1. What was the most valuable experience or moment for you during this project?
The workshops were really valuable, particularly those introducing group activities and opportunities through European programmes such as Erasmus+. I also enjoyed the energisers. Starting the day with movement, laughter and good energy helped us feel ready to participate and concentrate.
These activities did more than wake us up. They helped break the ice between people who had never met before and came from different countries. Sharing those moments made it easier to connect before moving into more serious discussions.
Meeting people from different cultures was itself an important part of the experience. Hearing their perspectives helped me look beyond my own surroundings and consider different ways of thinking.
If I had to choose one highlight, it would be those first moments of getting to know one another. I enjoy meeting new people and discovering their stories. Those early conversations were the beginning of everything we later shared as a group.
2. What new skills, knowledge or perspectives did you gain?
One of the most important skills I developed was supporting and coordinating a team. I learned more about encouraging people, communicating across cultural differences and helping a group work towards a shared goal.
I also gained a clearer understanding of why youth participation matters, what opportunities EU-funded projects can offer and how I can apply to take part.
Another lesson was something very simple: the power of a smile. We do not always understand one another immediately. We grow up speaking different languages, with different cultures and experiences. But a smile can make that first connection easier.
Whether you are making eye contact, celebrating something together or helping someone feel welcome, a small gesture can open a conversation. That stayed with me because participation also begins with how we make space for one another.
3. How has this experience changed you personally or influenced your future plans?
Before the project, I doubted whether institutions and decision-makers were interested in young people’s voices. The experience challenged that view and helped me recognise opportunities to contribute.
I now feel more confident about speaking up. I want to participate in more projects, keep learning and take a more active role in the issues that matter to me.
I also want to encourage other young people to get involved. Individual motivation is important, but working with others can take an idea further. Sharing what we learn, supporting one another and building connections can help turn that motivation into collective action.
The project left me with a stronger belief that I can contribute and that I can help others recognise their own potential too.
4. What would you say to other young people who are thinking about joining an Erasmus+ project?
Give yourself the chance to try something unfamiliar. Joining an international project can feel intimidating, especially if you have never travelled abroad or worked with people from different countries. But that first step can open up experiences you might never have imagined.
For me, Erasmus+ offered the opportunity to discover new places, meet people from different cultures and learn through direct experience. It also helped me become more comfortable outside familiar surroundings.
Listen to advice from people around you, but leave room to form your own opinions and discover things for yourself. If an opportunity interests you, ask questions, explore what it involves and consider applying.
You do not have to arrive feeling completely confident. Confidence can grow through participating, meeting others and giving yourself time to adapt.
5. Before this project, what did youth participation mean to you, and how has your understanding changed?
Before the project, I mainly associated youth participation with politics: joining a political party, attending a protest or voting once you are old enough.
During the exchange, I discovered a much wider range of possibilities. Young people can contribute through volunteering, community initiatives, international projects and activities they organise themselves.
Participation can mean creating a social media campaign about an issue you care about, organising a cultural event, running a workshop or sharing knowledge with other young people. Art, music, sport and writing can also give people ways to express their views and bring others together.
I also learned about dialogue between young people and decision-makers. Discovering ways to share opinions directly helped me understand how participation can connect everyday experiences with decisions that affect us.
I now see youth participation as taking responsibility for the world around us and finding a way to contribute that matches our interests, strengths and circumstances.
6. What would you say to encourage other young people to participate more actively in society?
I would start with a simple thought: you are part of society, and you can help shape it. Your experiences, concerns and ideas belong in conversations about the future.
You do not have to begin with a huge project. Start with something close to you: your school, neighbourhood, local community or a cause you care about. Think about one small action you could take this week.
You could join a youth organisation, volunteer, write about an issue or bring friends together for a conversation. The important thing is to find a starting point that feels meaningful and possible for you.
Look for people who share your motivation. Working together gives you support, different ideas and encouragement when something becomes difficult.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
