Representatives of the Youth Development Center – Mutual Aid had the opportunity to participate in the youth exchange co-financed by the EU Erasmus+ program – “ACT Green”, which took place from September 10 to September 20 in Treisteni, Romania. The project was implemented by the organization Beehive.

It brought together young people from Slovakia, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, and Romania with the common goal of learning more about recycling and environmental protection.

From the very first day, we were welcomed in a friendly atmosphere. Through various icebreaker games, we quickly made new friends and felt part of the team. We got acquainted with the project program and learned more about the opportunities provided by the Erasmus+ program.

Throughout the week, we participated in various workshops and interactive activities dedicated to nature conservation. We presented ecological practices from our countries, discussed the impact of human activity on nature, and explored topics such as “The four Rs”: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, and Refuse. Through practical work, we developed skills in planning, teamwork, and creating our own ideas for green projects.

We were particularly interested in the activities related to finding innovative solutions to environmental problems, as well as the “From trash to art” workshop, where we learned how waste materials can be given a new life through creative ideas. We also had the opportunity to visit the computer repair company “Ateliere Fara Frontiere” in Bucharest, where we learned how old corporate computers are repaired and donated to schools. In addition, we visited a local school where we made a presentation about Erasmus+ and our project.

The project gave us the opportunity to develop our communication skills through preparing presentations, presenting the results of our work, and public speaking. We created ideas for environmental campaigns that we can implement in our own communities after returning home, as well as developed ideas for potential future projects related to the Erasmus+ program.

The evenings were filled with cultural diversity. During the national evenings, we had the opportunity to present the traditions, food, music, and customs of our countries. These moments helped us to get to know the different cultures better and to build friendships that will last long after the end of the project.

Our participation in “ACT Green” was an extremely inspiring and useful experience. The project showed us that through cooperation, creativity, and green thinking, young people have the ability to change the world around them for the better.