From April 1st to 9th, 2025, ELIX had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “Democracy: Make Your Voice Count!”, hosted by the Estonian NGO Noored Ühiskonna Heaks in the scenic village of Taevaskoja, Estonia.
ELIX proudly served as the sending organization for six young participants from Greece, who joined peers from Estonia, Italy, and Portugal in this rich intercultural and educational experience.
Exploring Democracy in Daily Life
The youth exchange focused on how democratic participation intersects with crucial aspects of everyday life, including mental health, conflict resolution, economic challenges, and digital development. Through interactive workshops and open dialogue sessions, participants deepened their understanding of what it means to be an active citizen and explored practical ways to engage in democratic processes in their daily lives.
Activities Included:
- Simulations of parliamentary procedures
- Debates exploring different political perspectives on the same issue
- Interactive sessions on the systems that shape modern democracies
The participants demonstrated high levels of engagement throughout the exchange—particularly during discussions on political and economic topics. Their curiosity and willingness to listen and share fostered a vibrant environment of intercultural dialogue and learning.
Programme Goals:
- To highlight the link between mental health and democratic participation
- To develop skills in dialogue and conflict resolution
- To examine how economic inequality affects access to democratic processes
- To encourage critical thinking and responsible digital engagement
All six participants sent by ELIX expressed great enthusiasm and gratitude for the opportunity. Here’s what Angeliki, the team leader from Greece, had to say:
“April 2025 was definitely the most special month of the year. When you are surrounded by people who warm your heart, time flies. The project, with its focus on democracy, made me a better person and will always be a story worth telling. I travelled far into the heart of winter and stepped out of my comfort zone—something we don’t often do back home in Greece. In the end, the hardest part of life isn’t forgetting, but remembering—remembering every small and big moment that changed you and made you believe in the unbelievable. So from Taevaskoja, I will carry with me even every snowflake that covered us during those days and made our dreams as white as Estonian snow.”
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Interested in similar experiences?
Stay tuned for more Erasmus+ opportunities with ELIX!
