Political Games – Made in Bansko

Political Games

At the end of August, thanks to Youthfully Yours SK, we had the opportunity to travel to a beautiful city in southern Bulgaria, known primarily for its winter attractions and the mountains in which it is located, and to participate in an 8-day youth exchange, the main theme of which was "Political Games". In Bansko, we met inspiring people of various ages from Bulgaria, Serbia, and Poland. A group from Italy was also supposed to join, but unfortunately, due to the poor Covid-19 situation in their country, they were unable to attend.

Thanks to the excellent organizer and trainer, we experienced truly diverse methods in non-formal education. We started the project lightly with introductory and team-building activities. After the so-called "Ice Breakers", various activities related to the project's theme awaited us.

We reflected on stereotypes in the media and how they can influence us. We discussed the current situation in our countries, human rights, the LGBT community, minorities, migrants, gender equality, and much more. Discussions, during which we realized problems that many of us do not pay much attention to, but which are quite important in other countries, were often challenging and full of emotions. We also noticed that each of us encounters and addresses these issues differently. The program was enriched by relaxed evenings where individual groups prepared presentations, introducing us to their country and its culture. A hike into the beautiful Bulgarian mountains, located almost 3000 meters above sea level, served as "psychological hygiene"; during this day, we were efficient, as we managed to do much more, such as a human rights workshop. The educational trip gave us a lot of strength. We also tried creating and preparing our own workshops, which we can implement in local communities in the future.

For some of us, this was our first Erasmus+ project; we didn't know what to expect, but the initial fear at the beginning of the project turned into a great experience and unforgettable memories that certainly developed us personally. The time spent on the project passed very quickly; we all got along well and became a great group. Even though the worsening Covid-19 situation, the introduction of strict measures in Slovakia and neighboring countries affected our entire stay, and quarantine awaited us upon returning home, it was difficult for us to say goodbye and leave.

Thank you for the great opportunity, and we look forward to the next ones.

Tereza, Viliam, Martin, Rado, Michael and Matúš