From 3rd to 12th September 2021, NGO Interaktiva was hosting an Erasmus+ youth
exchange. “Business as EUsual” was held in Interaktiva’s hometown Osijek. 42 participants
gathered to share experience, engage in various projects and spread the EU spirit in their
society. Together with project partners from Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Italy and
Georgia, this project was implemented with a successful outcome.
Young people from different cultures and with distinct thinking were joined in this project to
discuss one of the main problems in today’s society - youth unemployment. The difference
between all of them helped them to realize their similarities. With learning how to act in a
business world, the youth is now able to spread the awareness about youth unemployment in
their countries and give possible resolutions to it. Apart from learning about the variety of
countries in the European Union, they were able to develop critical thinking and presentation
skills while actively participating in ongoing discussions. Learning about the business world
could help them with future employment and to become aware of their worth and abilities.
The first days of the project were filled with workshops useful to people with less experience
in the world of business. How to write a CV or a cover letter are just two of many other topics discussed at the beginning of the youth exchange. As the project was ongoing, the topics about personal growth and competencies were studied. During this project, they were able to gain knowledge from their new friends about their previous work and Erasmus + experience and challenges.
Participants also shared the beauty of their own countries through Intercultural evenings.
They were also able to discover Osijek and experience Croatian culture. On this youth
exchange, young people improved their communicational and oratory skills in foreign
languages which can help them in their future.
"Being an organizer of this kind of youth exchanges is always challenging, especially bearing in mind that you have to deal with 42 young people from all of the Europe, but when you see that you succeeded to create environment in which they felt safe enough to speak in foreign language with no fear of being ridiculed, to speak their mind and share ideas, to see them grow each day, that is something extraordinary. So, Erasmus+ YE "Business as EUsual" may be our 3rd youth exchange, but most certainly it won't be the last", said Romana Cosic, president of NGO Interaktiva.
*Youth Exchange "Business as EUsual" was funded under the Erasmus+ Programme of European Union, and its approved by Croatian Agency for mobility and EU Programmes
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