Youth Exchange Blog: "I have a dream" in Istanbul, TÜRKIYE by Renata

I have already taken part in three Erasmus+ projects before, so I had some expectations and an idea of what such experiences usually look like. Honestly, my decision to join this project was quite spontaneous, but I haven’t regretted it for a second. The last time I participated in a project was five years ago, and I was genuinely curious to see how much I’ve changed since then — how I would act in a new environment, with new people, how I would communicate. Because I truly believe that one of the most valuable things these projects give you is the chance to build self-confidence and grow personally. You develop qualities that help you a lot in life. And of course, it’s also about meeting new people, improving communication skills, overcoming language barriers, discovering new cultures — and so much more.

The topic of this project was also a big advantage. We focused on disabled people — a topic that I think is relevant for everyone. At some point in life, we all meet people with disabilities, and it’s so important to raise awareness. I appreciated that we spoke a lot about empathy and how, sometimes even through language, we unintentionally create a division between “them” and “us.” when there shouldn’t be such a line.

The most emotionally powerful activity for me was meditation. We all sat in a circle, and we were told to imagine: “You are by the sea, but you cannot see. You can only hear the sound of the waves. You cannot see the beauty or the sunset.” Or: “You are walking in the forest — you see everything, but you cannot hear the birds singing or the wind in the trees.” It deeply moved me. Another activity I really enjoyed was sitting volleyball — surprisingly, I liked it even more than regular volleyball. It was fun, and it also gave us a sense of being in a different experience. One of the creative tasks was to design a small poster or image showing how we perceive people with disabilities — what colors or words we associate with them. Then everyone shared their ideas, and it was very interesting to hear perspectives from different points of view and different countries. Later, we combined all the posters into one big collage. We also had many other meaningful activities. For example, we had dinner in complete silence. We were guided along the seaside with our eyes closed. And many more. But we also had team-building exercises — fun and diverse — especially during the first couple of days. I think we built a great team spirit, because we truly became close. We spent almost all our free time together, went to the beach, had cultural nights, explored Istanbul, and had long evening talks.

I think the organizers did a great job. We had a lot of free time, but we always stayed focused on the main theme. Also, I want to highlight that this was the only project where we were supported so well with transportation — from airport pickup to late-night meal and a very warm welcome. I’m especially grateful to Heli from NGO Rabarada, who was in touch with us before, during, and after the project, helping with everything.

My heart is full of gratitude and love. I’m thankful to all the people who surrounded me during these days. I would absolutely recommend this kind of project to everyone. Because the most important thing is the people you meet. It’s about international friendships, unique emotions, and experiences you simply can’t get from regular travel.

My advice to those thinking about joining a project: don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid to go — because everywhere, there are people just like you. And you’ll always find help and kindness in this world.