"Last week, I had the great opportunity to participate to an Erasmus Plus Youth Exchange Programme that took place in one of the best spots in Bulgaria, the Sunny Beach. As the name suggests, Sunny Beach is a place full of sun, fun, beaches, easy going people, peaceful vibes and relaxing atmosphere.
The topic of the project was the protection of the environment and that was also the reason why all participants should make it to Sunny Beach using only eco-friendly means of transport, such as bus or train. That’s what we also did, when we rode the busses and trains for several hours until we reached our final destination. The trip was long, rough and tiring, but all I can say is that it was definitely worth it at the end!
During the 10 days of the project we had the chance to meet people from other European countries, exchange knowledge and ideas and make really strong bonds with each other. We also learned a lot about the issues our planet is facing and what we could potentially do in order to change this situation.
All in all, I could easily say that the past 10 days were definitely 10 of the best of my life. I already miss the activities we’ve done, the late night talks, the nights out, the games, the fun, the people, everything. It’s always that bittersweet feeling you get when you have had an amazing experience. The sweet because you lived it, and the bitter because it ended. But after all, that’s what life is all about, isn’t it?"
Evangelos
"Spending ten days with fifty new personalities from five different countries in the beautiful Sunny Beach was a truly unique experience. Although it was challenging to get to know everyone in such a short time, this experience helped me recognize and appreciate both the cultural differences and, more importantly, the similarities shared by the Balkans.
Having participated in previous youth exchanges, I can confidently say that the accommodations were top-notch, and any feedback provided to the project organizers was promptly addressed. Additionally, the project's focus on environmental protection allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of how various countries tackle this issue. My favorite part of the project was cleaning Sunny Beach, and the heartwarming feedback we received from the locals during this activity made it even more special."
Vasilis
"I participated in the project ''Heroes of the planet '' which took place in Bulgaria and my experience was nothing less than perfect! First of all meeting with people from different countries, exchanging thoughts and making memories together made me realise how special this opportunity is and how differently people from other countries see the world. Not to mention the fact that through the activities that were organised not only did we learn more things about how can we, as personalities, contribute effectively in order to reduce climate change but also practices that we can use in our daily routine in order to help other people realize the seriousness of the problem. If you ask me, my favourite activity was when we had as a mission to clean Sunny Beach and to inform the locals about the recycling process and the bad effects of apathy.
Last but not least I would like to mention that except of the difficulties and the bad little things that happen this youth exchange is an unforgettable experience for me and I would do it over and over again! I made friends, I learned new things, I saw new places, I laughed, I cried but the most important of all is that we created a new family, a family foul of heroes!"
Georgia
"This being my first Erasmus project I had some fears ,a few things holding me back but I really wanted to challenge myself so I took part nonetheless.
The project as whole was a great experience for me. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and it showed, for example I have terrible anxiety when it comes to public speaking especially in a language that is not my mother tongue but I had to do it so I overcame that obstacle. Other obstacles or fears per say where how I'm gonna be perceived or how well I can communicate with others. Not to boast but I think I did a great job. Except from the social part of this project I also had some troubles. Manly our goal was to be more environmentally conscious and gain empathy towards the planet and its well being. Trying not to sound ungrateful but I belive we didn't reach our goals.
My thoughts in general having no previous experiences are mixed. I started traveling with no or even low expectations so I wouldn't be disappointed. The first few days where almost perfect with a decent living place more food that I could imagine and meeting new faces everyday. But from a point forward maybe like the fifth day things got a bit boring like we had a routine and not in a good way.
Although even if I had one to many bad critics the things I'm taking from this experience are only good. To name a few I improved my communication skills , I interacted for the first time with five different cultures at once i quaintly got informed about topics that concern nature and the climate which can only be helpful but most importantly I gained a whole bunch of new friends which I can laugh or cry with from this nonetheless Great experience that is called Youth exchange.
I can't wait for the next one "
Ilias
"I’ve been back for a week after participating in the wonderful project "Heroes of Planet Earth" and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this experience. At first I was anxious about the green travel aspect and the hours required but when returning I didn't even notice the time going by because I was in such good company. When we arrived at our hotel I was pleasantly surprised by the size of our rooms and especially the view. Also, it has to be noted that the hosting organization was very proactive and flexible and I felt heard while discussing anything that occured.
From a more sentimental point of view I feel that we shared a lot of cultural similarities with the other participants, which made me feel comfortable from the beginning. I had the chance to meet so many new people and ,although it was overwhelming at times, I had so much fun even when we were just having dinner together. My favorite activity was the one in which we had 1 minute to answer a question with the person in front of us and then we had to rotate. It sparked a lot of interesting conversations after and helped us understand each other a bit better.
This experience was unforgettable and I hope to have the chance to see as many of my new friends in future projects or even vacations!"
Ermioni
"During the Erasmus+ project in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, I had an unforgettable experience. Since it was my first project, I was thrilled by how quickly and effectively you can interact with people from other countries. Through activities, we got to know each other, exchanged opinions, and had fun. I stepped out of my comfort zone, as I had to express my feelings in another language, but that didn't stop me from making new friends and creating strong bonds in such a short time.
In the theoretical part, all sessions were focused on the program's theme. There was creativity in their implementation and we learned new things in an enjoyable way. However, practically speaking, during these 10 days, the materials we used were not environmentally friendly (e.g., single-use plastic cups at meals and excessive paper usage for writing). The timing organization of activities was proper, and the organizer took the group's needs into account. One thing is for sure; these 10 days will become one of my favorite memories, and I look forward to meeting these awesome people again."
Konstantina-Spyridoula
"Last week I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful sunny beach in Bulgaria. After a very long and tiring trip, we arrived at our destination, and were welcomed by heartwarming people. We took part in interesting activities, met really cool people and had a lot of fun. We engaged with other people, got to know their cultures, and made exceptional memories together. Additionaly, through the activities, i enhanced my speaking skills and got out of my comfort zone. Our facilitator tried his best to ensure we feel comfortable and to keep our energy levels high throughout our stay. We also had the chance to swim at the beautiful waters of the black sea, during our free time, which was a very unique experience.
The projects theme was fascinating and we learned so much cool stuff about nature and the environment. The highlight of the project was undoubtedly the "oscar night", where we collectively filmed our own movies, and then voted for the best ones. It was an unforgettable experience. Overall, the particular Erasmus project was an exceptional experience and I will always hold to my heart all of our beautiful memories."
Maria
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Αν θέλεις και εσύ να ζήσεις μία αντίστοιχη εμπειρία "ζωής" μείνε συντονισμέν@ στη σελίδα μας για να ενημερώνεσαι για τις δράσεις μας στην Ελλάδα και το εξωτερικό!
Join the dream! Join Erasmus+!
"
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