Enjoy Eat! Youth Exchange - Testimonials

Exchange Enjoy Eat feeding the learning, learning to enjoy! Participants' experience JULY 2021

Enjoy eat! is a youth exchange organized by This publication contains part of Associazione Vagamondo together with other the testimonies written by the participants of the project as a 6organizations ( Asociación Dinámica, follow-up activity, it aims to share Synergy Bulgaria, Solidarity Mission, FÖJ AKTIV, and to disseminate their Zig Zag prin Romania, Opera Circus) from the 12th experience. till the 23rd July 2021 in Bergolo (Italy). The project Read the full text here: involved 32 young people from Germany, Greece, https://bit.ly/Enjoy-eat-testimonials Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain and UK. Throughout the youth exchange, participants from each country came together to explore food topics, nutrition and their impact on the environment. Young people had the chance to create their learning process by designing activities altogether. Through discussions, workshops, and various activities, participants explored food and the environmental cost of consumption. The project was developed mainly through non- formal education method and it was co-funded by the Erasmus Plus Program through Agenzia Nazionale per I Giovani.

I found myself each day more comfortable communicating in All the activities that I've taken part in taught me about the English and engaging myself in deep conversations. I was importance of nutrition in my daily living but also living participating in the activities with joy and excitement in a way that sustainably to help save our planet. I am also considering I completely forgot my phone. And despite my shyness and my becoming a vegan now! Sports are a big part of my life, I introvert nature I managed to share feelings and thoughts and to feel like I'm most alive when I'm moving. After the quarantine create bonds with amazing people that each had its own special I felt like I was really out of shape but this project really gave story to tell. Angelina, Greece me the chance to come back! Ioan, Romania I am so happy to have been able to take part in this project and especially in this times of Corona Epidemia and lack of social life, because living with 37-40 phenomenal People, not using any digital devices, learning through outdoor or indoor activites gave me the knowledge of enjoying not only the ‘Eat’ but also enjoying the real life. Davit, Germany

I developed a sense of awareness of myself and my surroundings - I The digital disconnection helped could simply sit and be, and experience that, rather than always having me to integrate even better in the to do something and to be rushing here and there, stressed out, group. Together we created an focusing on the future instead of the now. Many of the workshops and amazing atmosphere of trust, activities I learned how to do and now apply in my work once in a while, support and safety. We respected when the opportunity presents itself. Nenko, Bulgaria each other on the highest level. In addition to that, I felt less numb by I was even able to taste dishes from each country, which we made external forces so I could focus during a workshop. Throughout the many discussions and reflections, I more on my personal state of realised that it’s better to let out whatever is on one’s mind than to keep it being (mentally, physically & bottled up. Also, that this was fundamental to evaluate what worked and emotionally). We talk about change what didn’t. I felt that by the end of the event our group worked nutrition and cook together as a effectively together and that everyone was aware that it was a safe group. Thomas, Germany space to express different ideas. Danail, Bulgaria

It was a lifechanging experience for me, a wakeup call to start focusing more on my body and mind. I changed my perspective on many things, such as food waste, local products and my diet, and made me realize how helpful mindfulness and breathing exercises can be for me in my daily life. Dimitris, Greece With every workshop and with every day, I felt growth both personally and socially. Through this experience with people from different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, I learnt that people can be so different but also very similar. This programme has taught me the power of communication and expression, not only through words but also through movement, feelings and energy. Georgina, Greece

I can conclude that I have taken much more I Everyone gave the best in the Not only with feeling and emotion I could do expect: this experience has made me program to take all the activities. At also came to learn some of the think a lot about how all of us act, how society is the end of the program we really felt skills for my personal and growing in a “Super connected and disconnected like a team and that felt amazing. I professional growth like the skills of at the same time” way to interact due to the enjoyed every little detail of the learning the different culture and technologies, a fact that we don’t usually think exchange, because I think this is how to react to person about it that much. I also made me able to feel a where the magic happens and I’m personally with some special Deep connection with all the people involved, really happy and thankful to share cultural difference. Anurag, thanks to the program, the surroundings and the all those details with all the group. Germany disconnection we lived there. Raquel C., Spain Felipe, Spain

Another thing that I really appreciate was the continuous talk about food, especially about traditional food which is one of my favorite way of knowing other cultures than my own. Tha fact that I had the chance to share my knowledge about nutrition in general was very helpful because I started feeling more confident about the knowledge I have. The participants showed themselves to be intrested and supporting. Iulia, Romania I was also given an opportunity to organize the COP simulation during the project which enhanced my confidence and skills of public organization. I also received very positive feedback that has brightened my heart. To be honest, I felt very great to be in a small village of Bergolo for digital disconnect along with 40 other friends from different countries and living in nature. Poonam, Germany

ne of the best parts was to learn parts of a new language and being able to practice languages that were taught in school but weren’t practiced a lot. Moreover, I learned a lot that I would call social and personal competences. I learned a lot about myself with the help of the people from these different countries. I developed a positive attitude towards difficult situations with the mindset of “anything is possible”. Julian, Germany I surprised myself with my reactions and my feelings. I found the entire project more challenging than expected, but in a very productive way. It stirred up my deepest feelings and emotions; but, in the end, I feel that I managed to face and to overcome them. After this experience, I am feeling deeply changed, and the changes have been noticed and appreciated by my friends and family, too. Aida, Rumania

Also, all along the project, I began to After the first days I felt like I belong, like for that time I had an extended family, so this think more about the present experience bust my confidence, and made me feel more powerful. Also when I came I was moment and how to appreciate what so shy and didn’t really want to talk or get in the middle of the group, but by the end, I had I have. Furthermore, I tried to turn one daily activity where we talked about different topics. It made me feel amazing. My best my attention to food and health, to take way is the “can do feeling” that this project made me feel daily. Andreea, Romania focus on the details I have been missing on these subjects. Elena, Romania The most important skill I can say that I earned after this project was to have more believe on myself .Also I learned how to use the technology and do not let the technology overtaking you . Furthermore I learned how to prepare a workshop and that in practice is totally different from theory . Finally I can say I learned and take so much knowledge from the other participants that would be very difficult or even impossible to take from a formal education method. Stavros, Greece

During the project I felt free to be myself, I felt happy, I think it was quite impressive how almost 30 people from completely energized and very much alive. I experienced a lot of “first different countries who did not know each other came up with a times” in my life, for example enjoying yoga, appreciating complete program for the week. [...] I’m taking the first steps on having healthy eating, entering a true state of meditation, realizing a better use of technology thanks to the reflections we had about the the scope of the global warming problem, and winning a detox we had. I also learned about new cultures, how we face similar race (running while holding an egg with a spoon XD). And of problems in different countries and gained confidence in my course, I learned so much. I learned how to be kinder and communication skills which was all amazing. Raquel P., Spain less judging towards others. I got to know a lot about nutrition and body-awareness. I understood the true meaning of “mindfulness” and “reflection” and how crucial these two are. Bianka, Bulgaria

The fact that everybody in The knowledge I gained can’t all be summarized through those competences though. Our the project had a unique discussions and activities made me open my eyes to a series of subjects and things that I piece of knowledge to share ignored before. It was, with the mention that I have started to implement what I have learnt in with the group was very my lifestyle and plan on continuing to do so, life changing. Ilinca, Romania special and the final programme truly dynamic in the range and scope of sessions. Hafsa, Germany Last but not least, our non- formal education activities which we Sharing experiences, time together and talking about our planned all together supported my learning to learn competence. inner thoughts with the rest of participants was somehow Because they were based on learning by doing and we managed to healing, and stepping out my comfort zone was definitely the create and implement them without digital media. Something that led best idea ever. I had so much fun, and at the same time I felt me to realize that there are a lot of ways to earn a new knowledge. that I was improving my English and my social and leading Not just by internet, but by books, by experiences and by exchanging skills! Lluïsa, Spain our knowledge with others. Zafeiro, Greece

This project gave us a safe space to learn from each other without being judged. I was encouraged and able to encourage others. Our collaboration has inspired each other. It was very valuable and fun to do everyday activities such as cooking and doing sports together and then reflecting on them in order to gain awareness and to think together which tips and tricks could be helpful for us. Meltem, Germany I am happy that I got to know myself a little better, to be more authentic and less self-conscious. Almost since the beginning I felt like I was among friends and I did not need to fake or try to hard to fit in, and it was relieving and also liberating. I also pushed some boundaries, like public speaking (in English), or leading a workshop, that I’m sure will be part of my skill-set from now on. Mariona, Spain With the yoga classes, thanks to the help and the motivation of some of the participants that were leading the yoga workshop, I realized my body is able to make more things than I thought! I also learned many many things from others, we created a whole program all together! And even if sometimes it was difficult because the needs and expectations from others were different, we all achieved to make it possible. Victoria, Spain

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