The Erasmus+ project “Ring the Intersectionality” was a real adventure for us – emotional, deep and inspiring. For two weeks, participants from five different countries gathered in the picturesque town of Bran in Transylvania to explore important social issues, develop their skills, and open new horizons. The days were filled with discussions about human rights, discrimination, privilege, intersectionality, and joint creativity: we created illustration books, participated in forum theater, painted pictures, and looked for new ways to convey important ideas to society.
But this exchange was not just about learning. It was about people: a true international community where everyone found support, understanding, and inspiration. We laughed and discussed, danced at cultural evenings and shared personal stories, opened our hearts and broke down barriers of languages and cultures.
Each of us has come a different way: through challenges, new emotions, discoveries, and small victories. And for each of us, this project will remain an important chapter in our lives, full of warm memories, deep reflections, and new friends.
Below are the participants’ personal stories about this unforgettable experience.
Oleksii
How would you imagine this: 35 people from five different countries coming together to spend two weeks in a small town in Transylvania? Let me tell you right away — emotional rollercoasters are guaranteed 🙂
Even though this was my first Erasmus+ project, it will remain in my personal top favorites. I found a perfect balance here between serious topics and the ease of their delivery. Thanks to our organisers, Leo and Victor, we explored different types of socially vulnerable groups and how they form intersectionality. Most importantly, we tried various approaches to working with and representing such groups: from sensitive journalism to forum theatre and illustrated storytelling.
And what a community we had! Honestly, I’m so grateful that these exact people were there with me in that place and at that time. People with whom you could share moments of joy, sadness, anxiety, excitement, have fun and still dive into deep conversations. I’ll long remember our “dropnuty”, “deportation”, “panelkins”, “Estonian boulders”, “banan”, “palinka”, “God DAAMN!”, 3 AM snacks — and on and on and on.
Over these two weeks, I talked my heart out in English, became a facilitator for the first time, looked inside myself, discovered new emotions, motivated others, led mini-teams, explained the current situation in Ukraine to international youth, and took small steps toward big changes. These are my little pluses in the karma jar. The only minus — all good things come to an end.
So with this reflection, I’m putting “the end” to this chapter, turning the page, and starting to write a new one…
Tetiana
The youth exchange “Ring The Intersectionality” was a great opportunity to join the research and discussion of important topics of today.
The educational process turned out to be very interactive, the lectures were accompanied by group projects: creating books, drawing pictures and many other interesting tasks. This experience became extremely valuable for me. During my studies, I not only gained new knowledge, but also discovered the cultures and traditions of other countries.
I especially remembered the wonderful time spent with new friends from different countries. We worked a lot in teams, discussed and participated in forum theater.
I sincerely recommend Erasmus+ to everyone who wants to develop, discover new things and get unforgettable impressions.
Anzhelika
My first Erasmus+ exchange started a bit differently than I expected. We had just arrived, the atmosphere was great, we met the national team — and the next morning I had a fever of 38°C. I really thought I would miss many things. I’m very thankful to Kateryna, who brought me some tasty (and some not so tasty) teas. Thanks to her, I felt better in half a day and joined the sessions with everyone.
The first days showed me how different we all are.It was not only about culture, but also about how we speak. I thought my English was good, but when people from different countries started to talk — with different accents, speed and intonation — I often heard “just sounds” and didn’t understand the meaning. It was difficult. But step by step, I started to understand more and feel more confident. At the end, I could understand everything people were saying.
Some sessions were very emotional.For example, the exercise about privilege. We made steps forward or stayed in the same place — it depended on life situations we chose randomly. Some people had easier stories, others had harder ones. It was difficult to stay in place while others moved forward and said something good. And then to move only when the situations were negative. It was hard, but it showed a lot.
I really enjoyed the creative part. We worked on an illustrated book, and I had a chance to share my idea and my drawings. It was something new for me, but I liked it a lot. I’m very proud of our team and what we created.
We also had a forum theatre. It was a very strong tool. We created stories where characters had problems like discrimination or pressure. In our play, the story was about a girl in a toxic relationship.
We had only one day to practice, which seemed too short. Then we had a trip to Brașov, where we performed for students. I think we did a good job. We had fun, and the students were active and tried to change the stories!
I also want to talk about the cultural evenings. They were interesting and fun. We learned new things, tasted food, and danced. When it was our turn to present Ukraine, I was a bit nervous. But when we talked about the war, one girl became very emotional and cried. I didn’t expect that. Sometimes it feels like Europe doesn’t care much. But after our presentation, many people came to us, asked questions, and spoke with us.
After this exchange, I have many thoughts and even more emotions.I met amazing people and saw how different we all are. We spoke about important topics — human rights, discrimination, privilege… Even though we were all different, we made a space where everyone felt part of something. This was more than just learning. It was a real experience. I’m very happy and thankful to be part of this exchange.
Diana
I first got on a youth exchange from Erasmus+. It was like an unattainable goal for me, and it became a reality. When I got into this constant two-tum, I was filled with emotions. Despite the fact that the participants were from different countries and differed from each other. Immediately there was a feeling that you were in a multifaceted community that united by a common desire for development.
One of the most pleasant and vivid experiences is cultural evenings. Each country represented itself through music, dances, national dishes, traditions, jokes – and all this was so sincere and soulful that even a simple acquaintance with culture turned into a small journey. It was incredible to watch people from different countries share a piece of their home – with a smile, with a light in their eyes. And each time it was special: someone was fascinated by the dance, someone impressed by the cuisine, and someone simply was able to create such a mood around themselves that they wanted to stay there a little longer.
These evenings were not just about traditions – they were about people. About sincerity, openness, ease of communication. It was nice to feel that even among different languages and cultures we easily found a common language – sometimes with gestures, sometimes with laughter, and sometimes just with a look that spoke more than words.
This project has become something very warm and special for me. There were many new people, many sincere emotions and moments that will remain in my memory for a long time. We’ve been through a lot together, and because of that we’ve become closer. Of course, we wanted deportation, but we threw away this idea and everything we had intersectionality. This experience will stay with me for a long time and I will never forget these unforgettable 2 weeks spent in a circle of vibe people.
Yelyzaveta
Everything started with the words: “You applied for the youth exchange in Romania. My colleague Kateryna will soon let you know you weren’t selected, as there were too many applications.”
It was one of the first Erasmus+ projects I had ever applied for, so the response was somewhat expected. You also don’t get your hopes up too high after a message like that. I thought: “Well, at least I got to practice writing motivation letters.” But just a few days later, I received another email – this time, a confirmation of my participation. At that moment, I felt a whole range of emotions: surprise, joy, and the anticipation of something radically new and important in my life.
And that’s exactly what it turned out to be. This project taught me so much – both during the sessions and beyond them. The organizers, Victor and Leo, were truly inspiring. Through them, I experienced what a well-designed and well-executed project looks like. Every session was meaningful, and every day was full. We explored artistic methods like creating illustrated books, guidebooks, and various themed artworks.
And of course, we staged a forum theatre performance – an experience that will stay with me for a long time. As an artist, I was fascinated to learn how all of this can be used in social work. I can confidently say that I will use many of the things I learned here.
During the project, we were a real team. We talked a lot, shared our cultures, and got to know each other deeply. I won’t forget the Romanian energizers. The Estonian boulders. And of course, the warm moments with the Ukrainian team – our conversations, reflection meetings, cultural evening, and inside jokes. I met incredible people here. You are amazing.
I’m grateful for this experience and for the warm memories ❤️
Dariia
The Erasmus+ “Ring the Intersectionality” project, which took place in Bran, Romania, aimed to raise awareness among young people about discrimination, intersectionality and the rights of vulnerable groups, especially in the context of rural communities. Its purpose is to teach to understand the complexity of social identities and the relationship between different forms of discrimination. I especially remembered creative trainings, teamwork and live discussions, during which we took a deeper look at the problems of vulnerable groups. All workshops and practical activities were very meaningful and inspiring. I met people from different countries and learned a lot about the cultures of Spain, Moldova, Romania and Estonia.
The peculiarity of such projects is that they combine knowledge, practical skills and intercultural interaction, contributing to the formation of a tolerant and open society. We discussed real problems, looked for ways to solve them and created ideas for future initiatives. The atmosphere of support, mutual understanding and openness made participation in the project truly special. Erasmus+ opens up a space for development, self-expression and cooperation among young people from all over the continent.
Such initiatives contribute to the creation of a European community based on respect, diversity and solidarity. I am sincerely grateful to the organisers for their professionalism, support and the opportunity to become a part of such a wonderful project, and to every participant who contributed, making it even more interesting, more energetic, which made these days special!!
