During the exchange, I had the opportunity to meet a lot of inspiring people, including participants from other countries, as well as workshop coordinators..
Participation in the project in Malta was an extremely valuable experience, which will stay in my memory for a long time. I gained not only new skills but also a deeper understanding of how art can become a tool for social and activist actions. I learnt to use various forms of art in an aware and deliberate way, and also perceive them by their real impact on the surroundings.
During the exchange, I had the opportunity to meet inspiring people, as well as participants from other countries, workshop coordinators, who develop their artistic activity on Malta daily. Their passion, professionalism and openness made a huge impression on me. It shocked me how diverse and vivid their art environment is and how closely it is connected with local society. One of the funniest situations, which I will recall with a smile, was participation in a Ukrainian traditional wedding during an integration evening.
A positive surprise was also Maltese cuisine, locals’ openness, hospitality and peaceful life rhythm, which instantly made me feel at ease. Also, the cuisine turned out to be a huge exchange advantage – I had the opportunity to taste local dishes, which I had not known. Organisers and people engaged in the project made sure every participant was feeling comfortable, and LEVEL UP itself ensured support on every stage: before the trip, during and after.
At first, the biggest burden for me was communication with the international group; however, with time, it started to motivate me to integrate with new people rather than be a burden. Thanks to this, I overcame my fears, and I gained bigger confidence in contacts in an international environment. I am truly grateful for every person who created this exchange, including organisers, coordinators and participants, because every one of them brought something unique into the project.
I would like to thank specifically the workshop organisers and coordinators for their engagement, patience and politeness. Thanks to them, the project was so inspiring and valuable. For me, participation in exchange was not only an opportunity to learn, but also to see art and activism in a new way, as well as to build relationships, which will definitely stay with me for a long time.
I definitely recommend international trips to my peers and every person who considers this type of development. This experience enables one to escape daily routine, open up to new cultures and look at the world from a completely different perspective. These types of trips teach independence, broaden horizons, develop linguistic and social competences, and additionally give a lot of satisfaction.
Katarzyna, 23 years old ARTiculate to Create, Ċirkewwa, MALTA
For us, the project became a space for calming down, free expression and exploring our creativity from a perspective under the eye of professionals.
During the project, we had an unrepeatable occasion to meet with different forms of art – from collages, postcards and modelling with clay, to photography. We were learning not only to create, but also to use art daily in terms of activism, showing the problems of the modern world. For us, the project became a space for calming down, free expression and exploring our creativity from perspective under the eye of professionals working on Malta. I am really grateful for the experience, as well as convinced that the knowledge and skills gained there, I will be able to use daily. The project has highly broadened my horizons, let me perceive the world from a different perspective and understand that thanks to art, we can realistically influence the reality in which we live.
I highly recommend taking opportunities for international trips. That is an awesome occasion to look broader at the world, meet new people from various cultures and gain new experiences, which is hard to learn from school or a family home desk. This type of mobility enables the development of not only language knowledge, but also social and work competencies. Additionally, travelling abroad often open mind – we start to think more creatively and enthusiastically engage in actions, which have a positive impact on the surroundings.
Gosia, 18 years old ARTiculate to Create, Ċirkewwa, MALTA
I left Malta with the feeling that I can do more – for me, others and issues important to me.
The trip to Malta within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. The project was about activism through art, and from day one, I felt that I was participating in something unique. I met people from all around Europe – every one of them had a different background, sensitivity and perception of activism. It was amazing how quickly we made a great team.
I am incredibly grateful for the support, which I got from LEVEL UP on every stage of the project: before the trip, when they helped me prepare all the documents, during, when I could count on stable contact and help, and also after, in the time of summing up experiences. I would also like to thank the organisers in Malta for their engagement and care for participants, as well as the whole group for the atmosphere which we created.
This exchange reminded me how important it is to be open to the world, people and new ways of action. I left Malta with the feeling I can do more – for me, others and issues important to me.
Maria, 18 years old ARTiculate to Create, Ċirkewwa, MALTA
The project let me broaden my perspective and see how art can realistically influence our reality..
During the project, we had the ability to get to know various forms of art and practically use them in terms of activism focused on chosen social issues. The project was creating an extremely inspiring space, in which we had the occasion to attend workshops led by Maltese artists. I truly appreciate the contribution of people who prepared workshops, as well as organisers, because it was a profitable time, which surely will translate into interesting, practical actions. Additionally, the project let us broaden our perspective and see how art can realistically influence our reality in practice, which is an awesome experience for people who work or plan to work in the third sector.
I definitely recommend everyone to participate in an international mobility. I find it a perfect occasion to broaden your horizons, meet new cultures and gain valuable experiences. These types of trips help develop linguistic, social and work competencies, raise your creativity, because contact with other environments inspires new ideas and pro-social actions.
Natalia, 24 years old ARTiculate to Create, Ċirkewwa, MALTA
