START ME UP

START ME UP

START ME UP - youth exchange

On Monday, June 19, 2023, our trip for the Erasmus+ project START ME UP began. We all met at the airport and flew together to Venice. The project then specifically took place in the Italian town of Recoaro.
On Tuesday, we met 30 other participants from Germany, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, and Romania. We then discussed various topics concerning ecology. On Wednesday, we began exploring the nearby town of Valdagno, where we were introduced to its history. On Thursday and Friday, we helped a local organization as volunteers to paint over a graffiti-covered wall in the town. We started the weekend with a hike, during which we talked about water purity in nature, and ended the day with beautiful views.

The next day was free, so we split into groups and visited the cities of Verona and Venice. Most of the group was in Verona, where we saw the local arena, Juliet's balcony and statue of Romeo and Juliet, and the local castle with a view of the entire city. Italy has a different culture from Slovakia, and we must admit that seeing such a beautiful city was a lifelong experience for us. We started the new week with an activity where we talked about how countries, such as Slovakia, participate in environmental protection. For example, how we sort plastic, how we can use plastic bottle caps, or how local schools are involved in sorting metals and batteries.

And what about the evenings? We spent them all together and had so-called intercultural evenings, where we had a presentation each night from participants from a different country. For example, we learned from the Romanians about their castle and Dracula, and from the Spanish about Granada. Of course, we tasted national dishes, both savory and sweet.

What remains from the youth exchange are many unforgettable experiences and lifelong friendships.

And finally, we: Jaro, Barborka, Roman, Alica, Janka, and Nina, want to thank the Youthfully Yours SK organization for the opportunity to be part of the Erasmus+ project. We recommend Erasmus+ with this organization to everyone and THANK YOU!