Youth Exchange “My Data, My Right” in Portugal (Estonian Team)

Project “My Data My Right” took place in Lisbon on 3-11 March 2022. Young people interested in the topic were brought together from Estonia, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, Lithuania and Greece. The program was tight, but interesting and educational. In a short period of time we got to discuss data usage, protection and possible dangers of personal information falling into someone else’s hands. Since every participant had a different experience with digital world, we could learn a lot from each other. Estonia’s digital literacy and e-services got a lot of coverage.

At the same time we got to know each other’s cultures and traditions. This project was special, because every dinner was to be prepared by one national group. It was a big challenge for us, because no one had ever made dinner for 30 people before! Despite all, in the end we managed to do our job well and introduced dumpling soup (klimbisupp), lavash, dumplings and kama to the participants. The night ended with tasting Estonian snacks and Vana-Tallinn liqueur. We also performed a few Estonian traditional dances that many people liked.

Other countries’ cultural nights were high-spirited as well. The Spanish offered a 6-course dinner while the Lithuanians just copied Estonian food, offering borsch, garlic bread and Spotted-Dog cake. The Hungarian night was remembered for the infamous Balinka schnapps. The Portuguese grilled Chorizo outside. The Greeks organized a terrific fare-well party.

Overall, Lisbon was surprisingly cold for us. Probably that’s why in the evenings many decided to go discover Portuguese nightlife to get a little bit of warmth with dancing and some strong drinks,We also had one day to see Lisbon’s sights during the daytime, ride the famous Lisbon train and taste Pasteis de Natas.

The accommodation was in Spin Hostel, where we were placed in rooms by eight. Two toilets for 30 people was a real challenge, especially when one of them often didn’t work. But the cramped circumstances didn’t discourage us, because the overall atmosphere was always pleasant. We’re going back to Estonia with a big baggage of knowledge and experience, new connections and a positive mind.

Testemunhos do Intercâmbio “United in Culture” na Eslovénia

Partilhámos aqui os testemunhos do Rúben e da Sara, dois participantes portugueses do intercâmbio juvenil que aconteceu em Murska Sobota (Rakičan), na Eslovénia, do dia 26 de Novembro até ao 3 de Dezembro de 2021. 

Este intercâmbio reuniu 30 jovens e líderes juvenis da Eslovénia, Portugal, Roménia, Lituânia e Itália sendo coordenado pela ONGD MOVIT. O intercâmbio focou-se em temas como a paz, tolerância, direitos humanos e igualdade de género. 

O grupo de participantes português foi constituído por 6 participantes: Marta (líder), Sara, Rúben, Afonso, Mafalda e Diana.

Partilhámos o testemunho do Rúben sobre a sua experiência no intercâmbio: 

Uma experiência incrível que me permitiu sair da minha zona de conforto, conhecer novas culturas e passar momentos inesquecíveis com pessoas com quem espero voltar a cruzar caminhos. Uma nova aventura, por terras desconhecidas onde tive a hipótese de visitar muito. Foi uma semana em que me senti como se estivesse em casa, apesar de nunca ter estado tão longe de Portugal. 

No início era um misto de sentimentos, por um lado o entusiasmo por algo novo, por outro lado nervosismo. Este segundo sentimento predominou durante o dia da viagem, desde o momento em que saí de casa de mochila às costas até ao momento em que aterrei cansado num beliche de um castelo em Murska Sobota. Mas a partir do primeiro pequeno-almoço do primeiro dia do projeto tudo mudou, como se do nada já sentisse algum conforto em estar ali. 

Atividades interessantes, que contribuíram para o meu desenvolvimento pessoal e social. Atividades que permitiram criar empatia, amizade e espírito de equipa com um grupo fantástico com quem adorei partilhar esta aventura. Atividades que me permitiram ter novas perspectivas acerca de vários dos temas abordados e ajudaram a sentir-me mais à vontade com o meu Inglês e com novas formas de comunicação, quando o Inglês não era suficiente. 

Recomendo toda a gente a, pelo menos uma vez na vida, participar num projeto Erasmus+, especialmente pessoal jovem com tempo livre e espírito aventureiro. Uma oportunidade a não desperdiçar. De volta a Portugal, estou ainda cheio de memórias e já com alguma vontade de voltar para uma nova aventura. 

Testemunho da Sara: 

A minha primeira experiência de Erasmus+ Youth Exchange aconteceu na Eslovénia tendo por base um tema que me diz muito, Direitos Humanos e Cultura, “United in Diversity”. Os dias que passei em Murska Sobota foram fantásticos porque conheci pessoas que não só adorei conhecer e partilhar experiências com, como também pude conhecer um pouco mais das suas culturas, sendo essas as romenas, eslovenas e italianas. Foi muito interessante perceber como são as dinâmicas que um Youth Exchange traz e as diversas atividades que tiveram lugar foram cada uma, à sua maneira, enriquecedoras. Uma experiência nova, com diversas aprendizagens e muitos sorrisos. 

Youth Exchange "Thinking outside the box"

The Youth Exchange "Thinking Outside the Box" took place from 17 to 24th of September in Bánk, Hungary. The project aimed to bring 40 young people together in an intercultural environment where they developed their basic skills on tolerance, acceptance of diversity and learned how to fight against stereotypes and prejudices.

You can read more about the experience that Spin's team had in the following testimony, written by one of the Portuguese participants, Sara:

"Between 17-24.09.2018 a group of 5 Portuguese people got together to participate in the youth exchange 'Thinking outside the box' in Bánk, Hungary. The program also involved Greek, Italian, Portuguese, French, Romanian and Hungarian young people who were together responsible for the implementation of some very creative activities on the topic of stereotypes, prejudices, acceptance, values etc.

Most of the activities were organized by the national teams and were consisting of many break-the-ice games, teambuilding games, workshops, DIY presentations, performances, etc.

We got to know each other, present the best of our culture and share it with the others, be together as one family and share personal and touching experiences, get a lot of fun around the places and in the local community, enjoy the sun near the lake, create a musical moment near the fireplace at night, that was magical and unforgettable.

At the end of the program, we also had the opportunity to prepare a flash-mob that was shown in Budapest city center and we had a blast! It was a huge success!"

SEED Journal

The first phase of the SEED - Sustainable Empowerment through Experiencing Diversity has come to an end. Read below a few words directly from the participants in the event!

June, 22nd:

This morning, we got up early because it was a bit noisy. We were tired because of the long way to Lisbon. We have breakfast together with the Portuguese and have taken together some things in the Hostel. We can`t get out alone, only in break we went out in the streets of Lisbon.

We liked the nature, the modest area. Everything was already the weather and many different things. Then we came back and ate for lunch (it consisted of: turbo soup, noodle with sauce, for dessert there was melon) then we did something together again; Rescheduled and some things explained then we are back out and were in a small supermarket. We liked it today. Now the others prepare the dinner while we write the diary. Today was cool and tomorrow will be even better and more beautiful. We wish us nice weather and good mood. :)

June, 23rd:

Today we woke up, took a shower and after that we dressed up. We had breakfast and then we made 5 groups which had to search for paper notes on which were written tasks. As we made all the tasks, the teachers collected the notes and read them out loud to everybody. Later we had a small exercise where there was one person in the middle and all the others had to split up and run away from him. After he catches somebody he needs to take his hand and then walk together with him to catch the remaining people. Then it was time for Lunch. We ate salada russa, it´s a Russian salad.

After lunch we made groups again and every group received an apple and an egg. The apple needed to be traded to something else that’s worth more and the egg should be returned cooked. The catch was that everything should be done outside the hostel, we asked strangers to trade with us and cook the egg for us. At 16:30 we met at the local school and went together to the Arraial Festival close by. Some people played soccer and some listened to the music. Then we returned to the hostel and everyone got asked how they feel and tell something about how the trip is going so far. Then it was dinner time, we ate chili con carne and baba ganoush. In the evening we watched the soccer match between Germany and Sweden.

June, 24th:

Dear Diary,

today we went to the Museu da Eletrecidade. We learned a lot about technology. It was interesting. 

After that we went to a park and had a picknick where we ate pastel de belém. It was very delicious. We had some free time and looked around the beautiful city and played games.

June, 25th:

Dear Diary,

today we had a workshop where we played games and spoke about cyberbullying. We learned that social media is a big place where bullying is happening. 

When lunch was finished we went to association “Bola p´ra frente”. There we upcycled trash to keychains and watched videos about 5 min. hacks. Then we went home.

Later, we will have German intercultural night.

Intercâmbio TH!NK: youth & the post-truth era

Aqui podem ler mais testemunhos dos participantes do intercâmbio TH!NK: youth & the post-truth era, que decorreu de 9 a 17 de Outubro de 2017 em Lisboa.

Alessandro Ameli, Italia

Hi! I'm Alessandro, I was the Group Leader of the wild Italian bunch. I'll share some thoughts about TH!NK, the Youth Exchange we participated on October 9th-17th, in Lisbon.

First of all: I don't mean to brag, but my participants were the absolute best: responsible enough not to give me much to do as a Leader, and a lot of fun to hang out with. Francesco, the youngest but most experienced of the Fantastic 4, was always the life of the party. Elia, who experienced a Youth Exchange for the first time, adapted very quickly to the spirit of the Youth Exchange, and I was happy to see him open up and share experiences with the other participants. Sejvi and Esmeralda (first time for both of them), were... just perfect. We couldn't have survived the Italian night, when we had to cook dinner for everybody, without them (in particular, without Esmeralda's tiramisù)! All the other participants, from Poland, Scotland, Estonia, Macedonia and Portugal, were fun, interesting, intelligent young people. They made me feel a bit old sometimes... just because I was the oldest one ;)

As for the theme of the Youth Exchange, post-truth era, I think it was very well developed and analysed during the Activities. The non-formal education Workshops were well structured and thought out... and think we will "steal" them to replicate in Italy! The study visits were very interesting... and of course, Lisbon is amazing. In particular Barrio Padre Cruz, where the SPIN Hostel is located and where most of the activities were hold, was a pleasant surprise. We lived the Barrio, we loved the Barrio... we were the Barrio, at least for a week! Street art is everywhere, and we noticed that many NGOs in the Area are working side-by-side to make the place better and better.

A big thank you to Aneta, the Project Manager, and in general to our hosts of SPIN, and to the great EVS guys that have been so friendly and kind to us: yes I'm talking to you, Maria, Camilla, Petra, Mikhail, Katerina and Ana (I hope I'm not forgetting anyone!). You're a big international family and it was a pleasure to be part of it for a while. Cheers!

Sejvalda Hasani, Italia

It was my first time participating in a youth exchanging program. I never thought it would be such as beautiful experience as it resulted to be. The first day we had our presentation game and it was a very interesting and different way to know other people whom the previous days became very close to me. I appreciated the availability of everyone how works at spin for being willing to help us with anything we needed. Regarding the topic we had to discuss, it was eye catching for me. A topic which concerns all of us. We made some team works with participants from different countries. So, different ideas, different ways of seeing the situations. It was an amazing time spent in Lisboa and I'd be so happy to experience other exchanges in the future. Thank you for everything!