EuroYouthVoice

2024-04-29 The stories

EuroYouthVoice

From April 2nd to April 10th, 2024, in Latvia, we participated in the EuroYouthVoice project, focusing on the importance of the youth voice in European Parliament elections. We met as a wonderful Slovak group, which made it easier for us to engage with other participants from different countries right from the start.
Our project took place in a beautiful setting near the surrounding forests by the village of Sigulda. We had a magnificent view of nearby meadows and accessible forest paths for walks. The weather was a very interesting experience for us; one day we built a snowman, and the next day we enjoyed warm weather during our walk. We stayed in cozy cabins and 2 nearby hotels. After each day of engaging informal education, we could enjoy a well-deserved sauna session.
These days were filled with valuable discussions, interactive games, and insightful meetings where we explored the complex workings of the European Union. Through engaging workshops and activities, we gained a deeper understanding of the significance of our voices in shaping the future of the European Union. We had the EU processes explained to us through a simulation game involving all of us. We had the opportunity to be creative, present our views, and learn about the situation in other countries. Our project officially concludes after a campaign, on which we will diligently work for another 8 weeks after the project ends.
As is common in such projects, we also had the opportunity to experience a cultural night. It was an evening where individual countries presented their traditions, food, dance, and culture. We thoroughly enjoyed it! The tables were truly abundant during the cultural night, and we had the chance to taste various dishes and delicacies from Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, France, Spain, Italy, and Poland. In addition to the gastronomic experience during the cultural evening, we would like to highlight the restaurant where we could enjoy delicious and diverse food every day from breakfast to dinner.
We shared stories, exchanged ideas, and debated issues close to our hearts; strangers became friends, and friendships grew into lifelong memories. With humor and learning, snowflakes and sunny weather, we discovered the true power of youth voices and the unlimited potential within each of us to change our world for the better. Sigulda will forever hold a special place in our hearts as the backdrop to an unforgettable chapter of our Erasmus journey.