Between 22 and 28 September 2023, youth from all across Europe met in Centre Loryhan, in Botassart-sur-Semois, Belgium, to participate to a youth exchange focused on environmental awareness and preservation.
The exchange, called «Everyone is able to do for green inclusion», was the product of the close collaboration of five organisations from Armenia, Belgium, Hungary and Romania. The aim of the project was to bring together youth from different backgrounds to favour cooperation, solidarity and the exchange of green practices to protect the environment surrounding them.
After their arrival, on September 23 participants had the opportunity to get to know eachother better through interactive activities and warmup games, but also to share what they expected to take home from the exchange.
In the days that followed, they participated to multiple activities that drew them closer and raised awareness on the topics of environmental protection, ecological practices and sustainable living.
On 24 September, the Armenian team taught presents how to create sustainable bio products at home, bringing flowers, scents and fruit peels to manufacture and decorate bars of soap for everyone.
On 25 September, presents dedicated themselves to upcycling and decorating t-shirts and jeans with shapes and acrylic colours.
In the afternoon, participants learnt the basics of gardening, by planting herbs and small trees and revamping Centre Loryhan’s garden.
But youth exchanges are also, and very importantly, moments of personal and cultural exchange and sharing, an opportunity for young participants to familiarise themselves with different cultures and backgrounds, through shared moments, food, dances, music, presentations and games.
In the evenings at Centre Loryhan, the Armenia, Belgium, Hungary and Romania team had the time to present themselves and their countries, share facts about their places of origin, talk about their national foods and invite people to dance their national songs.
During one memorable evening, the country groups all introduced eachother to their traditional foods and drinks, that were brought directly from home or cooked in the Centre’s over the afternoon.
The week was also enriched by numerous excursions in the breathtaking Belgian forest, and visits to the Belgian countryside and to the nearby town of Bouillon.
It was definitely an experience to remember! This exchange was the second chapter of an experience started in Diósjenő, Hungary, in May 2023. Read more about the previous exchange in Hungary.
