Participants of a foreign project: "This opportunity is not worth missing!"

Study, improve, travel and take a break from daily lectures - why should you give up such opportunities? It is especially useful during the student period! Foreign countries, in cooperation with other countries, are constantly preparing various projects inviting people of all ages to participate. It's not just an opportunity to deepen your knowledge on a topic of interest - it's a challenge that people who accept are happy with the invaluable experience, cultural knowledge, and new contacts on facebook and deeper self-knowledge.

The students of Vytautas the Great University also do not miss the opportunity to pack their bags and go for training in foreign countries. This time we will interview the participants of three different projects, who will tell their impressions.

Social policy, Vol. IV student Eigirdas Sarkanas participated in the project BTM – Multilateral Training Course for newcomers in youth exchange in Holland. II volume of sociology and anthropology. student Solveiga Skaisgirytė - Break a brick project in Estonia. Psychology student Neringa Razbadauskaitė, Social Policy student Karolis Lasys, and VDU SA president Mindaugas Grigas, student of Marketing Management, took part in training courses on non-formal education held in Romania. Three different projects - three interesting stories! And maybe not everything was so fun? We read interviews and plan our trips!

• Tell us more about the project.

Eigird:

The project took place in Holland, in the city of Amersfoort. The training was aimed at youth workers. Age limit from 16 to 60 years. The main point was to learn how to write projects, precisely such that you could send young people to exchanges, to various seminars, conferences, the same trainings and the like. The project itself took place for five days, but I was there for a week in total.

Solveiga:

The project took place in the capital of Estonia. We lived alone in a hotel for a week. About 2-3 people from eight countries gathered there. Nine countries were supposed to participate, but the Poles were "squeamish" with the documentation, so they took three more Lithuanians instead. It is because of this surprise that I got into this project and I will never regret it. The theme of the "Break a brick" project is youth against social exclusion. We talked a lot about Roma people, various minorities, we discussed which of them are the most problematic in our countries, we tried to find alternatives to stop it. It was interesting to hear experiences from other countries and to test myself in such a social space for generating ideas.

Charles:

The project took place on December 6-16, 2015 in Poiana Negrii, Romania. There were participants from 10 European Union countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Portugal, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia, Greece and also Lithuania. In the project, we learned various methods of non-formal education, communicated with participants from other countries, went on excursions to nearby cities, spent time in cultural and thematic evenings, and had the opportunity to produce new methods of non-formal activities based on our own ideas, and the project itself was specifically focused on the non-formal education of young people education.

• Where do you hope to use the acquired knowledge in the future?

Eigird:

We are writing projects, because here, at the Student Representation, we tried to write a project ourselves, specifically for youth exchange, the international one. But we did not provide it, we chose another way. In any case, I think that in the future I will definitely use that accumulated material and knowledge and skills in writing a project, and I think it will be in the near future.

Solveiga:

I already use them. Every day, walking down the street, I see that this problem exists and that it needs to be solved. I am a student of social sciences, so even during lectures, when we talk about marginalized groups, I try to apply the acquired knowledge in training. I am thinking of alternatives, how I can help those people, and of course in the Student Council. I am a member of the Social Affairs Committee there, so when I try to organize various events, lectures or social actions, I try to attract the attention of more and more residents.

Charles:

I will be able to apply my knowledge perfectly in various camps or youth gatherings, projects.

Neringa:

I am studying psychology, so the acquired knowledge of communication will help me get to know people better, establish better contact with them. Acquired non-formal education skills will help when working with children and educating them.

Mindaugas:

Yes, I will definitely use it. Both in life and work situations. Because these topics we studied are relevant for these times - from non-formal education to learning and understanding other cultures.

• What did you like and remember the most?

Eigird:

Probably the cultural familiarity, because 16 countries participated. I think the essence was that cultural acquaintance, getting to know various people from various countries. As I said, it was a project for youth workers and the age range was exactly from sixteen to sixty years old, so you can talk to people of various ages and with different attitudes in that country. It was possible to compare because there were one or two people from each state. From Ireland, for example, there was one person older, another younger, so you also see their different views.

Solveiga:

I liked that while living there, I saw that it is possible to exist in such a community where people are absolutely tolerant, who are helpful and in a good mood every day. We all lived together for a whole week on the same floor of the hotel, we were able to work and have fun together. You really felt something that you didn't feel in your environment: at home, at the university. You always notice some negative behavior, and we didn't have that there. And then I realized that it is possible.

Charles:

Well, there were many memorable moments. Perhaps the most memorable night for our trio was in Bergamo Airport, Italy, when we couldn't find a place to stay and were forced to spend the night on airport benches. Also wandering around Bucharest for 8-12 hours, not even knowing where we are. Transporting Šakotis through Europe to Romania, a trip to Sučava, where we unexpectedly discovered a Catholic church with a group and sang in it with Romanian citizens. Cultural evenings of the project, where we had fun presenting our country and traditional snacks, sang national songs and watched how other colleagues presented their homelands. See and "taste" Romanian culture and of course morning and day walks in the Romanian mountains.

Neringa:

I really liked the people who participated in the project, who were extremely friendly, open, and interesting interlocutors. I met a girl from the Azores, who works as a teacher with children with special needs, and she offered to come and do a summer internship with her. I am very happy about it. We really liked that we played a lot of different games that helped us communicate better with each other, taught us teamwork and even helped us get to know each other better. Working as a team, we not only had fun, but we improved and were able to learn a lot from each other. I really enjoyed presenting my country. Everyone really liked the Lithuanian cuisine, we even brought a shakotis from Lithuania. We sang the song "Mano Kraštas" by Gytis Paškevičius. We danced Lithuanian folk dances. It was very good to represent my country. Only after you leave home do you realize how much fun it is to live in your homeland, you begin to appreciate your family and friends you left behind more. It's fun to travel, but it's even more fun to have a place to return to.

Mindaugas:

I really liked everything. A new country on the horizon, I had to get to know the traditions and customs. There were participants from 10 countries - this is a great experience and broadening of acquaintances!

• Do you often participate in foreign projects?

Eigird:

No, it was the first time. I actually regret not participating earlier because the university offers so many opportunities. This opportunity to participate can be said to have been obtained through contacts, but the university provides countless such opportunities, as does the Student Representative Office. There was also a project in Romania, the next one will take place in Romania again. You just need to use such opportunities and opportunities.

Solveiga:

This was my first project, but I sure hope it won't be my last.

bead:

This is my first time participating in a project of this nature.

Neringa:

I took part in the project for the first time, but at school I had to participate in a one-year exchange program in the USA, international camps, World Youth Days in Brazil.

Mindaugas:

This was my first project and I approached it with great caution and trepidation. But now I think it's definitely not the last. Because the benefits are priceless.

• How did you find out about the project and what motivated you to participate?

Eigird:

I was suggested to fill out the application by the Coordinator of Student Independence Projects. I had already forgotten that I was filling out such a thing. Then I got a letter saying I was on the waiting list and if someone didn't go, I would. And two days later I received a letter that I was selected.

Participating in training was motivated by the desire to learn. Sometimes people may be afraid to step over themselves, so here it was like leaving the "comfort zone". You always want to, you always know that you can participate, because it is really very simple. You are financed by 90-100 percent. of all funds. Spend money only for your own needs. The trip itself, the training itself does not cost you anything. They accommodate you and feed you. And that's exactly what it is, here I got over myself and took part, because the most common complex of people who don't drive is in English. Many people are afraid of English. People there also do not speak perfect English, just because they are also from the same Latvia, Romania or other countries. You don't need to be afraid of it, and that "breakthrough" of the English language happens probably in one day. Then you start even thinking in English. No need to be afraid.

Solveiga:

I learned about the training from the Projects and International Relations Committee. I received an offer from them through the Student Representative Office and had to make a decision within a few hours. Everything was paid for, and it was great for me that I have the opportunity to further deepen my knowledge and skills and test myself in the field in which I feel strong. Such opportunities should not be missed. I really encourage everyone to participate because it's unreal. I have yet to see a single person come back from such a project and not be happy.

Charles:

A friend showed me that the VMU Student Representative Office organizes an audition for this project, so I signed up for the audition and went.

Neringa:

I found out through Facebook. Encouraged to participate in the topic - non-formal education. I would like to be a child psychologist, majoring in education, so this topic was just right for me. I also really like to communicate with people from other countries, to learn about their culture, to present my own culture.

Mindaugas:

I found out from the project coordinator of the Student Representation. And she suggested to me, especially since the topic is very useful in the organization.

• What difficulties did you face?

Eigird:

Maybe the English language was the main difficulty in the beginning, because there were many older people, maybe even half. You understood them one hundred percent, but sometimes expressing my thoughts, especially the academic ones that I have accumulated, since I am already in the fourth year, it is difficult to express them in English. But later you get used to it, of course you use it google translate and the like. Anyway, everything was fine, I knew what was where, where to go in the airport, where to go. There was the fear that I might get lost or not find anything. But don't be afraid to ask. The Dutch are the kind of people who almost lead you by the hand.

Solveiga:

It was a bit awkward at first because of the language barrier. But soon that English "rooted" well enough that you even start to think in English. Then you realize that's it okay. There was a culture shock in the beginning because absolutely everyone there was over thirty years old and they don't look down on you. Only positive things in the eyes. I couldn't believe I wouldn't encounter any bad things all week.

Charles:

The hardest thing was to remain moral and not betray my beliefs, values and heart. During the day, everything there is really very beautiful, cultural and nice, but in the evening, when the sun goes down, "European fun" begins, where you can easily turn from a person into an animal. As soon as the dinner is over, five-liter bottles full of wine, their traditional home drinks and other drinks crash on the table. And then a window opens to European culture. It was the hardest part, as I mentioned, to remain the person you are and not give in to calls and discrimination from others not to drink alcohol when you don't drink it at all. It was also difficult to wander around Bucharest for 12 hours, but I'm glad we found colleagues who joined us on our wanderings. At the beginning it was also difficult to break through the English language barrier, but after a while it became very easy, I even remember how with Neringa and Mindaugus we started talking in English without realizing it at some moments.

Neringa:

I really didn't like that there was a lot of drinking during the whole project. I was surprised when I saw how many young people do not care about a healthy lifestyle at all. There is an impression that people do not know the harmful effects of alcohol on their health. High alcohol consumption was especially felt throughout Romania. I had to see a lot of homeless people, corruption, and disorder. After returning home, I realized that the situation in Lithuania is much better and compared to Romania it is a real paradise.

Mindaugas:

Perhaps the main difficulty in the first days was the fear of self-realization. The fact that perhaps personal English is weak, but after the first day we eliminated this fact. Well, in reality, the difficulty may have been one, but it was also fun. We set a goal to deliver a healthy baby, it was really difficult when we had two flights, a night at the airport, an all-night bus ride and we were carrying him all the time. But we made it!

Thanks everyone for your answers and good luck with your next projects!

Author: Julija Bajoraite