“What type of leader are you?” This is the first and main question we had to ask ourselves during the Youth Exchange project “Growing Young Leaders” that took place from 1 to 10 December 2019 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Financed and supported by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, and hosted by Bulgarian NGO Social Hub, this project brought together 35 participants from eight different countries: Italy, Spain, Portugal, Latvia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and North Macedonia.
Aiming to a greater level of awareness of what it means to be an active citizen in our community, we strengthened our leadership and decision making skills through non-formal education. Each session and each activity has been carefully planned to help us enhance our capacity to become independent and make decisions.
Along with debates and reflections on the topic, we learned first hand what it means to be a leader. World Café, Role-plays, Simulation games, and an Open Space Technology Workshop are just some of the methods used to learn about ourselves and how to use our competences in a community to help the others and empower them.
During this project, we have had the chance to cooperate and work together in a multicultural environment, learning from each other, and becoming even more conscious of our interpersonal and social competences. We have embraced the European spirit and shared our ideas, beliefs, as much as information about our cultural heritage during the intercultural evenings.
These days have resulted in a completely successful and satisfying experience which has left us with a more open mind and a full heart.
Thanks to the Italian team: Francesca (our group leader), Alessia, Enrico and Gianluca, and to our sending association Scambieuropei.
Chiara Corrado