ERASMUS+, Key action 1: youth exchange
Dates: 15—23 April 2025
Venue: Uzana, Gabrovo, Bulgaria
Czech team: 5 participants + 1 group leader
Please read the info-pack.
Hosting organisation: Europe in Your Hand
Project report:
On the 15th of April 2025, I left Czechia to attend an Erasmus+ project in Bulgaria, in a place so remote that even my maps couldn’t find it. I landed in Sofia and met most of the members of our team. We spent the night in a fun hostel in Sofia and had a lovely dinner with the organizers.
The next day, we had a short tour of Sofia and around noon, we left by bus to Uzana. I knew it would be somewhere in the mountains, but that was about the extent of my expectations. As we turned onto a narrow road and the bus started climbing higher into the hills, my excitement grew. In the end, we arrived at the most beautiful location. It was literally in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains and untouched nature.
The hotel itself looked like a stereotypical Soviet-era building from the 70s and we absolutely loved it. It had a cozy study room where we gathered for our sessions, as well as for culture nights and other activities.
Our organizer, Lyubov, was already traveling with us, so we met our facilitator, Jafer, once we arrived at the hotel. Both of them were super kind, helpful, and felt like friends from the beggining.
On the first night, we got to know each other better and experienced some of the local cuisine cooked by the old owners of the hotel. The first full day of activities was intensive but incredibly fun. In the morning, we did team-building exercises, which helped us connect even more. I’m really glad we took advantage of our surroundings and spent as much time outdoors as possible while still doing engaging, meaningful activities.
In the afternoon, we began exploring the topic of youth empowerment, which was the central theme of the project Better Future through Youth Empowerment. I originally came expecting to learn something about what empowerment is and how we can empower ourselves and others—but I gained so much more than that. The program was thoughtfully designed, and our facilitator clearly knew the topic well and genuinely wanted us to understand and grow.
At the beginning, we discussed what youth empowerment and youth work actually mean. Then we mapped out the situation in our own countries—how involved young people are in our communities and decision-making processes, and whether our voices are heard. It was fascinating to learn about the different opportunities available to youth in other countries compared to Czechia. The session was also really inspiring, as each country had its own unique way of encouraging youth participation.
We also explored how to measure youth involvement and took part in several practical activities on how to engage young people in our communities. We learned how to start a project or activity, how to involve youth, and how to reach and connect with our audience. One of the sessions even focused on conflict resolution.
My personal favorite activity was the series of theatre plays we created in groups, where each one represented a problem young people face today. I loved seeing the creativity that came out of such a diverse group of young individuals.
One day we had a cultural field trip to nearby Gabrovo. Very typical city from the bulgarian countryside. We visited also an old communist congress centre that was shaped like an ufo. It was interesting I would say but not my cup of tea.
The last two days were spent back in beautiful Sofia. And for those who say that Prague is the most beautiful city—clearly, you’ve never been to Sofia! We met even more amazing people and really got to know in the local culture. It was unforgettable!
Overall, this project was an incredible experience. It exceeded my expectations 100%, and I’m bringing home not just knowledge, but also friends and unforgettable memories.
Julie V.
