One of the most valuable learning opportunities during “Sustainable Youth Action for Community Impact” happened outside the training room.
Participants were encouraged to speak directly with people living in Smolyan.
The international teams approached local residents, asked questions and explored how people perceive their community, its strengths and some of the challenges facing young people.
This simple method created several layers of learning.
First, the activity developed communication skills.
Approaching someone you have never met and asking them to participate in a conversation requires initiative and confidence.
When international participants are involved, language becomes another creative challenge.
The young people had to find ways to communicate clearly, listen carefully and work together.
Second, the interviews introduced participants to the idea that community development should start by listening to the community.
Young people frequently hear discussions about participation, democracy and citizenship. During the activity, those concepts became practical.
Instead of assuming what people in Smolyan think, participants asked them.
Instead of analysing the city only through statistics or presentations, they encountered different personal perspectives.
Questions connected local life with wider themes such as youth opportunities, non-formal education, participation, sustainability and European programmes.
The conversations also allowed local residents to encounter Erasmus+ directly.
For a person walking through Smolyan, meeting an international group of Bulgarian, Romanian and Greek young people carrying out a community mission can make a European programme much more visible and understandable.
Erasmus+ becomes something happening in the local streets rather than somewhere far away in Brussels.
For Young Improvers for Youth Development, this connection between international mobility and local community is essential.
Hosting Erasmus+ activities in Smolyan is not intended to create an isolated international bubble.
The objective is to connect visiting participants with the reality of the region and, at the same time, make international learning opportunities visible to local young people.
The community interviews contributed directly to that objective.
They helped participants practise active listening, intercultural communication, teamwork and civic observation.
They also reminded everyone involved that meaningful youth participation is not only about young people speaking.
It is also about young people learning how to listen.
That may be one of the most important skills for anyone who wants to create positive community impact.
Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the competent programme authorities. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.