YOUTH EXCHANGE „ECO HEROES“ – FEEDBACK
The “Eco Heroes” project welcomed us with open arms and a surprise April snowfall! Six countries, a million adventures, all packed into just seven unforgettable days!
The organizers made our stay incredibly cozy and full of excitement. Every single day was filled with meaningful activities and valuable knowledge, and they were always ready to help us with anything we needed. For that, they instantly earned our deepest gratitude.
Our main goal was to understand how our actions affect the environment, and what we can do, personally, to make a positive impact on this planet.
We spent a few days exploring the city of Kastamonu, diving into its history and culture, and taking part in an engaging quest. Based on our findings, we later created campaigns to address the local environmental challenges we discovered. At the same time, we didn’t forget to reflect on the issues our own countries face.
To balance out all the brainstorming, we also visited many local historical landmarks including: a traditional hammam, the oldest mosque (UNESCO-protected), a school, and an exhibition of eco-projects at the university. We even had the chance to meet the Provincial Director of National Education, ask him our questions, and hear personal stories from the local community.
Of course, one of the highlights was visiting an eco-friendly farm, where we not only got to ride horses and cook our own “Pide”, but also learned about their way of life and ecological practices.
To wrap it all up, I had the honor, as team leader, of giving an interview for local TV, sharing my reflections on the project. Fitting all the emotions into just two sentences was definitely a challenge!
Turkey truly amazed us with its hospitality. Tea everywhere, tea always, and such delicious tea! People were ready to help you even without speaking a word of English. And the furry street friends live in comfort and love, thanks to special machines that dispense food when you drop in an empty bottle. How incredible is that?
This project helped me grow emotionally and mentally. It opened my eyes to things I had never thought about before, and for every question, I found an answer. I met amazing people and gained experiences I will never forget.
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