1. What was the most valuable experience or moment for you during this project?
I approached this Erasmus+ experience without many expectations. I wanted to remain open to whatever the exchange might bring. I was part of my country’s team alongside people I had known for a long time, including close friends and my brother.
Although the project focused on youth participation, one of its most meaningful outcomes for me was deeply personal. My brother and I already had a good relationship, but sharing this experience allowed me to see a different side of him.
Being together in a new environment helped me appreciate qualities I had not fully recognised before. With each passing day, my admiration for him grew.
That is what I will remember most: discovering something new about someone who had been close to me all along. The exchange became an opportunity to deepen a relationship that already mattered to me.
2. What new skills, knowledge or perspectives did you gain?
The biggest change was in my confidence communicating in English. I had never considered my speaking skills particularly strong, and that uncertainty had made me anxious about applying for other international projects.
Being surrounded by people I trusted made a significant difference. I knew I could ask for help if I could not find the right words or understand something. Instead of feeling judged, I felt supported.
Gradually, I became more comfortable joining conversations and expressing my thoughts, even when I was unsure of my English. Having space to practise helped me worry less about making mistakes.
I also realised that I understood much more than I had previously believed. That discovery encouraged me to trust my abilities and consider future international opportunities with greater confidence.
3. How has this experience changed you personally or influenced your future plans?
Before the project, a lack of confidence sometimes limited the opportunities I considered, especially those involving international environments or unfamiliar situations.
The exchange helped me recognise how much my own doubts had influenced those decisions. In a supportive group, I became more communicative, more involved and more willing to share my thoughts.
I now feel more open to future international experiences, whether that means another Erasmus+ project, studying abroad or working in a multicultural environment. These possibilities feel more accessible than they did before.
I still expect unfamiliar situations to bring challenges, but I have an experience I can look back on and remind myself that I can adapt, ask for support and contribute.
4. What would you say to other young people who are thinking about joining an Erasmus+ project?
I would encourage them to give themselves a chance, even if they feel uncertain about their language skills or their ability to adapt.
I understand those concerns because I had them too. What helped me was discovering that I could participate without speaking perfectly and that asking for help could make communication easier.
An exchange offers opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds, explore new perspectives and learn about yourself through everyday interactions. For me, those experiences helped build confidence in a practical way.
Take time to understand the project and what support is available, but do not assume that feeling nervous means you cannot do it. You can arrive with questions and learn as you go.
5. Before this project, what did youth participation mean to you, and how has your understanding changed?
Before the exchange, I had quite a pessimistic view of community involvement. Some of what I had seen around me had led me to believe that volunteering and civic participation were often treated as less important than activities offering an immediate personal or financial benefit.
I understood that people have responsibilities and pressures, but I had begun to doubt how many young people were willing to contribute to a shared cause.
Meeting the other participants challenged that assumption. I encountered people from different backgrounds who were enthusiastic about getting involved and improving their communities.
Through our workshops, discussions and activities, I saw how responsibility, empathy and hope could motivate people to act. Their experiences helped me recognise that my previous outlook had been shaped by a limited picture.
I left with a more hopeful understanding of youth participation and a greater appreciation of the people already working to make a difference.
6. What would you say to encourage other young people to participate more actively in society?
Do not underestimate what you can contribute. It is easy to feel that one person’s voice is too small, especially when a problem seems much bigger than anything you could address alone.
You do not have to begin with a major commitment. Volunteering, joining a project or sharing your perspective can be a starting point. Find something that matters to you and an opportunity that fits your circumstances.
I know that personal goals, responsibilities and financial pressures can make involvement difficult. But contributing to your community can also be a way to learn, build relationships and discover abilities you have not yet had the chance to use.
For me, spending time with people who believed in change restored a sense of possibility. Their motivation encouraged me to reconsider my own assumptions.
