In June, Spain hosted the Pride Lens to Europe training for youth workers, volunteers, and activists who work with young people or are interested in diversity, inclusion, and LGBTQ+ rights.
During the training, participants learned how to use various storytelling tools to support initiatives and projects. We asked Oleksandra about her experience and impressions.
Katya during training
Have you participated in Erasmus+ projects before? If yes, what made this one special?
Before this, I took part in two projects. The first one was in Bulgaria, the second in Italy. And the third one was this exchange in Spain. For me, it was special because of its LGBTQ+ theme and the participants. Also, I had dreamed of visiting Spain for a long time, and this exchange helped me make that dream come true.
What should EVERY FRi member know before going on a project?
My biggest piece of advice is to be ready for challenges. But it’s important to learn how to enjoy every experience during such journeys. These trips teach you how to adapt to different situations and find common ground with different people (both participants and those you meet along the way).
Can you describe a typical day on the project? What were your daily activities like?
Our day started in our room. Three of us from the team lived together, and we would go to breakfast with the girls. Every day, as a kind of tradition, we had yogurt and sandwiches. Then we had sessions — both theoretical and practical. Every day was different, so it’s hard to single out just one thing. After that, lunch and siesta. Later, more sessions and then dinner. In the evening, we created our own entertainment with other participants — walks, a concert in our town, board games, or simply late-night conversations.
A couple of workshops stood out to me. For example, the “Oscar Night”: we were divided into teams, and we had to film, direct, and edit a short movie. Later, all teams presented their films, and the judges picked the best one.
There was also a photovoice workshop. We had to tell a story through a photo. Everyone created their own idea, but we worked together and helped each other — being models, etc.
What are your impressions after using storytelling, photovoice, and video-making to communicate about important topics?
After the exchange, I realized how important art is as a tool for communication and expressing your thoughts. I’m really happy with what I learned during the project.
You were in Spain — what are your impressions after visiting the country?
Spain had been my dream for a very long time. I’m so happy I got the chance to visit. It’s an incredibly colorful, hot, and vibrant country. I definitely want to return more than once.
How interesting and useful were the discussions about visibility and support for queer youth? The discussions really deepened my knowledge of this topic. I heard stories from community members, understood their struggles and challenges. Now, having friends from this community, it’s easier for me to talk about and relate to this subject.
What conclusions or insights did you gain from participating in the exchange?
I realized that I want to travel to more projects, and that I really enjoy training courses. It’s truly an amazing experience.
After the training, the participants implemented their own project.