Programme and action: ERASMUS+ programme, Key Action 1: Youth exchange
Dates: 22-31 March 2015
Venue: Donas, Portugal
Participants: Jitka Chlumová, Jan Pulda, Petra Spurná, Ilona Morávková, Gabriela Plisková, Jitka Pecháčková
Participating countries: Portugal; Malta; Azerbaijan; Czech Republic; Spain; Bulgaria; Macedonia; Turkey; Armenia and Ukraine.
Please read the project info-pack and daily activities schedule.
Project info:
This youth exchange named Youth4Tree2014 took place in Fundao, Donas in nice countryside of central Portugal. Project gathered almost 60 young people from Portugal; Malta; Azerbaijan; Ukraine; Spain; Bulgaria; Macedonia; Turkey; Armenia and of course Czech Republic. The project focused by non-formal education on, environmental potentialities of rural areas in this potential socio-economic development, developing entrepreneurship with respect for their traditions, historical and architectural heritage. The main goal of this project was learn by experience and obviously to be active.
At the beginning, it was quite unpleasant surprise that inside the Seminario where we stayed wasn´t heating. Organizers wrote us the warnings that during night it can be cold but we did not expect that much cold. But the next days they brought extra blankets and extra heating. We literally survived first few days. Fortunately, the weather was eventually awesome. Really warm and sunny. We enjoyed a lot Portuguese nature, especially mountains and rivers.
The program was tuned to active wave. We tried geocaching, making a kite, adventure climbing, hiking. We visited small villages where I admired the hut of stones. The meals weren´t that great. Portuguese cuisine almost didn´t use herbs. (we ate mostly in Seminario maybe this was the reason :-D). For me dishes was quite tasteless.
Youth Exchange is great opportunity how to meet new people, new characters, different culture, habits which inspire me all the time. It is like a drug. I have to say I am addicted to meeting interesting people and their personalities. For me it was even Czech guys. We were great and representative crew. J We had chance to visit Lisbon, listened traditional fado music in the evening and during the day we went to the beach for one afternoon. Even if the ocean was cold there were many surfers. This was great experience. In summary, I´m glad that I had this opportunity to join this project!
Petra Spurná
