The project in Lithuania was an incredible experience for me — one that I will surely remember for the rest of my life.
I met wonderful people from different parts of Europe who shared their experiences and cultures with me. During the exchange, I improved my communication skills in English. Thanks to the kindness of all the participants, my uncertainty and shyness in interacting with others disappeared, and being able to handle new situations boosted my self-confidence. I learned a lot about mental health and how to take care of it. I learned to listen to my body and manage my emotions. What surprised me the most was how strongly the mind and body are connected, and how breathing exercises can positively affect the human body and overall well-being.
Lithuanian cuisine also turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The local dishes were often prepared with natural ingredients, which aligned perfectly with the theme of our project on mental health.
I am grateful for having had the opportunity to take part in this project and for all the amazing people I had the chance to meet. The LEVEL UP Association provided me with the right support at every stage of the exchange, for which I am incredibly thankful. I would especially like to thank the Polish group for their support, the time we spent together, and for making this experience even more meaningful.
International trips are a wonderful experience for young people. They offer a chance for personal growth and broadening one’s horizons. Such trips not only allow you to discover new cultures and form friendships with people from different parts of the world, but also help improve language skills, teach independence, and develop soft skills such as teamwork and problem-solving. I highly recommend international exchanges, as they are unforgettable experiences that stay with you for a lifetime.
Aleksandra, 20 years old, Follow Your Mind and Body, Kaunas, Lithuania
Thanks to this exchange, I learned many useful skills. During the project, I managed to break down my barriers to speaking in English to a large group of people.
We often presented different presentations or just needed to ask something on the forum. In addition, I gained confidence in organising activities for a bigger group of people and conducting integration and energising games.
I met plenty of wonderful and diverse people from as many as four continents (some of the groups included international students), thereby I learned a lot about other cultures and breaking stereotypes. I think that due to this exchange, it will be easier for me to make contact with people from other countries in the future.
Kaunas itself, and the resort where we stayed, exceeded all my expectations. We were accommodated in the commercial part of a beautiful monastery, located right next to the town square, so at every turn, we came across monuments. In addition, there were big parks along the main river, where we could find, e.g. beach volleyball courts on which we played after workshops.
It was my first exchange and I’m very happy that I went there under the care of the LEVEL UP Association. Before the project, I received full support and explanations concerning e.g. purchasing tickets, so the preparation period was much less stressful for me. What is more, the organisation took care of putting all the participants of the exchange in touch before the journey, so we had a chance to get to know one another.
Youth exchange is a wonderful experience, in every moment spent there is some kind of learning – either teamwork or foreign language communication. Additionally, thanks to various forms of funding, people struggling with difficulties who usually do not have the opportunity to travel, can participate in the exchanges.
I recommend this type of trip to all my peers, especially those who want to develop themselves and gradually become independent.
Anna, 18 years old, Follow Your Mind and Body, Kaunas, Lithuania
I gained a lot from the project. First of all, I learned how important it is to care about balance between body and mind.
The exchange in Lithuania within the framework of the “Follow Your Mind and Body” project was an unforgettable experience. Participants from five countries – Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Romania, met to work together on personal development and participate in yoga or meditation classes and meetings with a psychologist.
Everyday yoga and meditation sessions allowed me to calm down and focus on the present moment. The workshops with the psychologist were extremely valuable – I learned techniques for dealing with stress and effective communication of my emotions. All classes were well-organised and the schedule was adapted to our needs. The organisers made sure that each participant felt comfortable and had the opportunity to take an active part in all planned activities.
The LEVEL UP Association has shown full professionalism. I could count on their support from preparing for the trip, throughout the whole time of the exchange, up till the end of the trip.
Speaking English was the biggest barrier for me. At first, I felt insecure, but day by day, I became more and more confident. Finally, I broke down my fears and started to communicate easily with other participants which was a huge step forward for me.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in this project. I’ve met fantastic people with whom I established lasting friendships. Finally, I would like to thank warmly the whole LEVEL UP team for their excellent organisation and support.
International trips are not only an opportunity to travel but also to learn about new cultures, traditions and lifestyles. Meetings with people from different countries open minds, teach tolerance and respect for diversity. It is also an opportunity to establish long-lasting acquaintances and friendships. Shared experiences bring people closer together and acquaintances made during such trips can last for many years.
Antonia, 18 years old, Follow Your Mind and Body, Kaunas, Lithuania
During the exchange I broke down many of my barriers, such as speaking English in public.
The project gave me a lot of valuable experience and knowledge. First of all, I learned how important is to take care of our mental and physical health and how we can improve our mood. I understood how important it is to listen to our body and respond to its needs. Thanks to this project, I also learned the significance of being open to new experiences and cultures that can enrich us and expand our horizons.
I met many inspiring people, both Romanian and Portuguese, who impressed me with their warmth and openness. I got to know many different cultures, which opened my eyes to mental and physical health. I was particularly surprised by the culture of Romania which turned out to be extremely interesting and rich with traditions.
Thanks to the full support from both LEVEL UP and the host organisation, I felt confident and comfortable. I would like to thank especially my countrymen, Poles, whom I met on the project. You’ve changed my life for the better and I’m incredibly grateful for that. I would also like to thank the LEVEL UP Association for enabling me to participate in this wonderful exchange. Your support before, during and after the exchange, was invaluable and allowed me to fully enjoy this experience.
I’m grateful for every moment spent on this project and for all the new acquaintances and experiences I’ve gained. This exchange will remain in my memory forever as one of the most important and developing stages in my life.
I highly recommend international trips to my peers! It’s an amazing opportunity to acquaint oneself with many cultures in one place and make friends with people from all over Europe and beyond.
During such trips, you can gain lifelong friends which opens the doors for travelling and discovering secrets of a given place with the help of local fellows. Such trips are also an opportunity to learn a lot of interesting things because projects in which you participate are often extraordinary and certainly not boring. For example, I had an opportunity to learn about the importance of mental health and how to take care of it. These are experiences that not only enrich our knowledge but also help us to better understand ourselves and the world around us.
International travelling is something more – it is an investment in personal development and a chance for unforgettable adventures. I warmly encourage you to grab every such opportunity!
Hubert, 19 years old, Follow Your Mind and Body, Kaunas, Lithuania
The charming and peaceful atmosphere of the city will stay in my head for a very long time.
The exchange in Lithuania was an amazing experience for me. I had an opportunity to meet people from as many as 5 countries. Most of us came from Eastern European countries, so it was very interesting to observe similarities in our cultures and traditions.
As for the project itself, the sessions were very interesting. My interests in many aspects coincided with topics of conducted classes. I trained myself in yoga and meditation techniques but also encountered completely new things there. For the first time in my life, I had the opportunity to practice breathing techniques or fitness nirvana. Such an unforgettable experience!
Lithuania, especially Kaunas, surprised me a lot. I never thought I would get a chance to visit this place. Honestly, I also didn’t expect I would like it so much.
I’m very grateful for our Polish group. We synchronised perfectly and I owe this great stay to them. Together we created a very harmonious team.
To sum up, the exchange was a wonderful experience for me. I have only good memories of it. Apart from the opportunity to meet new people and learn about new cultures, the project also helped me in my self-development.
I would definitely recommend such trips to everyone. It is a perfect opportunity to expand one’s knowledge, gain new perspectives and develop cultural competencies.
Urszula, 18 years old, Follow Your Mind and Body, Kaunas, Lithuania
Kaunas and Vilnius that I visited are real pearls on the map of Europe.
The exchange in Lithuania is my fifth mobility trip and I know from my own experience that each of them is unique and therefore wonderful. Kaunas, where our project took place, welcomed us with charming streets. The first culture shock for me was when I discovered that the Lithuanian language is not similar to Polish.
A real frosting on the cake, however, was the location where we stayed and where the workshops took place: a historic monastery which has been restored and now serves as a home for pilgrims. It was there that I learned about managing emotions, relaxation techniques and healthy nutrition.
The key skill that I learned from this exchange is certainly the ability to work in an international environment under time pressure – which I regard as an incredibly practical ability. In addition, I feel that I have greatly improved my ability to present in front of a group, also in a foreign language.
I also had a great possibility to experience other cultures and traditions. Lithuania itself was a real discovery for me because it is a country where the culture of the ancient Slavs is still very much alive.
The local cuisine and atmosphere weren’t particularly surprising because they are similar to those known in Poland, but that does not mean that the food wasn’t delicious.
I met people literally from all over the world (among the participants were people from Egypt or Brazil) and of different ages. The cooperation during the workshops was an experience that really opened my horizons to certain socio-cultural issues.
LEVEL UP took great care of me from the beginning to the end, all along I had contact with a person from the organisation, who patiently and in detail answered all my questions. She kept me up in the picture and informed me about each step.
Finally, I would especially like to thank the person who supported the facilitator, who not only took great care of the smooth running of the project but also tried to make everyone feel at ease.
I highly recommend such trips to everyone, especially to young people who are looking for their path in life. Such projects help to find one’s strengths and overcome limitations, and at the same time gain practical skills that are not taught at school. It is also a great opportunity to experience different cultures, learn about social issues and make friends around the world.
Wiktoria, Follow Your Mind and Body, Kaunas, Lithuania
For the rest of my life, I will be grateful for the experiences and the people I met there, as well as for plenty of situations in which I laughed till my sides ached.
One of them was a house party at 3 a.m. with a few people from different countries, when we just talked, exchanged stories and listened to good music. Such moments are extremely memorable.
From the “Follow Your Mind and Body” exchange, I learned, above all, plenty of knowledge on taking care of my mind and body, as well as communicating with them and bringing them into harmony through yoga, meditation, breathing exercises or relaxation techniques, such as mandala painting. I also had an opportunity to meet many great, open-minded people, but it is the Lithuanian and Polish teams that I will remember the most and with whom I’ve managed to form relationships for life. I had the privilege of meeting a person who swept me and my world off my feet.
The biggest surprise in Lithuania for me was its rate of suicides and the reasons for such a situation, as well as the Lithuanian educational system. During the survey of the local population, I talked with residents of Kaunas city about the situation in their country. I was very pleased with their openness and readiness to discuss the topic.
I remember the organisers in Lithuania, as well as the coordinator Pedro, in the most positive way – they were open, helpful, smiling and involved. However, I pass my biggest thanks to the LEVEL UP Association, thanks to which I got the chance for such an experience, as well as the help at every stage of the trip.
My biggest thanks go to the LEVEL UP Association for trusting me, to my Polish team, in which we all got on great terms straight away, and to the Lithuanian team, who also made this time magical.
I would encourage others to travel internationally by sharing the stories of those who have positive memories of such trips. If you can boast of an open mind, then I highly recommend such trips to you.
Sonja, 18 years old, Follow Your Mind and Body, Kaunas, Lithuania
