Let's Talk

The project was co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

"Let's Talk" was an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange about communication, public speaking and conflict resolution. The main activity happened between 2-10 September 2023 in Dánfok, Hungary. 31 young people came together from Türkiye, Ukraine, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary to take part in a non-formal educational experience.

Before the project, we articulated the following objectives:

Therefore, we came together to exchange ideas and best practices that address these topics.

We took part in activities, workshops, reflections, and evaluations and also implemented sessions by ourselves. We had the chance to improve in many different ways during the project by living in an intercultural environment.

Check out the daily Reels on Instagram!

Daily blog

Day 1

"We started our morning at 8:30 with a delicious first breakfast in Hungary. After enjoying the food, we decided to take a walk in the vicinity of our venue, in order to have the opportunity to meet the people who would be there with us these few, probably unforgettable, days.

But to make the game even more interesting, we answered questions while walking, but for each new one we have to be with another person. That way we got to know each other better, especially since some of the questions were profound.

On our way back we played a game with names, which was interesting because we all come from different countries and cultures and everyone has a special pronunciation, so the game itself was challenging and funny.

After the walk, we went back to the conference room to move a bit more, and we used a big rope to gain more trust between us. First we had to work as a team to untie some knots on the rope, but the catch is that we had to hold the rope with one hand, and couldn't let it go. In the second activity we had to cross across the swinging rope, which was scary at first, but with the encouragement that we gave each other, we managed to get the whole group to the other side in just three swings. The final activity's purpose was to gain trust in each other. We tied the rope as a circle, and we had to rest all of our weight on it, trusting that with the force of everyone we wouldn't fall. We did it with no casualties, and even two people were able to walk on the rope

After lunch we have been doing tasks where teamwork was very much needed. We showed that everyone is capable of showing their talents and that great teamwork is key to success. We had 21 tasks that we had to complete in 40 minutes. The variety of tasks showed us that we can solve math problems, sing, dance and it taught us how to be creative

After dinner, our lovely hosts have organized a captivating cultural night, where they have unveiled the essence of their heritage through a variety of delightful and engaging activities. We have experienced and learned traditional Hungarian folklore dance, a harmonious testament to the depth of their cultural heritage. We have played games in which we have learned to say the most difficult Hungarian tongue twisters and that came with an award - traditional Hungarian beverage. We also had traditional and local Hungarian snacks. It was a delightful night in which we could explore the diverse Hungarian culture.

Even though the weather was not that nice, it was a great start to this journey! All the ices are broken, and every name is memorized after the activities and the Hungarian night (not to mention after-parties). Now, everyone is eager to see other days' activities and cultural nights of our other precious countries!"

Day 2

"We started the second day of the project with a nice breakfast. Then we did some energizers to wake up and refresh ourselves and we started with the first activities related to public speaking.

The first one was in pairs, where we had to scream at each other, first face to face and then at our backs. Then we chose groups of three people and changed positions between being a speaker, a listener and an outside observer. After that we did some workshops about some of the Youthpass competences, like languages, learning to learn, digital, entrepreneurship, and STEM. After all of it, we reflected on everything we did that morning and went to have a delicious lunch.

After a break, we got back to the conference room, did an energizer and started with the afternoon activities. The organizers explained to us what the Youthpass is and what are its competences, and then we discussed about how to give and receive feedback. Later we played a game in which we had to discover impostors in a fake survival situation. What's the catch? There were no impostors! With that, we learned how powerful prejudices really are. Finally, we did one of the most important tasks of the day, which was public speaking. For one minute, each of us had to do a speech in front of everyone else. It was challenging but very helpful and we learned a lot as we gave each other feedback. Then we all reflected about it all and went to have dinner.

Finally, we had the Ukrainian and Bosnian cultural nights, in which they presented their countries and their culture, languages, dances, food and games, finishing up a great second day of the project."

Day 3

" Our morning started with some mind games and energizers to keep our energy up. After that, we practiced some non-verbal communication techniques through theatre-like performances and exercises in smaller groups with different gestures and facial expressions.

 Before lunch, we were given a task to prepare public speech topics for later. After having lunch, those who hadn't finished yet kept thinking about what to add to their presentation. Some of us wanted to focus while chilling by the river with awesome views , while others preferred to think in their rooms for extra concentration.

 Then, finally, it was time to give our speeches about our topics. It can be pretty tough, even if you're used to it (trust me! ), but it's all part of the learning journey!

 We had this cool thing going on where we gave each other secret feedback on our presentations, and we thought it was a really great idea! You should totally try it!

 That pretty much ate up the whole afternoon. We had a blast with some energizers and sharing our thoughts and reflections on the whole project, and then it was time for the evening events!

In the evening, Türkiye  and Spain  presented their cultures to us through dances, games, and treats. We had the pleasure of listening to various Spanish songs, and Turkiya hosted an engaging and informative quiz. After the cultural evening, we enjoyed free time, with participants engaging in dances, games, and conversations with each other. 

All in all, our day was filled with both non-verbal and verbal communication experiences, including a public speaking activity with beforehand preparation of our speeches , mind games, and much more, which pulled us out of our comfort zone , and yet allowed us to see the potential path for growth in how we deliver our ideas through speech  and express ourselves with non-verbal methods. We're looking forward to the following days of the project!"

Day 4

"We began our day with a hearty breakfast, setting the stage for an exciting day ahead. In what we fondly referred to as 'family time,' we worked together to clean and organize the cups, fostering teamwork and camaraderie.

With our cups gleaming, we dived into the heart of our gathering: workshops. Starting with an energizing dance, we initiated the day with enthusiasm, creating a lively atmosphere for participation.

Afterwards, we engaged in thought-provoking debates on three topics:

The Ban on Industrial Animal Farming: We passionately discussed animal welfare and environmental concerns versus economic challenges.

The Impact of AI on Humanity: Arguments ranged from AI's benefits in healthcare to ethical dilemmas.

Social Media's Effect on Happiness: We explored the positives of connection and the negatives of addiction.

These debates challenged our thinking and allowed us to explore diverse viewpoints.

During the lunch break, we enjoyed beach time filled with sports, picnics, and photoshoots. In the afternoon, we participated in different forms of reflection and started preparing for the evening. The evening continued with a delightful dinner, stories of beach adventures, and the 'Limelight' activity. Here, we shared personal anecdotes and passions, deepening our connections.

The Limelight session's vulnerability and authenticity strengthened our bonds, leaving us with a profound understanding of one another. As the evening progressed, we cemented our friendships with meaningful conversations and laughter, concluding the night with a sense of belonging."

Day 5

Day 5 of "Let's Talk" Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Hungary

We dedicated one day to practising the basics of conflict resolution and preparing for the next day, which was something big! Stay tuned to find out what we did on Day 6!

Day 6

"Today we woke up to the beautiful singing of one of our participants, who also played the guitar. We had to get up earlier than usual, because there was a huge adventure planned ahead. We had breakfast and then started our 25 minute walk to the bus station. The weather was really warm, but we still had a lot of fun. We took the bus together and finally arrived to Békéscsaba.

In Békéscsaba, we had an important mission, which was to present in a high school in order to spread interculturality and practice English with the Hungarian students. The school was near the bus station so we didn’t have to walk a lot.

Four of our participants from Turkey, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ukraine presented on stage about their countries. Then all of us divided in groups to hold entertaining and educational workshops for highschoolers: we played games, talked about solving conflicts, and got familiar with new energizers.

For lunch we got amazing, delicious pizza and ate it together at a park. Afterwards, we went to explore the beautiful sights of Békéscsaba while reflecting on the morning experience. We walked the cozy streets of the city and tried traditional Hungarian drinks.

After spending the whole afternoon exploring the city, we got back to Békés and had dinner together. At night there was a facultative activity planned for us, where we were able to try out our acting skills. As a closing of the day, we were sitting around the bonfire and sang some well-known songs together."

Day 7

"The last day of our adventure here in Békés. We had our last breakfast together and then discussed our departure.

In the afternoon we went to the beach to play football and volleyball, some people were also enjoying the water.

In the afternoon, we had the closing ceremony, we gave each other the YouthPasses and congratulated them for taking part in this youth exchange. We didn’t know what to expect when the organizers proposed to put a paper on our backs and let others write on it but it turned out to be the most emotional part of the day (or even the week).

We were surprised how the time flies but overall we’re just grateful, that we had the opportunity to take part in this project."