ERASMUS+, Key Action 1: youth exchange
Venue: Huelva, Spain
Dates: 11—18 May 2023
Czech team: Daniel Giera (GL), Ondřej Jírů, Nela Knápková, Jonáš Urban, Svetlana Pribišová
Please read the info-pack.
Hosting organisation: European Wave
Project report:
From May 11th to May 18th, I had the opportunity to participate in the “Welcome to Europe” project, which focused on migration and providing assistance to refugees. The project took place in Villablanca, a small town in the province of Huelva, Spain. The Spanish organization European Wave organized this initiative and it brought together 23 participants from various countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
The day before the project officially began, we embarked on a journey to Faro, Portugal, where we spent the night. The following day, we traveled together by bus, crossing the border into Spain and arrived at our destination in Villablanca. This quaint town became our home for the duration of the project, offering a serene environment for our activities and exploration.
Our accommodation was located about a kilometer away from the town center. We stayed in rooms, with groups of two or three people sharing. The property also had a restaurant, dining room, lounge and a pleasant surprise—a swimming pool.
Each day, we began with breakfast and the program started at 9:45 a.m. We would do some outdoor activities for about 20 minutes to get energized and then we spent most of the day in the common room. Lunch was served at 1 p.m., followed by a two-hour break. The program resumed at 3 p.m. and continued until 5:45 p.m. After that, we had free time until dinner, which allowed us to relax by the pool or take a stroll around town. Dinner was served at 8 p.m. and at 10 p.m., we enjoyed cultural or activity nights.
During the cultural nights, each country presented information about their own culture and we had the chance to try their traditional food or join in cultural dances. These nights were enjoyable as we learned something new about each country. The activity nights were filled with fun games.
After four days of programs and gaining new knowledge, we went on a trip to the nearby town of Ayamonte. We explored the town in the morning and then visited Islantilla-Isla Christina Beach, where we swam in the ocean and had a lovely afternoon. At the evening we had a chance to have an online meeting with a refugee from Afghanistan that currently lives in Germany.
On our last day, we gave presentations in mixed groups on topics related to education, aid and work for refugees. Presentation of our results allowed us to practice English and move our level a little bit higher! In the evening, we received Youthpasses and went out for a drink together. The next morning, we said our goodbyes to the other participants and as a group from the Czech Republic, we returned to Faro for another night before flying back home.
I really enjoyed meeting new people and learning about their cultures. I gained a lot of interesting information and improved my English skills. I highly recommend participating in such projects and I am grateful for the preparation and program provided by European Wave. I would also like to thank the EYCB organization and especially Jana Parolková, the coordinator, for giving me this opportunity to be a part of such an enriching experience.
Daniel Giera
