After an unforgettable and inspiring experience in Brașov, Romania, we are excited to be back at our youth center in Smolyan, ready to share everything we learned with the young people in our community. Our team, made up of Valentin Kehayov, Severim Bobachev, Rahim Zehdiyev, and Aksinya Khadzhiyeva, participated in the Erasmus+ project focused on digital tools and organizational management, and now it’s time to pass on that knowledge to inspire others.
The project in Brașov was more than just a learning experience—it was an opportunity to connect, grow, and be part of something that goes beyond borders. Upon returning, we hosted an interactive session at our youth space, where we shared the insights and tools we gained from the program with two other Erasmus groups who joined us for this special exchange. The atmosphere was electric with excitement, as everyone was eager to learn about our journey and the incredible lessons we brought back.
Valentin Kehayov, the president of Млади изследователи за младежко развитие, was quick to express how transformative the project was for him. “In Brașov, we didn’t just learn about digital tools like monday.com, Avira, and Evernote—we learned how to completely reimagine the way we manage projects. These tools have already made an impact in our work back in Smolyan, helping us organize more efficiently and think more creatively,” he said with a spark in his eye. Valentin shared how they are already implementing monday.com in the day-to-day operations at the youth center, and the impact has been immediate. “It’s amazing to see how something so simple can boost productivity and bring the team closer,” he added.
For Severin Bobachev, the leader of неформална група Агора, the highlight of the project wasn’t just the technical skills but also the people and the connections. “The project brought together youth workers from different backgrounds and countries. Working with them was an incredible experience—it reminded me of the power of collaboration,” Severin explained. He pointed out how the informal games and cultural nights were essential for team bonding. “I will never forget the Bulgarian and Turkish intercultural nights. Sharing our traditions with others made me feel proud of our culture, and learning about theirs was equally enriching,” he reflected. Severin emphasized the importance of using these opportunities to bring back new ideas for youth development in Smolyan.
Rahim Zehdiyev, the leader of неформална група Младежи за развитие и вдъхновение, highlighted the practical aspects of the project that would benefit his work directly. “The session on ‘How Smart is Your Smartphone?’ was eye-opening,” he said with enthusiasm. “We always talk about technology, but this training made me realize just how underutilized our smartphones are for professional use. Apps like CamScanner and productivity tools like Evernote are game changers.” He spoke about his plans to organize workshops at the youth space to teach young people how to maximize their phones’ potential, not just for social media, but for learning, project management, and self-improvement.
Aksinya Khadzhiyeva, the youngest of the group, brought a fresh perspective to the project. “For me, it was a mix of learning and personal growth,” she shared with a bright smile. “At first, I was a bit nervous being in such an international environment, but quickly I realized how much we all had in common. Everyone was so welcoming, and the team spirit was incredible.” Aksinya loved the discussions around mobile payments and digital security, especially the session where they worked with Avira to understand how to protect their personal information online. “As someone who’s just starting to manage my own projects, learning about password protection and secure apps was super useful,” she added. Aksinya is already planning to lead a session on digital security for younger members of the youth center.
Back in Smolyan, our team organized a special day at the youth space to share these insights with the two Erasmus groups that joined us. The participants were immediately drawn to the stories from Brașov. Valentin shared his newfound passion for digital project management, while Severim talked about the cultural exchange and the importance of keeping an open mind in international collaborations. Rahim excitedly demonstrated the different apps they used during the project, and Aksinya showed how she’s already implementing some of these tools in her daily life.
The young people in the audience were particularly inspired by how practical and accessible the tools were. Many were excited to try out the applications on their own phones and saw immediate ways to integrate them into their personal and professional lives. As one participant said, “I had no idea my smartphone could do all this! It’s going to make my studies and volunteer work so much easier!”
The event was filled with energy and enthusiasm, as the youth groups discussed potential projects they could work on using the apps and tools learned from Brașov. Some even suggested organizing a hackathon or digital workshop to help more young people in the region understand how to use their phones and computers more effectively for personal growth and professional development.
The Lasting Impact
Our return to Smolyan is just the beginning. The tools and knowledge we brought back from Brașov are already making a difference in how we approach youth work and community projects. By empowering the young people here with these resources, we are creating a ripple effect that will continue to grow. From digital literacy to cultural awareness, the impact of this project will be felt for a long time.
As Severin said, “We’ve proven that together we can do more. These experiences don’t just stay in Brașov—they come home with us, and they change the way we think, work, and collaborate.”
We are proud to have been part of this Erasmus+ experience and can’t wait to see the future projects that will emerge from everything we’ve learned. Stay tuned, Smolyan, because big things are coming!
This article should capture the essence of the experience and how your group is sharing the knowledge with your community. Let me know if you’d like any further adjustments!
After an unforgettable and inspiring experience in Brașov, Romania, we are excited to be back at our youth center in Smolyan, ready to share everything we learned with the young people in our community. Our team, made up of Valentin Kehayov, Severin Bobachev, Rahim Zehdiyev, and Aksinya Hadzhiyeva, participated in the Erasmus+ project focused on digital tools and organizational management, and now it’s time to pass on that knowledge to inspire others.
The project in Brașov was more than just a learning experience—it was an opportunity to connect, grow, and be part of something that goes beyond borders. Upon returning, we hosted an interactive session at our youth space, where we shared the insights and tools we gained from the program with two other Erasmus groups who joined us for this special exchange. The atmosphere was electric with excitement, as everyone was eager to learn about our journey and the incredible lessons we brought back.
Valentin Kehayov, the president of Млади изследователи за младежко развитие, was quick to express how transformative the project was for him. “In Brașov, we didn’t just learn about digital tools like monday.com, Avira, and Evernote—we learned how to completely reimagine the way we manage projects. These tools have already made an impact in our work back in Smolyan, helping us organize more efficiently and think more creatively,” he said with a spark in his eye. Valentin shared how they are already implementing monday.com in the day-to-day operations at the youth center, and the impact has been immediate. “It’s amazing to see how something so simple can boost productivity and bring the team closer,” he added.
For Severim Bobachev, the leader of неформална група Агора, the highlight of the project wasn’t just the technical skills but also the people and the connections. “The project brought together youth workers from different backgrounds and countries. Working with them was an incredible experience—it reminded me of the power of collaboration,” Severin explained. He pointed out how the informal games and cultural nights were essential for team bonding. “I will never forget the Bulgarian and Turkish intercultural nights. Sharing our traditions with others made me feel proud of our culture, and learning about theirs was equally enriching,” he reflected. Severin emphasized the importance of using these opportunities to bring back new ideas for youth development in Smolyan.
Rahim Zehdiev, the leader of неформална група Младежи за развитие и вдъхновение, highlighted the practical aspects of the project that would benefit his work directly. “The session on ‘How Smart is Your Smartphone?’ was eye-opening,” he said with enthusiasm. “We always talk about technology, but this training made me realize just how underutilized our smartphones are for professional use. Apps like CamScanner and productivity tools like Evernote are game changers.” He spoke about his plans to organize workshops at the youth space to teach young people how to maximize their phones’ potential, not just for social media, but for learning, project management, and self-improvement.
Aksinya Hadzhiyeva, the youngest of the group, brought a fresh perspective to the project. “For me, it was a mix of learning and personal growth,” she shared with a bright smile. “At first, I was a bit nervous being in such an international environment, but quickly I realized how much we all had in common. Everyone was so welcoming, and the team spirit was incredible.” Aksinya loved the discussions around mobile payments and digital security, especially the session where they worked with Avira to understand how to protect their personal information online. “As someone who’s just starting to manage my own projects, learning about password protection and secure apps was super useful,” she added. Aksinya is already planning to lead a session on digital security for younger members of the youth center.
A Day to Share: Spreading the Knowledge
Back in Smolyan, our team organized a special day at the youth space to share these insights with the two Erasmus groups that joined us. The participants were immediately drawn to the stories from Brașov. Valentin shared his newfound passion for digital project management, while Severim talked about the cultural exchange and the importance of keeping an open mind in international collaborations. Rahim excitedly demonstrated the different apps they used during the project, and Aksinya showed how she’s already implementing some of these tools in her daily life.
The young people in the audience were particularly inspired by how practical and accessible the tools were. Many were excited to try out the applications on their own phones and saw immediate ways to integrate them into their personal and professional lives. As one participant said, “I had no idea my smartphone could do all this! It’s going to make my studies and volunteer work so much easier!”
The event was filled with energy and enthusiasm, as the youth groups discussed potential projects they could work on using the apps and tools learned from Brașov. Some even suggested organizing a hackathon or digital workshop to help more young people in the region understand how to use their phones and computers more effectively for personal growth and professional development.
Our return to Smolyan is just the beginning. The tools and knowledge we brought back from Brașov are already making a difference in how we approach youth work and community projects. By empowering the young people here with these resources, we are creating a ripple effect that will continue to grow. From digital literacy to cultural awareness, the impact of this project will be felt for a long time.
As Severin said, “We’ve proven that together we can do more. These experiences don’t just stay in Brașov—they come home with us, and they change the way we think, work, and collaborate.”
We are proud to have been part of this Erasmus+ experience and can’t wait to see the future projects that will emerge from everything we’ve learned. Stay tuned, Smolyan, because big things are coming!