Hi, dear friend!
Let me bring you to the worldwide adventure called “international youth projects” 🙂
I personally really like to broaden my mind every day by reading books, watching videos on YouTube and being connected to people from different backgrounds discussing every topic which is interesting to talk about. But let me tell you, that sometimes I feel that it’s not enough…and then I decide to travel – to go abroad, meet new people, listen their stories, trying to understand their culture, learn some words in their language and feel the soul of the place where I feel renewed.
It’s not bad to do this by yourself, right? But why not bring some friends? Let’s make it happen together!
I told my classmate Elizaveta about the Erasmus+ project in Turkey, Trabzon, we filled the documents and were selected as participants of this project. Eliza was waiting for this chance for 3 years:
“I was so afraid to go, to which I was mentally preparing for three years and finally decided to go – and it was wonderful! Thanks to Shokkin Group for this opportunity! The reason why I did not go before was simple – English language. BUT! After arriving at the project, I realized that everything is real and I need to do it, because I had no choice and this was my chance to overcome my language barrier. I am grateful to all the participants who were sympathetic to everything, listened to me and helped me a lot! Before the project, I never talked with people from the countries that were there… ”
As our tickets were bought in different days, we could not fly all together from the starting point to Trabzon. Thanks for the Turkish team half of Estonian team arrived to our accommodation place without any problems. After some hours arrived other participants who had another flight, they all were settled in comfortable rooms.
The selection of participating countries was interesting because all other participants were neighbour countries excluding Estonia (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia). Some of the countries were occupied or have war between each other which made me realise that we need to be open-minded listeners on the first place and only after that share our point of view on each topic. This perception helped us not to forget that we are humans full of love and empathy, not just a storage device for nationality, language and culture.
The project took place in such a cozy Shokkin Home! The climate and delicious food helped us to feel healthy. Participants had a lot of free time to enjoy the mountains, go to the beach, chill in the balcony and visit Trabzon and Ordu, there we had an interesting city game in which we had to complete tasks which consisted in talking with locals and taking photos and videos about it. In the beginning it was hard but eventually it turned out as a great activity.
First day with games and energizers, second day with discussing topic of this project, every day activities about the topics, playing the role of the organizers – each of these actions is a part that matters in the project, but there is the “hidden gem”, as Eliza told me after the project:
“This project is a small life. 24/7 whole week you communicate, laugh, discuss important topics, sleep and eat with people of other nationalities. You learn the culture of behaviour and see the differences, that is hard to learn by just going for travelling and shopping in another country. The topics that we considered on the project “All we are one” are very important for everyone and especially for young people. Gender equality, freedom of choice, prejudices and many other topics were opened to me on the other hand, from the perspective of young people from other countries. I even had a cultural shock, but thanks to the leader of our group, I was able to ask many things and got a lot of answers in short period of time. I have gained huge life experience that I’ll use for the rest of my life and I know, I know what to do better next time. Yes! The the next time, because I will go there again!”
All we are one.
We slowly finding our ways to understand this world and sometimes make mistakes, but we’re here to learn something, that can change our lives for the better.
We’re only humans after all.
Rusalina Gassõmova
Shokkin Group Estonian team