The personal and emotional development participants could experience during 10 days of Youth for Change Youth Exchange is hard to put into words – wrote Aina Ferré Valero, one of the Catalan participants of the international programme.
‘All these days have helped me to see life with a different perspective and to change my way of acting in certain situations, and this is the greatest learning from this project that I will take with me forever’ – she said.
Many other experiences will serve her for a lifetime, like:
- Teamwork and working on oneself are both very important.
- We should not to judge people before we meet them.
- All work pays off.
- Help others in any way you can if they need it. She has discovered that she feels very fulfilled when helping others and seeing their smiles.
Read Aina’s story and take a smile with you.
‘Hi. My name is Aina, I am 19 years old, and I am from Reus, Catalonia. I have taken part in the Youth Exchange Voluntary and Solidarity in Hungary, and this experience has been one of the best of my life.
During the 10 days I was there, I experienced an indescribable personal and emotional growth. Since some time ago, I needed to stop, disconnect and reconnect with myself and this experience has given me all this to perfection.
I have felt a lot of peace in my mind and body. I have been able to listen to myself, to share my light with others, to let my emotions flow, and to feel connected with the things that I like to do.
From the first moment I arrived there, I felt like I was in a super safe place where I could be myself and express how I felt. I have also felt valued and respected as a member of the team we have formed. And this has made me see the importance of each person who is part of it, if someone is missing it is as if a piece of the puzzle is missing and the picture is not complete.
All these days have helped me to see life with a different perspective and to change my way of acting in certain situations, and this is the greatest learning from this project that I will take with me forever.
Even so, I take with me a backpack full of many other lessons that will serve me for life as the great importance of teamwork and work on oneself, the curiosities and differences between cultures and other countries, the fact of not judging people before meeting them, that all work pays off, the importance of helping others in any way when they need it – I discovered that it fills me a lot to help others and see their smiles when you help them – and many other lessons.
I will also always bring to my mind and heart all the essential memories that I have created with this experience, and each of the wonderful people who have been part of it are already part of my life forever.
They say that in life, everything is temporary, but the happiness I have felt in these 10 days will stay with me forever. This project has ignited in me the spark to continue participating in programmes of this kind.
If you ever get an opportunity like this, do not let it pass you by because it will surely change your life.’
Want to know more about this programme? Take a look at our Youth Without Borders: Youth Exchange and Volunteering article.
The Youth for Change Youth Exchange was funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and took place in Hungary between 16 and 27 August 2024. It was organised by the Academy of Experience Association.