This project broadened my knowledge not only in the field of organising and writing EU projects, but also developed my soft skills…
I also learned to work effectively in a group in various positions. Thanks to this training, I met many new people who, by showing me their culture, made me realise how different we are, even though we listen to the same music or watch the same films.
The biggest surprise for me was that in Poland, all cities are relatively noisy. Everywhere you can hear people talking and car horns, but Latvia is completely different in this respect. Spending a day in Riga, I couldn’t believe how quiet people were here, and I only heard a driver honk twice, which is unimaginable in Warsaw.
Even though I was very good at English at school, when I was forced to use it all day long, I realised how much I still had to learn. Therefore, I am very grateful for this and the previously mentioned experiences.
Many funny situations happened during this project, but the one that I remember most vividly was the moment when I realised how tall Latvians are and how often everyday items are tailored to their height. In Poland, I am considered a tall person, but when visiting this country, I have often had to ask someone to hand me something from the shelf.
At this point, I would like to thank the LEVEL UP Association, which helped me every step of the way, making this trip one of the best adventures of my life.
Ania, 18 years old, Project LAB – youth goals, training course, Gauja Latvia
The training taught me many valuable things that I will certainly use in both my future professional and personal goals…
Thanks to the project, I understood how Erasmus+ programmes work and also learned what the European Youth Goals consist of. I became skilled in project design and development, as well as planning and teamwork. A very important element of our activities as participants was creating the application and learning about its individual stages of implementation. Thanks to this, I also learned how important sustainability is for the success of a project, measured in its quality, impact and durability. During the project, I met many valuable people with whom we inspired each other to undertake various activities – the training was attended by people from Poland, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, and Turkiye, among others. I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in this training course because, thanks to it, I learned about the culture not only of Latvia, but also of other countries. I saw the true beauty of the host country, full of natural landscapes, green forests and hills. During the workshops, I worked with people with different approaches, ideas, and personalities, which was a challenge for me. I learned then how important proper cooperation and the ability to compromise are. Throughout the project, I received enormous support – both from the organisers and local residents, and above all from the LEVEL UP Association, thanks to which I was able to go on an Erasmus+ training course. I received help from them from the beginning, throughout the event, until the end. I would like to thank everyone who made it possible for me to participate in this training – all participants and organisers.
Gabriela, 21 years old, Project LAB – youth goals, training course, Gauja Latvia
From the very first moment, I was enchanted by the beauty of this country – green hills, dense forests and the peace of nature…
Sigulda itself captivated me with its charm and peaceful atmosphere conducive to learning and integration.
During the project, I met many wonderful people from different countries who brought new perspectives and energy to my life. The friendships I made and the inspiring conversations I had will definitely stay with me for a long time. Also, a special experience was a visit to Riga – a city full of history, beautiful architecture and vibrant with culture.
During the course, I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge of project management, especially in the area of planning and budgeting. I learned how important it is to properly organise finances so that the project can be implemented effectively. Thanks to this, I feel more confident in the area of project management.
At the same time, everyday activities and working in an international team allowed me to improve my English in practice. This was extremely valuable because I was able to practice both formal and everyday communication.
For me, the entire stay was a combination of learning, developing, and discovering a new culture. Sigulda, Riga and beautiful Latvia will always be associated with inspiration, knowledge and wonderful people.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this type of trip to others! I made a lot of new friendships, some of which will stay with me for a long time. I had the opportunity to get to know another country from a more practical perspective – the inhabitants themselves. However, the most important thing is that I learned a lot in terms of content. I already know, among other things, how to plan a budget when creating my own project, how to effectively write an application so that it doesn’t get rejected, and much, much more. To sum up, I strongly encourage you to take part in this type of mobility!
Julia, 19 years old, Project LAB – youth goals, training course, Gauja Latvia
From the first moment of my stay, I felt that the trip would exceed my wildest expectations...
To start with, we lived near a Latvian national park. The beautiful surroundings, full of greenery, immediately filled me with energy for 5 days of active activities.
The above-mentioned 5 days were a very intense, but very satisfying time. The first days were filled with theoretical knowledge, which was presented in such a pleasant way that there was no need to focus too much on remembering it. However, in the following days, I had the opportunity to learn how to apply it in practice. All this took place in a diverse environment of wonderful people. During the day, they delighted me with their substantive approach, and during cultural evenings with their openness, kindness and helpfulness.
During the classes, I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge of planning and implementing EU projects. I learned how important small things are, things that seem inconspicuous but can prevent a project from being implemented. It was definitely a valuable experience that made me feel more confident in this area. This is also because I learned specialised vocabulary in English. The project itself was also an incredible breakthrough in language barriers, which made me feel uncomfortable but raised my communication skills to a new level.
Learning and entertainment were perfectly balanced during this stay. Gauja, the surrounding town of Sigulda, and the capital of Latvia itself will remain with me for a long time. Just like the knowledge gained during this trip
Paulina, 19 years old, Project LAB – youth goals, training course, Gauja Latvia
