Youssri, our skilled collaborator, also joined the training course, capturing the stories, atmosphere, and energy of participants through his sharp perception and creative outlook (and of course, his microphone!). His reflections turned into a vivid and heartfelt blog post, offering an authentic glimpse into our week in Albania and the essence of the project itself.
Dates: 10 to 16 October 2025. Place: Durrës and Golem, Albania – close to the sea, with beautiful beach walks throughout the week. Programme: Erasmus+ ACT-YOU training on inclusion and active youth participation.
Why I was there
ACT-YOU (project number 2024-3-BE04-KA153-YOU-000279439 ) brings youth workers and youth leaders together to make everyday youth work more inclusive and practical. It develops skills for human rights, democracy, and peaceful coexistence, and builds a European network that lasts beyond the course.
Main objectives I worked on:
- Build a strong , cross-border network supporting young people with fewer opportunities;
- Strengthen daily youth work with locally rooted, usable methods;
- Design accessible, inclusive initiatives from the start;
- Share knowledge that directly benefits both youth workers and marginalised young people.
First dinner, first voices – and the sea nearby
After a long travel day, our first dinner was inside the restaurant at Hotel Prince. Not on the beach, but near enough to feel it. During the week we took calm, restorative walks along the shore. Those walks helped us reflect, connect, and breathe between sessions. Around me were voices from Belgium, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Norway, and Albania. From the beginning, it was the sound of people – accents, laughter, the rhythm of new names – that set the tone for the week.
Drawing clocks, meeting people – with support that felt natural
We used a simple “ clock ” game to meet each other . Because I am blind, a colleague helped me draw the clock – a quick, friendly gesture that made the exercise smooth and fair. Then it was my turn to do what I do best: listen.
At each “hour,” I met a new voice and answered a short prompt: What inspires you? What kind of music do you like? When did you last feel truly included?
The activity was short, human, and effective . It turned introductions into real conversations.
A simulation I will not forget
We ran a simulation on access, trust, and communication. We wore blindfolds and rotated through stations: body gymnastics using touch, balance, and breath; barbershop role-play with eyes closed; listening to “rain” created by the waving of paper, with relaxing music and a gentle massage; a perfect-square challenge: one blindfolded leader guided the team. Success depended on clear, respectful communication.
Simple activities. Safe conditions. Strong lessons. Inclusion is not theory; it is coordination, consent, and care in motion.
What we explored during the week
Key programme themes:
- What Inclusion and Diversity mean in Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps;
- Challenges when involving young people with impairments and fewer opportunities;
- What youth work means in practice;
- Best practices that travel across countries;
- Networking and partnership building;
- Drafting recommendations and planning dissemination so our results keep living;
Intended learning outcomes that matched our practice:
- Understand specific needs;
- Improve inclusiveness through non-formal learning;
- Use practical tools from the start;
- Strengthen communication and collaboration with young people and partners;
- Explore identity and human rights in a global context.
Intercultural night – stories I could taste
Counting the travel day as Day 0, our intercultural night was on Day 3.
It was generous, joyful, and proud.
Tastes and stories:
- Norway: Smash! chocolate (sweet, salty , crunchy ) and brunost (brown cheese from caramelised goat’s milk );
- Bulgaria: lukanka ( dry-cured , spicy , pressed salami), walnut cookies , and lokum (rose and strawberry );
- Poland: Ptasie Mleczko (“bird’s milk ”), a vanilla marshmallow covered in dark chocolate .
- Slovenia: homemade elderberry juice;
- Belgium: a quiz and a clear walk-through of our famously complex political system;
- Romania: pride in their World Cup story in the USA in 1994. There was also a beautiful solo by Monika from Bulgaria.
One voice. A quiet room. A shared emotion.
Inclusion in the city – what must change
Durrës and Golem are beautiful. They are also honest about access. Roads and sidewalks were often not accessible, and independent mobility could be hard without assistance. These realities did not discourage me; they clarified our mission to design access from the beginning, not as an afterthought.
Small moments that mattered
We found time to relax at an Irish pub. We had deep , philosophical conversations. We laughed when we were stuck in Albanian traffic, especially during a chaotic “would you rather” game. One evening, we all supported Albania in a match. There was no rivalry. We were guests, happy to cheer with our hosts.
It was light, respectful, and fun – the kind of joy that builds friendship.
Who made this possible Coordinator: VIEWS International AISBL (Belgium). Host: Peace Volunteering Network (Albania). Partners included: Sakura and Babilon Travel (Romania), ASBL Loryhan (Belgium), Polski Związek Niewidomych (Poland), CuBu Foundation (Bulgaria), Slovenian Association of Disabled Students (Slovenia), and Peace Volunteering Network Norway (Norway).
Accommodation : Hotel Prince, “Mali i Robit, Rruga e Fshatrave Turistike , Golem 2504.” Check-in after 15:00. Check-out before 11:00. Rooms were double or triple. We were invited to bring an item from home for the intercultural night.
What I brought home
I left with more than notes. I left with a network and a standard.
My standard now:
- Design accessibility early;
- Communicate clearly;
- Collaborate across borders;
- Keep human dignity at the centre.
These match ACT-YOU’s objectives and outcomes. I do not picture rooms when I think of this week.
I hear it: the laughter during the clock game, the hush before a song, the waves and the beach walks that helped us reflect, and the sound of people helping one another navigate.
Inclusion is not a favour. It is the most honest way to say: your voice belongs here.
Youssri Mejdoubi
