Ilia, Latvia:

Maybe this may seem like an exaggeration to someone or an attempt to colorfully describe this experience, but I am absolutely honest and confident in stating: I returned from the project as a different person. To be more specific, I have returned as myself, which I lost a long time ago and have already accepted that I will never see her again. But the people I met, the experiences I gained, and the projects I participated in were so close to my heart that they allowed me to fully open up. I shared my experiences, joked, reasoned, and worked with amazing, smart, and interesting people. The atmosphere and attitude towards each other during this exchange was so comfortable and accepting that all my fears suddenly ran away. I made mistakes, a lot, constantly and publicly, and it was wonderful. Because in those moments, I was myself.

Jenifer, Latvia

Going into this project, I did not have any expectations. I thought it was just going to be another educational event. But I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed the event. Being able to work in a group with others felt new and refreshing. We brainstormed our ideas together. There was not a right or wrong answer for our creativity. Everything was accepted and welcomed. When I met people from different countries and talked with them, it was eye opening and really fun. I liked every activity, including the one we did on our last day. Being able to get so much knowledge and actually have fun doing it is rare, and this project helped us do it. Nothing mattered there and it was just around thirty people being the best group of people to learn from and laugh with. I want to thank everyone who took part in this project. I will always be grateful for this project.

Nastya, Latvia

I am glad to have participated in this Youth Exchange and to be part of this wonderful group. It was great to connect with people from around the world on a topic I am passionate about, especially through the lens of activism and shared values. This week helped me better understand my own barriers and boundaries, and I feel that I also contributed to the cause. Being surrounded by peers younger than me made me reflect on the kind of adult I have become, and it feels like I became the adult I needed as a child, someone who would protect me. This experience also strengthened my understanding of activism as something personal and collective at the same time, not only about speaking up, but also about creating space, supporting others, and standing by your values. I hope I was also able to give something valuable to these people or, at least, remind them of something important. Big thanks for the opportunity to meet and talk with Suzanna Tratnik, one of a kind woman, activist, lesbian and writer, it was very inspiring.

Adham, Latvia

I am grateful to the host and sending organizations, as well as Erasmus, for making my participation in this youth exchange possible. Firstly, the program allowed me to increase my knowledge about active citizenship and how it can be done effectively. I learned both the theoretical and practical aspects of active citizenship. Moreover, we were able to attend guest lectures and learn from the speakers’ practical experiences.

Secondly, I also learned a lot about how youth exchanges work and the role of Erasmus in them. Additionally, I made new friends from different cultural backgrounds, and during the training sessions and presentations prepared by participants from different countries, I learned about their countries and the correlation between activism and their culture and values.

I am excited to apply these new experiences and knowledge to shape my activism activities and share them with my friends and peers to make their activism and projects more effective and efficient.

Maja Vrhovnik, Slovenia

We covered a lot of different and interesting topics. The most interesting for me was the silent rules in society, which we also implemented into street action. With that, we also pointed out the stereotypes people still have about those who stand out from the majority. We worked very well together, divided roles, every opinion was heard and overall the entire communication was very assertive and productive. We also learned what works in different countries, how people point out social problems and how this is accepted in society. This is very useful because we can learn a new approaches or we can refine an existing approach. Exchanges are important because they allow you to meet new people, cultures, and exchange experiences.

Stela Štern, Slovenia

At the beginning of March I participated in Moja mavrica’s youth exchange project about active citizenship. It took place in hostel Celica, around the center of Ljubljana and at a bar Pritličje where I attended two guided discussions. This exchange gave me great memories and new knowledge. I learned a lot about political and economic facts about the participating countries and about Slovenian queer history. What I enjoyed the most in is a workshop around Metelkova street where we created photographic collages from photos of graffiti, stickers and other forms of street action.

Alja Trebižan, Slovenia

This was my first time being a part of such project, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity of being a part of this whole experience. Together we created a safe, relaxed and inclusive environment where we were able to express ourselves openly and share our experiences, views and opinions without feeling judged. Through workshops and different creative activities, I met many pleasant, open and inspiring people, from whom I learned a lot about various topics we discussed, as well as about the approaches to activism. This experience gave me space to reflect on myself, my role in society and the ways I can contribute to positive change. I can say that this project in some way restored my faith in people, and most of all, it reminded me how valuable genuine human connection is. It inspired me to connect more deeply with others and encouraged me to be more active socially. It also gave me the courage to trust myself and my ideas more.

Vane Stojanovski, Slovenia

For me the whole IPA experience was very interesting because I didn’t have much knowledge about many of the topics we covered so I definitely learned a lot of new information. All the people that came were experts in their own field. Working in groups gave me an option to inform myself from first hand experiences. I learned a lot about situations in different countries and ways how they manage their countries problems and also how they cope individually. In one of the group discussions we talked about each other’s journey of activism and moments or people that inspired us. If you would ask me this question again I would now name those people from the group as my inspiration. I learned a lot of small ways I can be a more active citizen that I can apply in my daily life. In my future I’ll try to focus on organizing events and connecting with more people with the same mindset. I want my activism to be something fun and enjoyable for everyone but still powerful enough to send a message.

Tommy, Italy

The most important things I will bring back from this exchange are the connections with people from different countries. We all come from different personal, social and political situations and we had the possibility to share experiences, stories and practices. My favourite activity was learning about queer history in Ljubljana from Suzana Tratnik, a Slovenian writer and activist.

Anna, Italy

Thinking of last week in Ljubljana, my mind fills up with good memories. I’m grateful for the experience and the opportunities it gave me: to meet interesting people, to listen to their stories, to explore a beautiful city, to reflect on such a wide and important topic as activism through different perspectives. Something I’ll definitely bring home are the inspiring conversations we had with the other people from the exchange and the things we’ve learned about Ljubljana and its queer movement thanks to all the people we had the opportunity to meet.

Tibet, Italy

The experience I’ve had in the exchange programme in Ljubljana has given me the opportunity to exchange many different ideas and visit Ljubljana (which I always wanted to visit!). The project made me come to a conclusion that despite the fact that we’re of a different descent, at the end of the day our struggles are similar in one way or another. The highlight of the project, to me, was the discussion with Suzana Tratnik, it was very interesting to hear, and at times visualise, the anecdotes she had.

Margherita, Italy

From these training days, I’ve gained a lot of new experiences. I really enjoyed working in groups and meeting people with so many different experiences and stories, and it stimulates my thinking. I’m very grateful to have learned a little about Ljubljana’s queer history, even though I’d love to know more. The meetings have enriched me greatly, thank you for that. Regarding the activities, the relationship with the other groups and the fluidity we’ve achieved in discussing and generating ideas together fascinates and makes me proud at the same time.

Giulia, Italy

My experience in the Erasmus+ project in Ljubljana was extremely formative. During this journey I began to explore the world of activism more deeply, discovering realities, ideas, and perspectives that I had only previously encountered on the surface. I had the opportunity to meet many interesting people, each with incredible stories behind them. Moreover, everyone was so kind and welcoming, so it was a real pleasure to share this experience with them.

This experience was particularly meaningful because it also allowed me to connect with the European queer scene and to meet other queer people like me, something that had rarely happened to me before.

I will take home with me a strong motivation to become more involved in the world of activism and to keep learning about it. It also inspired me to continue meeting new people, sharing experiences, and building strong connections with others.

Alex, Alex, Mara, Daiana and Niți, Romania

For the Romanian participants representing VULGAR, taking part in the Erasmus+ youth exchange “Innovative Practices in Active Citizenship” in Ljubljana was not only an educational experience, but also a deeply political and personal journey. As activists and community organizers working closely with LGBTQIA+ communities in Romania, we approached this project through the lens of inclusion, visibility, and resistance.

Throughout the exchange, we explored what active citizenship means in contexts where equality is not guaranteed and where marginalized communities continue to fight for recognition and safety. The workshops and discussions gave us practical tools to challenge discrimination, create safer spaces, and build initiatives that center queer voices and experiences.

A key takeaway for our group was the importance of intersectionality in active citizenship. We engaged in conversations about how different forms of discrimination overlap, and how activism must respond to these complexities. Hearing the experiences of other participants—especially from countries facing similar challenges—created a strong sense of solidarity and reminded us that we are part of a wider European movement for human rights.

The non-formal education methods used in the project allowed us to express ourselves freely and authentically. For many of us, this meant showing up not only as participants, but as queer individuals whose identities are often politicized. Being in a space where diversity was celebrated rather than tolerated was both empowering and healing.

As VULGAR, an organization committed to cultural work and LGBTQIA+ visibility, we are leaving Ljubljana with renewed energy and concrete ideas. We aim to further integrate participatory methods into our events, amplify queer narratives through culture, and continue building inclusive spaces where young people feel seen, heard, and valued.

This experience reaffirmed that active citizenship, for us, is inseparable from queer activism. It is about claiming space, challenging norms, and creating communities where everyone has the right to exist and thrive.

Demetrio, Ismael, María, Sonia and Alvaro, Spain

From March 1st to 7th, our Spanish group had the opportunity to participate in the youth exchange “Innovative Practices for Active Citizenship (IPA)” in Ljubljana, organised by Erasmus+. Together with participants from Latvia, Italy, Romania, and Slovenia, we explored how activism can take many forms and how young people can engage meaningfully in their communities. During the exchange, we experienced workshops and discussions on topics such as Nonviolent Communication, as well as creative activities including street actions, podcasts, and national banners to highlight social issues. These experiences helped us understand that activism is not only about large-scale actions, but also about everyday choices, respectful dialogue, and sharing ideas across cultures. A particularly memorable moment was listening to a lesbian activist share her long journey in activism, and a sociologist who explained the history of lesbian activism in Ljubljana, including the opening of a community bar in 2008. These stories showed us the importance of safe spaces, persistence, and creativity in driving social change. From this project, we learned that culture shapes how we perceive social issues, and that exchanging perspectives with people from different countries can broaden our understanding and inspire new ideas. We also discovered different ways to communicate, raise awareness, and involve others in active citizenship. As the Spanish Team, what we take with us is the motivation to share the diversity of activism in our community, promote reflection, and encourage others to explore new ways to contribute to positive change in society. This exchange has strengthened our confidence, responsibility, and commitment as active citizens.

Dora Radej, Slovenia

I participated in Youth exchange where I gained a lot of knowledge through different activities and workshops. I learned a lot, especially by listening to other participants talking about their experiences and situations in different European countries. By that I also raised my own awareness of what is happening around Europe. Through workshops we were able to learn more about active citizenship in a way that was very effective and easy to understand. My favourite workshop was the one where the team from each country explained different situations by visualising them through drawing a map of their country. I realized what it means to be an active citizen and how to become more active in that role.