In the end of June, five young people from Shokkin had a chance to participate in the youth exchange “Greenfluencers” in Northern Spain. This youth exchange was aimed to empower young people to become active advocates for environmental awareness, sustainability, and responsible consumption – to become Greenfluencers!
Through dynamic workshops, creative activities, and cultural exchanges, the Estonian participants dove into a transformative experience, gaining new skills, forging international friendships, and igniting their passion for a greener future. Here’s a glimpse into their adventure:
“This project was full of positive emotions, from learning new things about the topic of the environment – or being reminded of what I already knew – to bonding with other participants during free time activities. Something that I really loved about the organisation of the project was the diversity of activities, which made each project day engaging and unique.
It was an eye-opening experience to live in a cultural environment completely different from my own, as well as to learn about various cultures first-hand from the people who represent their nations. All the participants were very kind, open-minded and active, which created a warm atmosphere throughout the project that made me feel comfortable and safe. I feel like this youth exchange helped me become more outgoing and open to new opportunities.“
Ariana Stepanova
“I really enjoyed the project, mostly because of the people I met and the cultural exchange we had. It was amazing to connect with young people from different countries, learn about our differences, and share our experiences. The videomaking part was covered, but it wasn’t exactly what I expected from the project. Still, it was interesting to refresh my knowledge about ecology and think about how to bring these ideas into our daily lives.
I love communicating and getting to know others, and this project gave me that opportunity. I also feel like I improved my teamwork, intercultural communication, and adaptability, as we often had to cooperate in groups and quickly adjust to new situations. Overall, it was an inspiring experience that left me with great memories and new friends across Europe.”
Sofija Buzetskaja
“It was a cool project, participation in which gave me unforgettable emotions and experience. There were many interesting activities, a pleasant friendly atmosphere and incredible adventures. The project gave people the opportunity to open up, to learn about themselves and society from a different side.”
Luka Mark Reppo
“It was a really good project. What made it special for me were the people who were all very friendly, open-minded and made everyone feel included. Everything was very well organized and we had a lot of different activities, including a beach day.
In those 6 days, I learned some new things about the environment and improved my videography skills. It was really cool that we were there when the town festival was happening, so it gave us a chance to experience local Spanish life more closely. I’m really thankful for the experience, the friends I made and all the fun new memories.”
Marta Erkmaa
The “Greenfluencers” project in Spain was a life-changing adventure for us. We learned new ways to care for the planet, made friends from around the world, and came back full of ideas to make their communities greener. With new skills and big dreams, these young people are ready to spread the word about sustainability.
Another important part of the project was the videos and short movies that we made – it is always great to have some tangible output after the project. We are planning a follow-up event (or maybe events!) in the schools during September. Our goal is to share our learnings and spread the knowledge among Estonian youngsters about climate topics. We will do our best to keep the green vibe going, and #StayShokkin!