Programme & action: ERASMUS+, Key Action 1: Youth exchange
Venue: Velingrand, Bulgaria
Dates: 22-31 August 2020
Czech Participants: Tomáš Olšan (GL), Matěj Keka (GL), Silvie Mikšovská, Milan Marek, David Krkoška, Lucie Koháková, Lucie Večerníková, Petr Wolf, Karolina Hanzelková, Radek Sikora, Lucie Patzeltová, Vojtěch Petrů
Host organisation: Association of Young Psychologists in Bulgaria “4th April” AYPB
Participating countries: Bulgaria, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Macedonia, Czech Republic, Romania
Please read the info-pack.
Project report:
The project, called LED (Use less. Made it Eco. Do more.) took place between 22.8. – 1.9. 2020 near the Bulgarian city of Velingrad, in the Western Rhodopes. The host organization was the association of young psychologists in Bulgaria “4TH APRIL”. The whole project was accompanied by Marina Granchar and Dani Fingar.
The project was attended by a total of 40 participants from 4 countries – Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic and Spain. The original number of nationalities was supposed to be almost double, but due to the current health situation in Europe, certain countries had to be removed from the project, and therefore, for example, the members of the Czech team were 12 instead of the original 6.
The aim of this project was to raise awareness among young people and their communities on how to be more eco-friendly and related civic activity. Increasing general knowledge in the field of ecology, the environment, climate change and civic engagement was mainly used as a means to achieve these goals. We gained this new knowledge not only from the workshops being prepared by both the organizers and other members of the youth exchange, but also through the valuable discussions that followed almost every workshop.
In cooperation with the Bulgarian organization Baikaria, one day, under the leadership of Vasil Todov, we participated in the cleaning of forest roads above Velingrad. We were divided into two groups and tried to go through as much of the demarcated area as possible. The cleaning consisted of collecting garbage and digging up the fallen bark and wood fragments. Along the way, we had several beautiful views of the valley of the Rhodope Mountains, and at the end we were even joined by several passers-by.
More information about cleaning the Velingrad area here.
The LED project was my fourth Erasmus + project and overall I rate it very positively. The whole project was carried in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and it was very fulfilling to be a part of. Most of the participants had a pretty good overview of the main topics of the project – ecology, sustainability, permaculture – even before the start of the project, and it was very interesting and beneficial to participate in discussions and listen to others. Overall, the project inspired me a lot, not only in terms of ecology, but mainly I gained a new zest for life and the overall need to do something to improve the world around me.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Marina Granchar and Dani Fingar for the excellent leadership of the exchange, and especially for the inspiration and positive energy that they managed to spread throughout the project among all participants. Furthermore, our Czech group leaders Tomáš Olšan and Matěj Keka and last but not least the EYCB broadcasting organization, especially Jana Parolková.
Lucie Koháková
