From May 30 to June 9, a youth exchange brought together young people from Spain, Sweden, Poland, and Ukraine in a picturesque corner of Poland, in Szymanka. This initiative not only enriched the participants with new knowledge and skills, but also became an important step in supporting intercultural understanding and dialogue among young people from different parts of Europe. The exchange program included various activities, discussions, and creative workshops. We share the feedback of the Ukrainian participants.
Marіia
This was my first youth exchange experience and hopefully not my last.
The program and its contents were determined by the youth themselves. All days were quite full: many workshops, trainings and other activities. I was able to gain useful knowledge about mental health, mental illness and how it is dealt with in other European countries.
The experience of communicating with young people from other countries was very valuable for me. After the exchange, I realized that the situation with mental illnesses in the EU is not so far from ours: the number of quality doctors is small, there are many patients, and not all of them have the opportunity to have treatment.
During the exchange, I conducted a workshop for the first time and even became a book in a living library. It helped push the boundaries of the comfort zone even further and have wider opportunities.
At the cultural evenings, we had the opportunity to explore the traditions, dances, songs and games of different countries.
In general, the location itself, “Szymanka”, is incredible: nature, lake, rabbits, dogs, cats, etc. – all this helped to adjust to ours feelings, emotions, so we could talk about mental health.
Language knowledge are leading to these incredible opportunities, so learn English and don’t hesitate to apply.
Dariia
Recently I returned from abroad to Ukraine, and during the 32 hours on the bus I had the opportunity to reflect on everything I had received during this exchange)) These 12 days were filled with powerful emotions, invaluable information, and a unique sense of safety and support. In this short time, I felt that our team has become a real family for me. The barriers of language and communication disappeared, because all these people became one unit that surrounded me with warmth and care. This is extremely important for me, because the environment has a great impact on my state and well-being🫶
I sincerely want to preserve all the feelings, experiences, and love that I received during this project. Speeches, public speaking skills, communication, endless reflections – all this left an indelible mark on my heart. Every day was filled with new impressions and discoveries, and each of YOU made this experience unique.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this team, for the support and mutual understanding we have created together. This exchange has remained not only in my memory but also in my heart, and I hope that our paths will cross again🤍 Thank you so much Space of Іdeas for this great opportunity💞 Thank you for creating such a great exchange and giving me the opportunity to get so much energy, a comfortable place to stay and a sense of calmness until the next youth exchange 🫶
Iryna
The youth exchange in Poland was an unforgettable experience that left many positive impressions and important lessons. The organization was at a high level: we had the opportunity to get acquainted with Polish culture and traditions through various interactive activities, excursions, and workshops. Every day was filled with interesting events.
It is particularly worth noting the friendly atmosphere and warm reception from the Polish organizers. They constantly supported us, helped solve any issues, and created comfortable conditions for our stay. The exchange program included many team tasks that promoted communication and cooperation among participants from different countries.
Thanks to this exchange, I made many new friends from various parts of Europe, improved my English skills, and learned to work in an international team.
Overall, the youth exchange in Poland was not only entertaining but also very useful. It provided an opportunity to broaden my horizons, discover new possibilities for self-development, and understand the importance of international cooperation. I recommend everyone who has the chance to participate in such a program to seize this opportunity. It is a life-changing experience that leaves warm memories for many years.
Anna
I really liked this youth exchange, I got to know different people. She gained experience in various techniques for overcoming stress, stereotypes, mental health and its improvement.
Polina
It was the best experience in my life. During these days I have lived a separate life. I liked how in such a short time we became a family with strangers. An important part of this exchange was reflections, which helped to understand what I studied, understood or rethought. I take these reflections with me into my normal life.
It was also an interesting experience for me to hold a workshop in English, it was the first time in my life and I liked it. In addition, I realized that you can find a common language with all people. No matter how different we are, with different backgrounds, different cultures, we still found a connection and became a small family.
Maryna
This year I had a great opportunity to take part in an international youh exchange held in Poland. Young people from different countries participated in the program: Spain, Sweden, Poland and Ukraine. It was an incredible experience that left many vivid memories and new acquaintances in my heart. The topic of our exchange was mental health, which is a very relevant and important issue in today’s world. During the exchange, we held various sessions during which we discussed various aspects of mental health, shared our thoughts and experiences. Each session was very informative and helped me understand the importance of taking care of my mental health and supporting others.
In addition to informative sessions, we also engaged in various physical exercises and had energizers before each session, which helped us recharge our batteries and get ready for productive work. These were fun and active exercises that brought us together as a team and created a friendly atmosphere. One of the brightest impressions for me was getting to know wonderful people from different countries. I met open, friendly and interesting guys and girls from Spain, Sweden and Poland. We talked a lot, shared the cultural features of our countries, and spent free time together.
This exchange gave me the opportunity not only to learn more about mental health, but also to expand my worldview, improve my English and develop my communication skills. It was an unforgettable experience that helped me become more open and self-confident. I am very grateful to the organizers of this exchange for the wonderful opportunity to participate in such an important and interesting program. I hope that I will be able to participate in such events again and continue to learn new things, meet interesting people and grow as a person.
Thus, this youth exchange was an unforgettable experience for all participants. During these ten days, young people not only gained new knowledge and skills, but also built trust and friendships with peers from different countries. They had the opportunity to broaden their horizons by immersing themselves in other cultures and ways of thinking, as well as to deepen their understanding of the importance of mental health. So, join the following events to live this incredible experience at least once in your life.
