ERASMUS+, Key Action 1: youth exchange
Venue: Lasithi, Crete, Greece
Dates: 8—15 September 2023
National team: 3 participants (aged 18-30) + 1 group leader (18+)
Please read the info-pack and the daily programme.
Hosting organisation: Kyttaro Enallaktikon Anazitiseon Neon [KEAN]
Report:
The Youth Exchange, organised by the Greek organisaƟon KEAN, took place on 8-16 September 2023 on Crete, the largest island in Greece. However, due to the theme of the project, we were not on the local sandy beaches, but in the mountain village of Psichron, surrounded by beauƟful mediterranean forests, which are completely different from the forests we know from the Czech Republic. In total, 32
young people from eight European countries took part in the project – The Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Netherlands, Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Italy.
As the name of the project implies, the varied acƟviƟes of all kinds focused on a very important part of our landscape – the forest. How to protect and care for the forest, how to prevent disasters such as forest fires, how to use the forest sustainably for our needs and much more. It was almost a rule that we always worked in naƟonally mixed teams, which was a great opportunity to pracƟce our communicaƟon and language skills as well. It was the outdoor acƟviƟes that were the most successful, where we could really visit the forest. A very educaƟonal and interesƟng trip through the local forest was facilitated by an experienced leader of the local mountain club, who really knew everything about the local forest and mountains. We also had the opportunity to visit the birthplace of the most important god of Greek mythology – the Cave of Zeus. We watched the harvest in the local potato and melon fields and visited the museum of local culture.
The great and always smiling organizers Elisa and Vlasis gave us a free day, which we used with a trip to the coast with swimming in the waves, sunbathing on the hot sand and delicious Greek food. In the evening, the always popular “interculture nights” took place, giving us the opportunity to learn more about the other parƟcipants’ home countries and also to sample some of their cuisine.
All in all, the project was a great success and I think we will all remember it for a long
(Jonas Müller)
