From the 16th to the 24th of September 2024, 25 people, aged 18 to 30, from Italy, Spain, North Macedonia, Sweden, and Portugal joined the youth exchange « Transforming Tomorrow Together » within the ECA project. It was held in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, and the main topics discussed were the Green Deal and well-being.
The week started with team-building dynamics, getting to know each other, and helping participants feel comfortable. We did activities using non-formal education about the European Union and the Green Deal; we reflected on our emotions related to climate change and analyzed how we can work on our resilience towards it. We had a workshop about sustainable recipes and did some sports (walk to the beach, surf, and bodyboard classes). We also discussed the initiatives and opportunities for youth that the EU offers at the moment, and participants got to give their recommendations and suggestions for improvement.
There was also the opportunity to visit the city. The group did an interactive peddy paper, visited a museum, had free time, and was welcomed at the town hall by the youth counsellor. There was time for reflections, games, and a visit to a local “green” festival.
During the five intercultural nights, the group got to taste traditional meals and beverages. We had the chance to learn traditional dances, listen to traditional songs, and play games during which we got to know more about each other’s countries.
The place was surrounded by nature — it was possible to see both the mountains and the sea at the same time, and we had some friendly animals around. It was a good place to reflect on the topics and connect with each other, with ourselves, and with nature.
We believe important personal, social, and professional skills were developed during this experience and that the exchange had a positive impact on the group, as well as on AJD.
