Green Horizons was an Erasmus+ youth exchange that brought together educators and young people from five countries (Romania, Estonia, Portugal, Cyprus, Germany). During the project, we explored the connection between sustainability, emotions and finances through workshops, practical activities and intercultural learning.
“As a biology teacher, I was hoping to find new ideas that I could use with my students, and I did. I especially liked the activity about creating and managing our own village in a sustainable way, as well as the sessions about emotions, stress and how they can influence our spending habits.
The most interesting part of every project for me is always the people. I enjoy learning about different cultures, traditions and everyday life. Every project gives me the chance to discover something new about another country, learn a few words in a new language and see different ways of thinking.
One of my biggest takeaways is that our emotions affect almost every part of our lives, so it is important to understand and manage them in a healthy way.
I also realized that living more sustainably does not require huge changes. Small daily actions can become habits over time and make a real difference. I plan to use what I learned both in my personal life and in my work. I would like to introduce some of these activities to my students and encourage them to think more about sustainability, emotions and responsible decision making.”
Sofija
“It was a surprise to me how emotions and finances affect our lives so heavily. However, the most interesting topic for me was sustainability, because I did not know anything about it. Being on this mobility showed me how to live an alternative version of my life, including sustainable habits, which was mindblowing. I will definitely start using some practices in my everyday life.
Another great part of the mobility was the group. Talking with people from different countries and learning more about their cultures definitely broadens my way of seeing the world and gives me understanding how great it is to go out of your “bubble” and improve your communication and general knowledge skills.
Lastly, the activities were fun and bonding: planting trees, going to visit different sustainable businesses and spending time together talking. The most memorable moments were two cultural evenings for me because it gives an overview on a participating country and how even though we are separated by borders, there are still so many things that we as people have in common, which is beautiful.”
Jekaterina
“Before going to the project I was drawn to it by the topic: combining finances, emotions and sustainability. I was genuinely curious to learn about the connection between those separate fields that affect each other in a big way, yet we forget about it from time to time. Even though I had heard most of those points of connection before, I still found interesting and useful for myself the way topics were approached and opened up in activities.
I liked the study visits to different inspiring people or places like the visit to sustainable entrepreneurs in Viscri or the nearby castles, which always gets me closer to understanding the culture. I also enjoyed meeting people from different cultures and getting to know Romanian customs and parts of the culture.
The project inspired me to take care of my finances by keeping track of them and applying tips from the Sustainable Future course.
I am now also aware of the times when emotions influence my decision-making. I definitely plan to use the knowledge and tips in making myself more sustainable as well as my household, since those daily small steps are actually what makes a big difference in perspective.”
Ariana
“This project appealed to me because I felt I needed to expand my knowledge on sustainability, finances and emotions. I find that I often make decisions on impulse and before the project I was not really sure as to why. I was hoping that this project would help me understand the connections and find some reasons, and that is exactly what it did.
The thing that I found most fascinating was how the group connected, as there were no awkward breaks and everybody got along well from the first moment. Topic-wise, I consider the newly learned perspectives on emotions to be the most valuable to me.
My favourite memories include learning new card games, experiencing the food of different cultures and finding similarities between them, as well as enjoying the scenery and getting to know the town of Viscri. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to others!“
Kaisa
“Initially, I wanted to go on the project with a young person from my youth center, who would be experiencing this for the first time, so I wanted to support him and be there if he needed it. The project topic was primarily chosen based on his interests. Finance and emotions are frequently discussed in our conversations, so we thought the “Green Horizons” project would be a perfect fit for our interests.
Unfortunately, the young person was unable to attend, and I decided not to miss the opportunity to take a break, meet new people and cultures, and also improve my English. I especially liked our Estonian team 💙
The topics covered in the project weren’t new for me, and I probably didn’t gain any theoretical knowledge. The project reinforced my belief about impulse buying, confirming that during times of emotional instability, it’s best not to make rushed purchases, especially for large sums. I’m glad I was able to experience solo travel, bike through the mountains with beautiful scenery, and meet wonderful people. A big thumbs up for the tap water and almost always hot water in the shower. ;)”
Anita
“I became interested in this project primarily because of its topic. Recently, I’ve been struggling to manage my finances. I often make impulsive purchases, which means I’m left with hardly any money by the end of the month. So my expectations of the project were centred on gaining new knowledge and learning to control my spending more effectively.
The project fully lived up to my expectations. I found the course on the Sustainable Future platform particularly useful, as it explained in detail how to manage personal finances effectively. This knowledge has proved truly valuable to me, and I have already started applying it in my everyday life.
As well as the educational aspect, there were many heart-warming and memorable moments during the project. I particularly enjoyed the welcome evening. The organisers dressed up as Dracula and his wife, creating a unique atmosphere. We were treated to cake and wine, and by candlelight, in complete darkness, we wrote anonymous notes to one another. There was a special charm to that evening, and it helped the participants get to know one another more quickly and feel part of the team.
If I were to sum up the main conclusion I’ve drawn for myself, it’s very simple: emotions always influence our spending. It is precisely under the influence of emotions that we often make impulsive purchases, which is why it’s important to learn to recognise this and exercise self-control.
Another important experience for me was communicating with people from other countries. I’m not very confident speaking English because I don’t get enough practice in everyday life. However, this didn’t stop me from interacting with the other participants at all. If there was something I didn’t understand, people were always willing to repeat it, explain it or help me. No one judged me for making mistakes in English. This experience showed me that the most important thing is the desire to communicate, and that kind-hearted people will always be there to support you.
I work as a mobile youth worker and interact with young people in an informal setting every day. I plan to pass on the knowledge I’ve gained to young people through face-to-face conversations, talking to them about the importance of financial literacy and mindful consumption. We have a youth café where young people often spend time and discuss various topics. That is exactly where I want to share the experience I gained during the project, to help young people take a more responsible approach to their finances and make informed decisions.”
Viktoria
