Hello, I'm Samet Şirin. I'm 21 years old and a third-year medical student at Izmir Katip Çelebi University. I believe young people should be more active internationally, so I'm keen to participate in various projects.

My biggest motivation for this project was the first time I'd been in Romania. While I tried to be as active as I could during my time there, my lack of language skills made it impossible. However, thanks to the friends I made abroad, I improved my English within about nine months and then participated in my second international experience, the KA152 YOU – Youth Cultural Heritage Journey project. I clearly felt and saw the difference between these two projects, especially the importance of language skills. Experiencing different cultures, practicing a foreign language, and working with young people across Europe toward a common goal were the elements that excited me most before joining the project. I also applied because I believed it would significantly contribute to my personal development and career.

The project I participated in took place in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, and its main theme was "Preserving Cultural Heritage through Youth." Throughout the project, various icebreaker and energizer activities were held to both motivate us and help the participants get to know each other better. I participated in workshops and gave group presentations. Each country presented its own organization and association; I was involved in YESKAD's presentation. We enjoyed evenings of cultural events, combining food, dance, and culture. We visited some historical sites in Skopje and interviewed people on the streets. Because we worked with different groups every day, we were in constant communication with the participants. Every moment of the project was invaluable to me. I made wonderful friendships, and I have no doubt that these friendships will continue in the future.

Throughout the project, I played an active role in leading sessions, group work, presentations, and games that brought participants together. I believe that active participation is the most important aspect of these types of projects, and that for something good to emerge, everyone must share their ideas and support each other. This project not only improved my knowledge and language skills; its greatest contribution was its self-confidence. I utilized my social skills and creativity in group work, and my tolerance for diverse ideas and empathy were strengthened. It truly allowed me to see the world from a broader perspective.

Throughout the project, we had three games for participants to enjoy: City Hunt, Gossip Box, and Secret Friend. In the Gossip Box, everyone wrote down something they'd seen or heard about someone else; it was quite entertaining. But the game that most impressed me was the Secret Friend game. Everyone was drawn, and you'd leave a gift, note, or something you wanted in an envelope for that person. At the end of the project, your secret friend was revealed. On the final night, I told my secret friend that she was my secret friend, and she told me she was her secret friend. That moment was incredibly happy, and I can say it was an unforgettable moment. Overall, every moment of the project was both educational and entertaining. Even though it only lasted a week, it was one I'll definitely remember.

This was my second time abroad with the Erasmus+ KA152 YOU project. I want to participate in similar projects and social volunteering activities both domestically and internationally in the future. These two projects I participated in were made possible through YESKAD, of which I am a member. I would like to thank the entire YESKAD family for their contributions. I also highly recommend young people to participate in YESKAD's projects and activities.