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Do you want to know how a Youth Exchange is and what impact it can have on you?
Well, this article shares the experience of Eva Mihaela Dumitru, STSL Ambassador in the European Fellowship for Sustainable Development, participant in the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange Growing Ideas for Action in Nature (GIAN), held in June in Casteleto di Cuggiono, Italy. Through her story, she reflects on the connection between nature and well-being, the challenges of climate change, and the power of youth engagement in building a more sustainable future.
Read the journey of Eva below:
The environment in which we live directly shapes our well-being – that was the main message the project tried to portray in an experiential manner for the participants. When we think about the mental health of young people, we will probably consider the increasing usage of social media which in turn decreases real life, authentic social connections, lowering the attention span of avid users. We might also consider the way in which virtual identities shape the self esteem of young people through an unhealthy beauty standards comparison. Young people face these modern challenges every day, yet there are no real alternatives to counteract the negative effects these habits instilled in their psyche. Social-political crises became topics more and more relevant in the eyes of the younger generation. Feeling the ”heated” climate issues knocking louder and louder at the door of their discernment, no surprise terms like climate anxiety gain traction in the public`s attention, as well as in the scientific field. Certainly, this millenia proves palpable uncertainties to the youth. Whether more or less manageable compared to the past, that is a future question left to unravel. One aspect becomes clear, however, the innate value which the surrounding environment possesses to our balance, both internally and externally. A reason for which I found GIAN to be such a valuable experience for my practical understanding of the way in which the external environment shapes the inner peace of an individual in our society.
The project was held in the amazing natural Ticino Park, a place part of the UNESCO reservation. Nature was celebrated all around the village. There was a balance that I could observe between the amount of buildings and urban development and the natural elements of the vegetation and bodies of water. Casteleto truly set an example for my understanding of how nature can embrace a more peaceful urban life and how society should develop while also maintaining a strong connection with nature. I really appreciate the exchange because it offered me the opportunity to learn about nature while also directly engaging with it. I represented GEYC as part of the Ambassador of the European Fellowship on Sustainability, so this project highlighted not only the learning outcomes on the climate activism topic, but also the direct effect of the European Union’s youth initiatives on education and cultural sharing of people from various backgrounds. There were three main learning outcomes which came clear in my perspective through this project.
Cultural Diversity
Starting with the cultural aspect, one which is common in every Erasmus project, I have to say I am deeply grateful for the experience of diving into multiple European cultures all at once. Firstly, I have to say it was my first time I went to Italy and was touched by the refinement and openness I found here. The people were so welcoming and luckily, I managed to grasp some of their vocabulary, as well. However, the most surprising part was how well different European cultures managed to collaborate together. I made great friends from Spain, Czech Republic, Italy and everyone showed me how beautiful their countries are. The intercultural night was bright, filled with games and delicious cuisine prepared authentically. I discovered about myself that I am really adaptable to any place and that the EU has a precious culture that is worth exploring and really gaining valuable insight.
Managing Sustainable Actions
The natural environment is just as valuable as the social culture which is built over it. This project gave me valuable insight on the state of nature in our current times. I was happy to discover the beauty of the Ticino Park, yet I know there are many places around the world and on our continent which are at great risk due to the rise of the climate crisis. We had an exercise one day where we marked different climate crisis events which took part in the four countries in chronological order. We also acknowledge the positive climate justice events which happened where, let’s say, the civil society and youth actually had a „win in the game”, one could say. I was worried at first to see so many natural disasters such as floods and wildfires, as well as the negative effects of deforestation and fossil fuels extractions all over the timeline. Luckily, I was glad to also discover shortly after, all of the positive things which have happened during the years in regard to the climate crisis. I could see that there were multiple optimistic outcomes which tackled green spaces in urban areas, natural preservation of the environment and many youth led initiatives on sustainability. There could have been lines connected through all of the different counties, that even though we all struggle with climate change, there are still so many things we could do and truly create a positive impact overall, because we are the ones responsible and also the ones who are actually capable. Another activity which we had was studying and imagining how to foster change in two particular environmental and social issues. We created our own stories of how to solve the problems but then we discovered two real stories where the civil society made the change happen and now the created a community garden that spread all over the town and a bar for artists and young people that changed the face of an otherwise dull city. So not only did I learn about sustainability and climate change concepts, I could also encounter real life stories of hope and transformation for a more green future.
Civic Engagements
Finally, this leads me to the topic of civic engagement. I felt that I was surrounded with active young people in their communities, eager to be changemakers. As a young person myself, I discovered the opportunities that come from the European Union funding impactful social projects and the ripple effect these initiatives have in creating better chances for everyone. In one session we discussed more on the topic of youth empowerment through civic engagement. There is a lot of ways in which youth can make their voices heard. The decision making process should take into account the perspective of young people and they should be supported by the authorities to be able to manage their own projects and initiatives which form their communities. So through this experience I was encouraged to take action and continue my work in the civil society to make the voice of young people heard andtake part in decision-making. It is important to be represented and listened to as a young person in our society, this strengthening the democracy. The youth feels the need to be active but does not know how to be civically engaged. So the local nongovernmental organisations that are fighting for a cause and the Erasmus+ projects that promote intercultural collaboration are a great place to start.
For me, the Youth Exchange was a memorable experience, discovering mesmerizing cultures, tackling the issue of climate change while maintaining a good state of wellbeing, these were the valuable lessons it taught me. I was excited to see so many wonderful and involved young people and share ideas and aspirations with them. Moreover, I could beneficially utilize my formal knowledge in psychology at the discussions on mental health while also discovering many new things on the topic of sustainability. Truthfully, this was my first ever Erasmus+ youth exchange, one which I will never forget because of all of the lovely friends I made and all of the special experiences I had. I am fortunate to be a STSL Ambassador and I would like to express my gratitude toward GEYC and the European Union for opening the opportunities of civic engagement for young people.
To sum up, I would like to encourage everyone to try such new youth exchanges and to remember that the natural environment is a fundamental part of our well-being and we can all actively take part in protecting it and helping it flourish because it will only give back to us all of the energy and effort we put into it.
Article redacted by our STSL Ambassador, Eva Mihaela Dumitru