Participating in an Erasmus+ youth exchange is always more than just traveling: it is an opportunity to step out of your usual rhythm, meet people with different life perspectives, and rethink the way you see community, work and creativity. This autumn, a group of Shokkin members traveled to rural Spain to take part in “Tech4Rural”, a project focused on digital tools, communication and culture in rural areas.
“Tech for Rural has probably been my favorite project recently. Before the youth exchange I really had no idea what there was going to be, but I was still really excited for it. During the project the most interesting part for me was creating a website and using the tools given to us to help the local community. From there I improved my skills on graphic design, filming and editing videos and smoothly working with others in a team.
There were a lot of nice moments happening during the project, and it is very hard to choose one, but one of them stood out to me the most: Going to the village party with all the elderly people and chatting, eating, dancing and playing. That was the most memorable experience from it, having the opportunity to explore different cultures and let them flow into your life.”
Kristjan
I joined this project by chance, and I didn’t have time to form many expectations, but it turned out to be incredible. There were many countries involved in the project, but the participants were not necessarily from the countries they represented, which gave the opportunity to meet a large number of people from all over the world.
This project gave me the opportunity to learn how to raise my voice so that my thoughts could be heard as well.
This Erasmus will definitely stay in my memory because of the people and the place where we lived. It was my first time visiting a village outside of Estonia, and it was an incredible experience. However, the people remained the brightest part of the project for me. There were always people with whom you could quietly sit outside, or those with whom you could release all the accumulated energy.”
Lorena
“Before the youth exchange I expected to gain some basic web-related knowledge and meet new people, but the experience turned out to be much richer than I imagined. The most interesting part for me was creating a digital platform together and constantly exchanging ideas with participants from different countries. I learned a lot about teamwork, communication, and how to structure ideas into a real project using web tools.
This experience helped me become more confident in working in international teams and facing new challenges. I plan to use these skills in my future studies and projects, especially in collaborative and digital environments. Also, living in a rural area surrounded by mountains, with many dogs and warm evening conversations, is a memory I will always keep.“
Carina
“Tech4Rural was my first Erasmus+ project in the role of a group leader, which made the experience both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. From the very beginning, the supportive and open atmosphere of the group helped me grow into this role with confidence and curiosity.
What impressed me most was the pace of life and mentality in rural Spain. Life there felt calmer and more intentional, with a strong focus on presence, connection and enjoying simple moments. Coming from Tallinn, where everything often moves fast and feels productivity-driven, this contrast encouraged me to reflect on the value of slowing down.
This mindset was also reflected in our project work. While creating digital content and websites, the focus was on meaningful communication and making art and culture visible in rural areas. The project showed that even small communities with fewer people can be vibrant, creative and deeply inspiring.”
Maryna
“What I found most interesting was the diversity of people, cultures, and perspectives we shared during the activities. One of the key learnings for me was how important communication and teamwork are in an international environment. I also learned to be more open, flexible, and confident when expressing my ideas. I plan to use this learning in future projects, studies, and everyday communication with people from different backgrounds. Something nice I will always remember is the friendly atmosphere and meaningful conversations we had during the exchange.”
Luka Mark