At the end of May, a group from the HEureka Generator Association travelled to Slovakia to take part in the international youth exchange "Green Dream", organised within the Erasmus+ programme. The project brought together young people from Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Portugal. Over several days, we explored topics related to environmental protection, climate change, and sustainable living.

Our journey began in Lublin. A rented van picked up the first participant and then stopped along the way in Krasnystaw, Małochwiej Duży, and Zamość, where the rest of our group joined the trip. After around seven hours of travelling, including a break on the way, we arrived at the venue.

At the campsite, we were welcomed by Martin, the youth exchange coordinator. He gave us a tour of the entire site, showed us our accommodation, and explained the most important organisational information. From the very beginning, we could see that we were going to spend the next few days in a really pleasant place. The cabins were comfortable, and the campsite was home to alpacas, parrots, rabbits, and cats, which immediately caught our attention. After unpacking our luggage, we had our first dinner together in the campsite restaurant. As it turned out, this was where we enjoyed most of our meals throughout the exchange. The delicious dinner was a perfect end to a long day of travelling. The following day, the main programme of the youth exchange was due to begin, and we were looking forward to meeting our new friends during the first team-building activities.

The following day, we officially began our youth exchange. The programme started with team-building games and activities, which helped us get to know the participants from the other countries. Young people from Slovakia, Lithuania, Portugal, and Poland took part in the project, so creating a friendly atmosphere and breaking the ice was important from the very beginning.

The main theme of the exchange was ecology and environmental protection. The organisers prepared a wide range of workshops and educational visits, giving us the opportunity to see how environmental issues are addressed in practice. One of our first study visits was to the SOSNA organisation in Kostoľany nad Hornádom. There, we learned about the significant impact of climate change on the environment and how increasing drought affects groundwater levels. We also discussed ways to protect water resources and explored simple actions that each of us can take in our daily lives to reduce our impact on the environment.

Another important part of the programme was a visit to KOSIT, a company specialising in waste management. During the visit, we had the opportunity to see what happens to waste from the moment it is collected until it is processed. The company's staff explained how waste is sorted, recycled, and converted into energy. It was a valuable learning experience that showed us how modern technologies help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and contribute to more sustainable waste management.

We also had plenty of opportunities to discover Slovakia. During a city game, we explored the historic centre of Košice while completing challenges prepared by the organisers. This activity allowed us not only to visit the city's most important landmarks, but also to learn more about its history and spend time working together in international teams.

One of the best days of the exchange was our trip to Muránska Planina National Park. We enjoyed the beautiful Slovak countryside and visited places where people work to protect local wildlife. One of the highlights was the ground squirrel meadow, where we could watch these friendly animals in their natural habitat. We also visited a donkey farm, saw a flock of sheep while walking in the mountains, and stopped to see the famous Muránsky Obor wooden sculpture.

One of the best days of the exchange was our trip to Muránska Planina National Park. We enjoyed the beautiful Slovak countryside and visited places where people work to protect local wildlife. One of the highlights was the ground squirrel meadow, where we could watch these friendly animals in their natural habitat. We also visited a donkey farm, saw a flock of sheep while walking in the mountains, and visited Muránsky Obor.

As with every youth exchange, one of the most important parts of the meeting was meeting new people. Sharing meals, spending evenings together, and talking outside the workshops helped us get to know each other better and share our experiences.

After several busy and enjoyable days, it was time to say goodbye and return to Poland. We came back with new knowledge, unforgettable memories, and new international friendships. The "Green Dream" exchange showed us that protecting the environment starts with the everyday choices we all make, and that working with young people from different countries helps us see the same challenges from different points of view.

The "Green Dream" project was organised within the Erasmus+ programme, which has been giving young people the opportunity to gain new experiences, develop their skills, and discover other cultures for many years. We are sure that the knowledge, memories, and friendships from this exchange will stay with the participants for a long time.

Finally, we would like to sincerely thank the organisers, Youth initiative Čaňa, for preparing this youth exchange. We are grateful for the opportunity to take part in so many interesting workshops and study visits, for creating such a friendly atmosphere, and for giving us the chance to meet young people from different countries. It was a truly valuable experience that we will remember for a long time.

Nikola: During the project, we had the opportunity to take part in a beekeeping workshop. We learned many interesting things about the life cycle of bees, how they live, and how they should be cared for. Tomasz also explained the process of honey production, which we later had the chance to see in practice. This experience helped us understand how important bees are and why it is so important to protect them. I really enjoyed these workshops.

Mikołaj: What I enjoyed the most was meeting people from different countries. I had a great time with the Lithuanians, the Portuguese were amazing, and the Slovaks were very friendly. I especially liked learning about their cultures during the intercultural evenings, as well as discovering their music and traditional food. It was great to spend time together, joke around, and sit by the campfire. I think it was an unforgettable experience, and for me, it was the best part of the whole exchange.

Maria: The part I enjoyed the most during our Erasmus+ project was our visit to the KOSIT company. We travelled there by bus, and when we arrived, we were given protective equipment, including helmets, so we could safely tour the facility. We visited different parts of the company where various types of waste are processed. We learned that waste is first sorted and then compressed into large blocks. After a short break, we watched a very interesting and informative presentation. It helped me better understand how serious the waste problem is and why recycling is so important. I really enjoyed this visit and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to see how the company works.