What?
The Youth Exchange about sustainable living, saving nature, developing outdoor skills (mmmm, outdoor cooking, my loooove!). 38 young people from 6 different countries (Poland, Spain, Estonia, Portugal, The Netherlands and Denmark) were living together for 5 nights in the nature, sleeping in tents, washing in the lake using only natural washing ingredients, eating food prepared by themselves in the bonfire, creating interactive sessions and learning a lot through this common living process.
Where and when?
Oh, magic midsummer in Estonia. First and last days were spent in the City living in the hostel and working in the youth center: usual summer living style. But not in the forest! In Estonian forest. You never know what to expect: sun, rain or snow? The weather kept the balance. Hot-hot days and cold-cold nights. Isn’t it magic, when people gather their blankets, warm clothes, everything they have just to make sure your neighbour is feeling warm enough? No, it’s not magic, it’s normal, but seems to be forgotten just a bit.
Who?
I was pretty sure the participants of the YE would be super-ready for this kind of outdoor challenges. But in reality we were not, and this is what made this Project much more powerful! People were so much surprised by themselves! For me personally the best part was outdoor cooking workshops and 2 hours for preparing dinner of 3 meals for everybody with limited products (for you to know I don’t cook at all even at home. I didn’t. Now I do). Also we had such an amazing group full of talented people. The open space made them come out with the workshops and, omg, we did silver jewels, massage, chopping woods, cleaning forrest and a lot of other stuff. Magic! It was magic!
Special moments
Connection moments. Connections with some people. Not everybody. For the last years I made a choice not to become a friend with everybody, but just to find those eyes of My people. You know what I mean. Those connection moments appear through dealing with each other, doing stuff. Sometimes you even don’t have to talk to understand it.
What else?
Go out! Go to the nature! Doesn’t matter where. This is the place where you understand what is important in your life and what is not. I really don’t know how this mechanism works, but it works. That’s it!
Maria