications.

This project was really interesting and useful, where I acquired a variety of knowledge and acknowledged that living in such a small country as Latvia is actually an opportunity to grow and be better. 
 

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

My name is Liza and I did my project year at akzente Jugendinfo in Salzburg, Austria. I am in bit of a different position than most of volunteers, being the first in-country volunteer for akzente, Initiativen für Jugendliche (the hosting organization), I did not have much of an adventure organizing my trip to Salzburg as I have lived here since 2010. No worries though, there is still a LOT of things to tell you about my project!

As I have mentioned above, I did my solidarity project at akzente Jugendinfo in Salzburg, the city I also currently live in. I started my volunteering year in January 11, 2021 and my contract was set for a whole year of volunteering. Even before the start of my volunteering year, I have been in contact with Duy Le from akzente and my team leader Julia at the youth information. They have made the transition to akzente very easy. From then on, working with them has been very pleasant and I was able to learn a lot from this experience. Since I have never worked an office job prior to this year, I had no expectations coming in and that has helped me become more open for everything, from the challenges of social media to refreshing my video editing skills by making a new intro for the youth information Youtube channel to being stung by working directly with bees (yes, we have three beehives ?).

Aside from all of these, I also got the opportunity to join and participate in different workshops like using online tools, how to make them more interactive and many more. I got to experience working directly with young locals and hopefully was able to give them a platform through my volunteering project called “Health Diaries” (Check out our YT channel ?).

In the end, I must say, the best thing about being a volunteer is the amazing people that I got to meet and had the chance to work with. It was a really fun experience and the connections I have made with other young volunteers is a treasure!

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

As an international student studying and working in the pharmaceutical industry, there are a lot of elements that I wish to see evolve in the upcoming years. Climate change and sustainability is becoming a more and more prominent issue. In the world of science like biology and chemistry, the use of single plastic is as important for creating a sterile environment as it is a problem creating high amounts of waste. I am hopeful that more biotechs invest into sustainability and create positive change towards the plastic waste generated during clinicals trials and laboratory research.

Feeling

I am mainly feeling hopeful as I believe we can drive the change towards this better future. I believe a lot of times we forget how much power we hold as individuals and how many things we can achieve when we come together for a common goal. I believe with the right guidance and support, we can not only achieve a future where medical research coexist with sustainability, but also the future of every other young European.

Influence

I believe we are all able to influence our own future and be part of the bigger picture of the future. People are making the future by the accumulation of small tasks completed as a whole. With the will to educate ourselves on the current matters and implement our knowledge by creating our opportunities will allow us to influence and shape our future.
 

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

I'm 20 now, but 2 years ago I was 18. I already knew how #DiscoverEU worked because I had heard about it before on social media, and that made it easier for me.

There is a certain period between which you can apply. If you want to go with a group, it is better to complete the questions together. This is how you actually put yourself together as a candidate. You have to fill in a number of standard questions and then also answer a number of questions about Europe. They are easy, you can quickly find the answers online. After that, there is another question to fill in; like how many people are going to register. It's all a bit of luck.

After you've signed up, you'll have to wait a while. You may not have been selected. I know a few people myself who didn't have it and that's a shame of course. Lore and I were selected, you will receive an email and you have to confirm. After that there is still time to let us know when you want to travel. You have to be sure that you can, so do not communicate your travel dates until you are sure. A train ticket is valid for 30 days and within those 30 days you have 7 train travel days. We chose to travel in July.

Lore and I came together a few times to plan. First for the big ideas; which countries, what is our budget and after that to book. You only have to book high-speed trains in advance and especially in France and Italy you have to see if you can reserve your place. For the rest you can just fill in your free #DiscoverEU pass on the train. For us, choosing the countries was fairly straightforward. We alternated slightly more expensive countries with slightly cheaper countries. You get the train journey for free, but you have to pay all other costs such as meals and accommodation yourself. We chose to go with a low budget and therefore book hostels. Hostels are a good way to get to know people. And you can cook and reduce the cost of your meal budget. We did make sure that budget did not defined our entire trip, if we saw a nice trip or activity such as kayaking, we would do it. Outside of accommodation we didn't book much in advance. We created boards on Pinterest with 'free things to do in ...'. We already had a collection of ideas, but otherwise we were flexible.

We traveled for 17 days and went from Belgium to Frankfurt, Interlaken, Zurich, Innsbruck, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna and back. So we chose to mainly do cities. We had just over 7 train days, so we paid for the distance between Bratislava and Budapest ourselves and did it with the Flixbus. The moment that will stay with me the most is the arrival in Innsbruck. We just came from Frankfurt. Frankfurt was an intermediate place and it rained there. We already saw the landscape change on the train and when we arrived in Innsbruck, the sun was shining. There was beautiful blue water on the lake, we saw mountains, the nature was breathtaking. We arrived right in a fairytale. Then we both had the feeling: that's why we travel by train.

My top three tips:

• A hostel is an ideal place to meet new people, but bring your earplugs because sometimes there are still snorers present!
• Try to say a few words in the local language. Even if it's just 'thanks' or 'hello'. Local people really appreciate that.
• You can meet in advance with other young people from Europe who have also won a #DiscoverEU ticket. We met #DiscoverEU people while travelling. The facebook group helped to find them.

See more pictures here

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

My name is Tanguy, I am 26 years old and I currently live in Paris. Originally from Brittany, I grew up in a small village of 2.000 inhabitants, in the middle of the countryside, until I moved to a big city of more than 250.000 inhabitants at the age of 16. The city was a great discovery for me: access to many cultural activities, with continuous and safe public transport.

After my A-level, I entered higher education. After two years of hesitations, I reoriented myself in a new training, nursing. As soon as I entered this new course, I decided to get involved in the association of my institute. This was the beginning of almost 5 years of commitment within the network of student associations of the first student organisation in France, the Federation of General Student Associations (FAGE).Today and for the second year, I am in charge of international affairs in this organisation, on a voluntary basis and during my gap year, to bring the voice of French students in European and international debates concerning higher education and youth issues. This prior engagement led me to join the French national working group of the EU Youth Dialogue. Every day, I have the chance to speak with students, associations and governments from all backgrounds and over the world.

What did this teach me? Today, with hindsight, I realise that growing up in a rural area and that I came from a low social class had conditioned me to think that I would never be able to live this kind of experience, to do the studies I was in. And yet, I was incredibly lucky to have been able to get involved in all these associations and to be able to build myself personally and professionally. Europe is accessible to everyone, even if you don't know it. My commitment has catalysed all this and that is why I can only encourage everyone to get involved in a cause that is dear to them.

Through self-study and all the people I met, I was able to learn a lot about international issues and in particular about the European Union, which have become major interests. At the beginning of the academic year 2022, I will have the chance to enter a master's degree in international political science (another reorientation), thanks to all my associative experience! I will thus be able to do with my life what I have been passionate about for almost 5 years now.

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026

In 2019, I went to Aberdeen in Scotland for a semester abroad. At home, I studied law at Aarhus Universitet and today I have graduated with an exciting year abroad behind me.

I chose to go on exchange because I always wanted to see what it was like to study in a foreign country. It has always been my plan since I started studying. 

I also wanted to try to live in a different country and experience its culture and way of life up close. I also chose to go abroad to boost my resume, because I know it says something about a person if that person has been abroad and employers think that it is important. 
I chose Scotland because it has always been a country I wanted to experience so why not try to live there?
I always wanted to experience the nature and the Scottish traditions and I’ve never been to Scotland which was important when I selected my destination. 

The University of Aberdeen is an old university and it looks very different from our modern universities in Denmark. It kinda looked like Hogwarts and I’m a huge Harry Potter fan so that was a plus. It also seemed like they did a lot for their exchange students and there were so many opportunities to experience Scotland on different trips. 

It was not hard to apply but it took a long time and there was a lot of paper work. I traveled with Erasmus+ and through EU things run by itself. I ended up with two scholarships and together with the Erasmus scholarship, it was quite enough. 
I have had some really good experiences in Scotland with the local culture and friendships that will last a lifetime. My English has improved, the school and courses were so exciting and my resume has improved.
 

Updated on Tuesday, 17/02/2026