Inclusive Future Leaders: a journey of growth, courage, and leadership

 

Inclusive Future Leaders was an international youth exchange project funded by European Union that brought together young people from Turkey, Romania, Spain, Poland, and Lithuania to learn about leadership, collaboration, and inclusion. This project was more than just exchange – it was a week of courage, growth, and new discoveries! 
Below, participants share their experiences, impressions, and the most valuable lessons they took home!

I really miss the days we all stayed together. It's a very precious experience for me and I want to live it more. About my participation in the project i am really glad of myself and everybody. I was more social then the normal time when i was there. When i return home i realized lots of things. One of them was i want to do it again and I'll miss my friends so much. I realized like i grown up here and developed myself. I learned a lot. About friendship, leadership, other countries cultures and languages. Furthermore i also improved my English. And i experience the cold in Lithuania but it was good because we were all together and we just enjoyed it. Anyway i am really happy to be there and thank you for all of this project.

Ela

It was a unique experience for me as a teacher who took part in the Erasmus+ project for the first time. I had a lot of good experiences and it was a week that contributed a lot to my leadership skills. The project coordinators, group leaders, and participants were all great.

When I returned to my school, even before I returned, I once again understood how important informal and non-formal education is.

I will do my best to take part in such projects. It was great to work with you.

I hope we will have the opportunity to work together again on future projects.

Veli

When I first stepped into the house, I was worried about how the project would go. However, after the first day, I had almost no worries and there was a really warm atmosphere. I never thought that learning could be fun before, but I realized that it was possible in this project. I learned unique information about leadership and also experienced being in touch with different cultures. Both the culture nights, the breakfasts prepared in the morning and the group work we did in the sessions added a lot to me. Being in the same group with different people each time allowed me to get to know people better and experience working with everyone. I felt like a family in the house that I came to with anxiety and I never wanted to leave on the last day. Of course, the people who made this project the best for me were the facilitators. Being in good communication with everyone made me feel safe and peaceful. When I returned to my own country, I realized that this project was unforgettable for me. I felt that I really understood the concept of teamwork and leadership in 1 week, which I would have learned with boring advice in a few months. I am very grateful for participating in this project, thank you for everything.

Ceren

I never thought this trip would be so important to me. The last four months have been some of the hardest in my life—family struggles, heartbreak, friendships changing, and uncertainty about the future. I tried to escape these feelings by traveling, but no destination seemed to work. The first place I stopped thinking about all of them was Sirvintos. Before coming here, I even considered giving up my place, thinking, “Maybe someone else needs it more.” But something inside me said, “Go. Maybe you will learn something.”

And now, standing here, I know this was the best decision I could have made.

This experience has taught me so much. I now understand what true friendship is built on, how to communicate with loved ones by considering their feelings, and how to cooperate and guide others. More than that, I have gained the courage to face my problems, to go back home and talk with people in a different way, with a new perspective. Even if my family situation isn’t perfect, I now know that family is not just about blood—it’s about the people who make you feel at home, no matter where you are.

I will never forget the moments we shared—the laughter, the shivering cold outside, the sweat and exhaustion, the endless conversations, the deep talks with our leaders, and even the little gossips with each other. Every single second here was precious.

As we say goodbye, let’s not be sad. Instead, let’s be proud. Proud that we started our Erasmus journey with such incredible people. We are leaving with new friendships, unforgettable memories, and lessons that will stay with us for a lifetime.

As the great Paulo Coelho once said: “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.”

This is not the end—it’s just the beginning of something new. Thank you all for making this journey so special. I will miss every single one of you.

Mikolaj

Participating in the program was one of the best experiences of my life. While there, I had the opportunity to meet wonderful people from different countries and learn many new things. The sessions were interesting and enriching, and in my free time I was able to communicate more with others. Every day was full of adventures, and new challenges encouraged me to grow personally. Overall, it was an unforgettable journey that left a deep impression on my life.

Raminta

Inclusive Future Leaders Program was an amazing opportunity to increase leadership skills, improve working with others, raise English language and higher participant's confidence. It was an amazing time, which has made me feel better and more confident with working in groups.

Dominika

I feel like I gave my best participation in this project. I listened and worked in the teamwork. I participated actively but if I had a chance to participate this project again, I would speak more. This wasn't my first Erasmus but it was the one which I will never regret participating in. This project changed me, now I am more confident, I can look the problems in different ways. I realized that I am more creative, inclusive, understandable and confident than me before this unforgettable project. Now in teamwork my role is leader and I improved myself in communication too. Furthermore, now I think that mistakes are normal and we don't have to be perfect so now I look my classmates, my teammates in a different way.

Thank you for this amazing project!

Tilsim

I feel very greatfull that I could take part in this project. It was very great to visit Vilinus and Lithiania, I was very happy when I saw that the Erasmus will be accually there. From practical side - Villa was very fine. Food was good. We didnt come to eat there ;) 

All acctivities were mostly good, at least I liked them. I feel much better after the project as I feel more confident with this what I do. As Im very active in school and not only now I feel that beeing "leader" is not always liked by others, but I know what Im doing and why i Do it.

Bartosz