1. What was the most valuable experience or moment for you during this project?
For me, the treasure hunt in Bansko was the most valuable experience. We had to work together, create social media content and share how enjoyable participating in an Erasmus+ project can be.
It combined several things I appreciated: exploring a new place, collaborating with others and finding creative ways to communicate our experience.
Our Bulgarian teammate showed us around the town and shared insights into Bulgarian history. Learning from someone who knew the local context made the activity especially interesting. It gave us an opportunity to discover more about Bansko while getting to know one another better.
2. What new skills, knowledge or perspectives did you gain?
The workshops and discussions broadened my perspective, particularly our conversations about corruption, government and public life in Spain, Romania, Bulgaria and Türkiye.
Hearing other participants describe their experiences helped me understand how these issues look from different perspectives. Each country has its own circumstances, but we also recognised similarities in the challenges people face and the things they value.
Those exchanges encouraged me to look beyond my own experience. They showed me how useful it is to listen, ask questions and compare perspectives before forming an opinion about another country.
3. How has this experience changed you personally or influenced your future plans?
The experience encouraged me to take fewer things for granted. Listening to other people and learning about their circumstances made me reflect more carefully on my own opportunities and surroundings.
I also became more comfortable communicating with people, both from my own country and from other countries. Sharing activities and conversations helped me gain a broader understanding of the world we live in.
Most importantly, I came to appreciate why youth participation matters. Young people need opportunities to share their perspectives, challenge assumptions and contribute to decisions about the future.
I want to carry that awareness forward and become more active in helping create better opportunities for our generation.
4. What would you say to other young people who are thinking about joining an Erasmus+ project?
I would encourage them to explore the opportunities and find a project that interests them. You can learn more about a topic while also developing communication skills, adapting to unfamiliar situations and meeting people with different experiences.
For me, learning about other countries’ cultures, traditions and social realities was an important part of the exchange. It helped me consider perspectives I might not otherwise have encountered.
The interactive workshops and shared activities also made the experience enjoyable. You learn together, spend time together and build friendships along the way.
That combination of learning and connection is what I would recommend to someone considering their first project.
5. Before this project, what did youth participation mean to you, and how has your understanding changed?
To be honest, when I first applied, I did not fully understand what youth participation meant. I expected mainly team-building activities and opportunities to communicate with other young people.
After the project, I understood it as something broader: young people taking an active role in improving their communities and helping shape future opportunities.
I learned more about the importance of volunteering, becoming involved locally and sharing our views so that others can hear and consider them. Participation gives us ways to contribute to the issues that affect our lives.
I also discovered different types of Erasmus+ projects and opportunities that I had not known about before. That made me realise there are several possible routes into involvement, depending on our interests and circumstances.
6. What would you say to encourage other young people to participate more actively in society?
I would suggest starting by exploring the opportunities available. Learning about different Erasmus+ projects, youth organisations and local initiatives can help you find something that interests you.
Applying for a project can be a useful first step outside your comfort zone. For me, participating helped make the value of active involvement much clearer than it had been before.
I would also encourage young people to choose a topic or cause they care about. When you feel connected to the purpose of an activity, it is easier to stay motivated and contribute with enthusiasm.
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.
