YOUTH EXCHANGE “IT DEPENS ON US” IN LITHUANIA
We sent Elena as leader of the Italian group to the international exchange “It Depends On Us”, which was held in Lithuania from November 5 to 14, 2018, hosted by the association Jaunimo Ambasadoriai. The project involved 35 girls and boys from Italy, Lithuania, Romania and Spain, who through activities and workshops reflected on human rights and civic duties.
Here is her story!
Prior to this experience, I had never been a leader of a group of youth exchange participants. My main fear was that I would not be able to do my job. However, the task was not as arduous as I imagined, quite the contrary. My fears and the “don’t-want-to-leave” feeling I had a few days before my departure were immediately erased by the joy of being once again in an international environment, in a foreign country that from some points of view I feel is so different from my own and that I was therefore more and more curious to explore.
The main reason why I decided to accept the assignment of leader was the theme of the exchange, human rights, a theme that is very dear to me and of which I have a good knowledge thanks to my studies and my work-like experiences. So the activities were extremely interesting for me and equally interesting were those of getting to know Lithuanian traditions. It was great to find out that people who live in very different contexts from yours have the same opinions on some issues as you do, and the debates that arose from conflicting opinions were also very interesting. It was also very stimulating to learn how to deal with the problems that could be encountered every day within our small-large community: problems related to the not always excellent food, the cold in the rooms, the level of English of the participants…
The most beautiful personal memory is certainly linked to the 8 km walk we did to reach the house where the Patriarch of the Nation Jonas Basanavičius was born. On that occasion we found ourselves immersed in Lithuanian nature, characterized by many forests and lakes (it really seems that every house has its own little wood and lake!), and I was able to see for the first time in my life the nests of storks.
The most significant “leader’s” memory for me is linked to the change that I saw taking place in some of my students: they went from an attitude of “I don’t know why I’m here either” to a growing interest in activities and collaboration with their peers from other countries.
Certainly the most beautiful awareness that remains in me now is that, even though we come from four different countries in terms of history and traditions, we kids were united by the same interests, the same passions, the same dreams that belong to every human being. I will jealously guard in me every hug, every smile, every laugh, every look that I brought back home, with the certainty of having contributed to the creation of a new family scattered throughout Europe with which I will be reunited one day under other skies.
