di5Connected testimonies

Participants'  Experience

This publication contains part of the testimonies di5Connected is a youth exchangewritten by the participants of the project as a follow- organized by Associazione Vagamondo up activity and aims to express and disseminate together with other 3 organizations their experience. Read the full text here (Syncro, wEUnite and Asociatia Dominou) from 18th till 26th April 2018 in Cortemilia (Italy). The project involved 24 young people from Austria, Coratia, Italy and Romania in activities aimed to learn more about the relationship with technology, experience life in a multicultural environment without using any technological device and reconnect with themselves, with the others and with nature through the 5 senses. The project was developed mainly through non-formal education activities and it was co-funded by the Erasmus Plus Program through Agenzia Nazionale per I Giovani.

I started remembering things again because best friend Google wasnot there, it was challenging, but possible. We found out we stillhave brains we can use. And if we don’t remember a song, we justwait until we do remember or we invent our own.Antonia, AustriaFocusing each day on one sense and reminding what I have insidewas like coming back to myself. I started to feel authentic, morepresent, confident and with that my skills were improving and Istarted to feel more and more free.Eva, Croatiadi5Connected has been like a fresh wave for me: to disconnect fromtechnology, to recognize how it was controlling and changing mysense of time and space and create a new genuine communicationwith people and with myself. I found the bond I was losing with Magic.Francesca, ItalyI learned that is important to focus on the present, I threw away myexcuses and I’m not using them anymore. I was missing my friendsand my parents, but when we had the last activity I bursted into tearsbecause I didn’t want to finish this amazing journey.Diana, Romania

My participation in this project has made me realize how important itis to focus on real life and to channel my energy into outdooractivities with other people. It is worth noting that even if we metwith unknown people, we got tied together.Claudiu, RomaniaI really couldn’t expect it to be so overwhelming. The pureconnections we spontaneously established among ourselves andwith the magical place and nature surrounding us made me feel alivein such a unique way.Martina, ItalyThe energy created and the motivation to work as a team was such agreat thing to see and feel. I managed to deepen my self awarenessabout the use of my own senses and abilities as well as personal useof technologies and how can both of that be more balanced.Lucija, CroatiaMy daily life was full of routine and distractions from the technologyaround me and I did not feel the power to change that on my own....a perfect environment for me to come back in the here and nowand to dive completely in the adventureGregor, Austria

Being part of this project opened my eyes and discovered to me anew world: world of senses, social time, touch and emotions. I alsogained the attitude not to postpone and to enjoy with all my sensesthe moment and people that I spend time with.Šimun, CroatiaI improved my knowledges about non formal education and how toachieve a goal. Now I'm working to achieve my first new one: use mysmartphone only when I need it, not to enjoy!In conclusion this is one of the best experiences in my life!Gabriel, ItalyOn the first day without my phone I had a sense of panic, fear andnervousness, but during the project days were passing and I didn'tsuffered the lack of technology. I met wonderful people, I learnedfrom the others and I managed to rediscover myself.Andreea, RomaniaNot having a phone allowed me to give the people my full attention, Ilistened more carefully and I focused more on what people said andhow they behaved. It also showed me how creative I can be when Iuse my brain and not a small machine that gives me all the answers.Marion, Austria

I realized that I let my phone and my laptop absorb an important partof my time, this stops me from thinking logically and effectively incertain situations and gives me the impression that if I don`t searchit on Google I won`t be able to manage it.Marya, RomaniaI reconnected with nature and my senses, I also met incrediblepeople, sang, danced, ran, explored and enjoyed every second! Itwas amazing! Now, when I walk around the city, I breathe, smell, feel,look and capture all the small things I didn’t even notice before.Juran, CroatiaI imagined it to be different from the other projects, but I couldn’t haveguessed how much. Being disconnected helped me to focus more onthe moment and to enjoying it to the fullest. During this week Irealized how creative I am and how I limited myself by using excuses.Elisa, AustriaIt was a truly meaningful and consciousness-awaking experience, soactual in a critical aspect of our age: the disconnection from modernslavery is not only possible but necessary. It was a lighthouse tofind the own holistic, healthy, pure, ancient dimension of life.Simon, Italy

This project let me have a sort of enlightenment on how much mydaily life was influenced by a bad use of technology, which led toworsening human relationships' dynamics. I rediscovered how muchI can learn about myself through others just by truly listen to them.Simone, ItalyI discovered parts of me that i never knew i had them, such as beingan inventor, a good listener and being able to share emotions withpeople. After this experience i perceived how my lifestyle should be,finally i started feeling my senses in every activity during my day.Samire, AustriaIt made me realise some things i did not understand before, it helpedme disconnect from the rushy lifestyle i have here in Romania whichis a preety dam awesome feeling. As well as connecting me with my5 senses which mostly solved my trust issues.Andrei, RomaniaThe idea about being disconnected was a call I was waiting for. Itwas a week where I was constantly thinking and questioningeverything around me. What's the meaning of technology and shouldwe depend so much on it?Tomislav, Croatia

Recently I figured out that my use of social media was spinning outof control. I tried to limitate the use that I did of technology bymyself, but my willpower wasn’t so strong. I thought not to have myphone with me it would be hard, but actually I just felt free.Margherita, ItalyI have been to Erasmus+ projects, but this one was really special. Itwas so great that in the end I didn't want to turn on my phone. Astime is passing I am realizing what a luxury this week was, becauseanybody in my surrounding can't afford to be a week disconnected.Mia, Croatiait's been an overwhelmingly beautiful experience with all of itsaspects combinedthe sense-oriented tasks that we've playedthrough and the friendships that were made I can say that it's beenan unforgettable journey.Mohammed, Austria

Thank you!