Hi, my name is Caroline. I’m a 23-year-old Belgian who has just completed her studies in oceanography. I was looking for a volunteering project to do a gap year when I heard about the European Solidarity Corps. I quickly found a project that allowed me to engage in outdoor activities, thanks to the Lava Legato association, located in the Netherlands. They offered me a 10-month project on a biodynamic farm called “Urtica de Vijfsprong”, in the countryside near Zutphen (close to Apeldoorn). I quickly fell in love with Zutphen and its landscape.

I have been living in a house with three roommates for a month now. We have a lot of fun together, both at home and when we visit places. I’m really glad to be with them.

Four times a week, we cycle 45 minutes to go to the farm, where we can take part in different activities according to our preferences. 

I chose to spend two days a week in the garden, where we grow different vegetables. I dedicate two afternoons a week to a wool workshop, where we create wool decorations in a cosy atmosphere. I help one morning a week in a barn where we take care of many cows and calves, as well as chickens and pigs. Finally I devote one morning a week making dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and others. This manual activitiy, mostly outdoors, does me a lot of good.

We do these activities with people with intellectual disabilities, some who are employees, but also retirees and others who come as volunteers. I’m excited to connect and learn from people with backgrounds and experiences very different from mine.

The people here are really open-minded, and we are encouraged to engage at our own pace, together, without any pressure. As a Belgian who does not speak Dutch, I’m happy to receive lessons and have the opportunity to learn this language to help me integrate into Dutch culture, and to carry this knowledge forward for future experiences.

I’m really happy with my project and look forward to seeing how it evolves!

Caroline

On Thursday, 4 December, Sofia, our ESC Volunteer, attended the European Day for People with Disabilities (EDPD) 2025 in Brussels at the European Commission.

During the day, she participated at the two panels, enriched by personal testimonies, informative presentations, and engaging exchanges. From the opening greetings, it was clear that the space was intended for reflection and for taking responsibility – not only personally, but also institutionally – toward concrete action.

The first panel in the morning, Forging Ahead: The Next Chapter in Implementing the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021–2030, offered a deep immersion into discussions that strengthened the shared mission of building an inclusive future, not only on words but also on tangible actions, policies, laws, and strategies that can be realistically implemented.

The testimony of Nicole Sophia Marinos was particularly moving. She explained how “inclusion gave her a voice, exclusion the determination” emphasizing how the environment shapes both inclusion and exclusion. A supportive environment, she noted, places no limits on potential.

The morning session prompted reflection on key challenges: independent living, mobility, political participation, media representation of disability, discrimination, and employment. As Markus Schefer highlighted that to change a society that was designed to be uninclusive takes time, but the effort must continue.

During lunch and coffee breaks, Sofia had the opportunity to meet and speak with other representatives from European associations and organizations, sharing insights and exchanging ideas. She observed how the common mission connects people not only in intentions, places, and events, but also through concrete actions and initiatives.

In the afternoon, Panel 2, Funding the Union of Equality: Towards a Disability-Inclusive EU Budget, opened with the empowering testimony of Patrick Luypaert about his successful experience as an inclusive employee. He shared that in his workplace, he is no longer seen as “a person with a disability who works on computers, but just a person working on computers”.

Following the panel, the Q&A and discussion provided another valuable opportunity to deepen understanding of both personal and national challenges, as well as the shared commitment to negotiate, act, and promote inclusive practices. The session highlighted how collective efforts can help shape a more inclusive Europe.

For Sofia, attending her first European event was highly motivating. She returned with a stronger commitment to listening, understanding, and contributing to meaningful change.

By Sofia Mangiaterra

From 23 to 25 November, a team of representatives from Views International aisbl and Loryhan asbl (Belgium), united under the VIEWS INTERNATIONAL flag, attended theProfessional Development for Youth Workers: Digital Leaders for a Sustainable Planet initiative in Paphos (Cyprus). Accredited by the Erasmus+ Programme, the Project (No: 2025-1-CY01-KA151-YOU-000302997) was hosted by the Cross Culture International Foundation Cyprus(CCIF Cyprus).

It was a dynamic professional development program designed to empower youth workers with digital skills and environmental advocacy tools. By combining technology, sustainability, and international cooperation, the initiative equipped 20 youth workers from Italy, Cyprus, Romania, Belgium, and Croatia to inspire and guide young people in their communities toward a greener, more sustainable future.

This mobility brought together diverse perspectives and fostered meaningful collaboration among youth workers across Europe.

Sustainability was at the heart of the project. The initiative provided participants with the digital tools and skills needed to address environmental challenges, enabling them to design and lead impactful campaigns that promote environmental awareness and action among youth. Participants also gained hands-on experience in integrating digital innovation into sustainable practices.

Throughout the program, we strengthened our ability to use digital tools and platforms to develop effective environmental campaigns.

Workshops focused on:

• Digital literacy and online communication
• Visual storytelling and campaign design
• Innovative approaches to environmental education
• Tools for collaboration, evaluation, and impact measurement

By the end of the program, we had developed a solid understanding of digital tools, enhanced our environmental advocacy skills, and expanded our network of international peers.

The youth mobility also included a hands-on activity in collaboration with the Municipality of Paphos, during which participants planted trees along the coastline at Antasia – Sodap Beach, reinforcing the project’s strong sustainability focus.

The Digital Leaders for a Sustainable Planet initiative successfully empowered youth workers to become confident, digitally skilled advocates for sustainability. Through practical training, international collaboration, and creative campaign development, participants left the program equipped to make a tangible impact in their communities—encouraging young people to take action for a more sustainable future.

We are confident that the skills we gained will inspire innovative projects and new partnerships in 2026!

By Anca DAVID and Abraham DIATTA

In this context, an educational tool referred to any approach, activity, or method that meaningfully engaged learners—whether through simulations, role-plays, creative workshops, outdoor learning activities, or other participatory techniques.

The ITF provided an open space to exchange, refine, and reimagine these tools with a strong focus on practical transferability.

With sport as a driver for inclusion, wellbeing, empowerment, and community cohesion, the 2025 edition of the Tool Fair highlighted sport as a powerful pedagogical and social tool. Participants examined how both formal and informal sport practices can promote equity, resilience, safe learning environments, and meaningful social transformation.

The structure of the event connected participants in an organic way in a multitude of activities like:

• Tools Workshops – hands-on sessions where selected participants facilitated their own learning activities;
• Tools to Explore – thematic deep dives dedicated to developing or improving specific approaches;
• Tool Coaching – supported presenters before, during, and after their sessions;
• Tools Market – an open and dynamic space showcased a wide range of tools, publications, digital resources, methodologies, and initiatives;
• TF Talks – inspirational presentations inviting reflection, and challenged participants to think differently about education, sport, and social impact.
• Hot Spot of EU Youth Programmes – guidance and insights from National Agencies (NAs) and SALTO Resource Centres into opportunities within the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes.

During the “Tool to explore” we examined how sport can foster inclusion, break down social barriers, and strengthen communities. Through practical strategies and hands-on tools, the sessions highlighted the power of physical activity to promote diversity and equity, use sport as a platform for connection, and create meaningful relationships beyond the basketball playing field. These moments offered not just learning, but trasformative experience-showing how sport can catalyse social change in our local context.

Among the TF Talks, the testimony of Lama HATTAB from Lebanon was particularly powerful: “Twenty-five years ago, I ran 240 kilometers across the Sahara Desert with my twin sister, carrying a message of peace. I didn’t know then that this journey would shape the rest of my life — leading me to discover how sport can heal, connect, and transform. In this talk, I share what I’ve learned along the way — from breaking stereotypes as a woman athlete to witnessing the power of sport through the lives of young people at Generations For Peace. It’s a story about endurance, learning, and how every step can become a step toward peace. » 

The XIX International Tool Fair created an energising, multicultural, and collaborative environment where sport became more than a game—it became a tool for learning, transformation, and social impact. Held in Marrakech, a city known for its hospitality and cultural richness, the event left everyone inspired, connected, and equipped with innovative tools to bring meaningful change to our communities.

Account by Anca David