• 'content related' = for anything to do with Volunteering and the course)

• 'fun/social' is for interacting about social moments, sharing pictures, organising travel & free time etc.

• 'Team only' - of course - is for the team only ;-)

course. Contact me for any questions regarding the course and participant management. Looking

forward to seeing you in Cyprus. tony@salto-youth.net

Record a short story told by young people you work with (video or audio only) about their needs and interests relevant to the topic of international volunteering, and upload it HERE on a Padlet card, before your arrival in Cyprus.

The stories can be very simple and can start as follows: “I/We want to go on a volunteering project abroad, to work on the topic ... because ...”;“I/We need to host an international volunteer in our …… because that would help us with ...”;“I/We had such a previous experience...”

(If you cannot make a video/audio for technical reasons, you may create text or slides instead.)

Happy to be part of the trainers' team in the Volunteering4All training in Larnaca <3

I am engaged in European volunteering projects since 2006 - as a coordinator, mentor, TEC trainer and former ESC(EVS) volunteer.

I am co-founder and board member of Youth Initiative Centre NGO from Armenia and the International Youth Work Trainers Guild.

More about me as a trainer: https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/anna-yeghoyan.1669/

I’m excited to join this course to get new ideas on how volunteering can involve more young people – especially because we just got funding for a project to get youth more active in local politics before the municipal elections.

Welcome again, and I look forward to meeting you all in person!

I’m a 20-year-old student currently based in The Hague 🇳🇱, though I was born and raised in sunny Sydney, Australia 🇦🇺, so I’m glad to be going to Cyprus! I’ve just finished my second year of a Liberal Arts & Sciences degree at Leiden University College, majoring in International Justice – so, lots of reading and just enough stress to keep it interesting 😅.

I’m passionate about building inclusive, accessible, and empowering spaces for young people – especially those from marginalised communities. At the moment, I’m active in youth advocacy and LGBTQ+ organising through COC Philautia, the youth group of COC Haaglanden, where I help lead sex education workshops in high schools and organise events and support networks for queer youth in our city.

Beyond that, I work with the Dutch National Agency to support DiscoverEU, the EU’s free train travel programme for youth, and I’m also part of a team advising the Dutch government on its next Youth Strategy. I just returned from the European Youth Event in Strasbourg this week, now I had to fly to an event about youth participation in Italy during our zoom call, plus I still have some places to be before I will see you all in July.

My activism really centres on creating real opportunities for youth participation – ones that are inclusive, sustainable, and not just symbolic. In cities like The Hague, where international institutions and diverse communities collide, this work can be tricky… but it’s also incredibly necessary.

Outside of all that, I’m a massive fan of travel, biking through the sand dunes, visiting modern art museums, and soaking up any sunlight the Netherlands gives me.

I can’t wait to learn from all of you in Cyprus! 🫶

I represent Federația START, a youth NGO focused on empowering young people through education, participation, and community development, and also I’m a social media specialist working as a freelancer. I have been volunteering since I was 10 years old and working since I was 15.

I work closely with young people in Târgu Jiu, a city with limited opportunities, where most youth tend to leave rather than stay. I’m one of those young people who wanted opportunities in their hometown — so I decided to help create them.

In 2023, I contributed to the launch of the first youth center in Târgu Jiu, as part of the city’s year as the Romanian Youth Capital. Last year, we founded Zbor, a youth hub that brings young people together through events, workshops and programs on topics like financial education, communication, career development, and more.

Through my work, I support initiatives that open real doors for young people.

My name is Leisan. I am a fundraiser, photographer, early childhood educator and a social worker, currently occupied in the largest center for blind and visually impared children and youth in the south of Germany. Additionally to that, I am a member of the helpers circle (literally translated from german), organising activities for young people and children from the two refugee shelters in our town. In the plans are the enlargement of the repair cafe where young people learn to repair their bikes and long boards, urban gardening and a sports camp in the summer holidays. The biggest obstacle for us is to find the volunteers that train the children. That is the main reason why I am coming to Larnaca - to learn how to attract young volunteers for our social, sports and enviromental projects, and of course to be inspired by your great projects!

My hobbies are photography, skiing in the alps, travel (dreaming of Ushuaia, Spitzbergen Island and New Zealand), and languages (so far I speak 5).

Looking forward to the fruitful meaningful event and to meeting you all

Kind regards,

Leisan

My name is Joanna, and I’m from Poland 🇵🇱. For the past 17 years, I have been working at a Special Educational Centre (Specjalny Ośrodek Szkolno-Wychowawczy) in Frysztak, located in the Podkarpacie region 🏞️. I work as a German language teacher 🇩🇪 and a special education teacher (oligophrenopedagogue) 👩‍🏫.

Our school includes a boarding facility 🏫 and provides education for students with intellectual disabilities and autism 💙, ranging in age from 3 years (kindergarten) to 25 years (vocational school) 🎓.

As a teacher, I am actively involved in various projects, including ecological 🌱, language 🗣️, and volunteer initiatives 💪. Our school does not offer English language classes—only German.

That’s why I would be very eager to participate in a volunteer project focused on teaching English 🇬🇧.

I can’t wait to meet you all in person and start working together! 🤝✨

My name is Anja and I’m from Croatia. I’m a special education teacher, currently working in a primary school with children with developmental disabilities. I also volunteer at an Autism Association, where I run workshops for children – we’re a young organization, but full of energy and ideas! 😊

I’m also a wife and a mother, and my family’s support means everything to me. I’m excited to meet new people, connect with other organizations, gain new knowledge – and improve my English skills.

In my free time, I love cooking and traveling.

I’m really looking forward to meeting you all and being part of this experience!

Greetings from Croatia! 🇭🇷

I’m Léna, a youth trainer and facilitator in non-formal education. I founded Youth RUN, a small but passionate association that helps young people access international mobility and volunteering opportunities – especially those who don’t feel concerned by these topics at first.

In La Réunion, many young people feel that Europe is far away – physically, but also emotionally. The idea of going abroad seems out of reach: too complicated, too expensive, too abstract. One of my missions is to make that leap feel possible – and even exciting.

I’m also part of EuroPeers and work as an evaluator for Erasmus+ youth projects. But my favorite way to connect with people is through movement.
I use dance as a tool – to help young people reconnect with their bodies, their culture, and others. Dance creates bridges when words fall short. It’s an incredible way to build trust, confidence and expression.

I joined this training to discover new tools, methods and ideas to make volunteering accessible to all, and to better include the voices of young people in our local and international projects.

✨ Looking forward to moving, learning and growing with all of you in Cyprus!

We believe volunteering is not only about helping others, but also about learning, sharing cultures, and growing as people.

We would love to meet young people from other countries, see how they work, and bring back new ideas to our association.

Some of us have never traveled abroad. For us, this would be a dream come true — a chance to prove that we are equal, strong, and ready to contribute.

We also dream of hosting international volunteers here in Slatina! They could help us with creative workshops, language learning, and new projects. We would show them how amazing our small community can be when people work together."

– Youth from Udruga Vretenac, Slatina 🇭🇷

P.S. Unfortunately, we couldn’t record a video or audio because most of our members are people with intellectual disabilities who do not speak English, and to respect their privacy and protect their identity.

👋 Who are we?
We are a small but passionate Autism Association based in Donji Miholjac. Our work focuses on creating inclusive, creative, and educational workshops for children with developmental disabilities. Every activity is tailored with love and care to meet the unique needs of each child.

🌍 Why welcome a volunteer?
Through the Volunteer for All project, we would love to welcome an international volunteer who can:

✨ Bring new ideas and perspectives
🎨 Join and help lead creative workshops
🧩 Design games, materials, and activities
🗣️ Support us in using English in our daily work
📢 Help us grow and reach more people

💛 What do we offer?
A kind, motivated team, meaningful experiences, room to learn and grow, and an opportunity to make a real difference. We value warmth, teamwork, and open hearts.

🫶 Looking forward to this journey!
Let’s learn from each other, share, and build something beautiful – together.

Given that our users are children with developmental disabilities, I am unable to record a video.

I am Mauro and I am volunteer for Neci Italia and in a local associations in a little village in center Italy, which are providing support for local development and youth services.

I would like to improve my competencies about Solidarity Corps and I am happy to participate to this training.

I love to spend time with friends and have outdoor activities in the nature 🌳🌲🌊.

See you soon!

• football or any other sports camp in the summer holidays

• weekly sports sessions outside the vacations for our mental health

• urban gardening

• enlargement of our repair cafe, because we want to learn to repair our own bikes and long boards and the ones of others

there are the projects on the paper, but we want more. As another valuable outcome of volunteers supporting us in the projects is improving English.

P.S. within this workshop in Cyprus I represent as a social educator a center for blind and visually impaired kids and young people till 18 y.o. After this workshop I want to lauch an Erasmus+ or ESC project with them as well.

I work with young people in disadvantaged areas through Finn Nørgaard Foreningen and Rygtepatruljen (The Rumor Patrol). We run workshops on conspiracy theories, misinformation, critical thinking, and youth participation — helping young people reflect, speak up, and take part in shaping their communities.

I am excited to join this course to exchange ideas on how volunteering can involve and empower more youth

Although, I posed the question to some colleagues and clients of our organisation. The theme that kept coming back was the feeling of safety, belonging, and identity.

We work with queer people, young and old, and it’s a big deal for them to come out of the closet. Even in the Netherlands. In fact, we also work with people who are temporarily in the Netherlands for their work or studies, who discover they’re “different” during their stay, and need help managing this.

They told me that they want to feel safe and respected. They don’t want to have to juggle double identities. However we can support that. Whether that be by the host respecting pronouns, not having to lie about their sexuality, or being able to dress in accordance with their gender identity. These were the main things that would “put someone off” of volunteering projects abroad, from the queer perspective of my organisation.

In regards to us hosting a volunteer, I don’t think we’ve ever done that before! We work to provide sex education in local high schools, as well as social events. We have different working groups (I’m not part of all of them), such as for queers with autism, high schoolers, students, the elderly, etc. We host them in our cafe or in the local area.

PS: I’m sorry for not making a video, and for the late submission, but I am in Budapest to support the Pride March that took place yesterday. Furthermore, it raises privacy concerns given the sensitive content. I hope this is sufficient.

I personally am new to all of this because although I like what I’m studying, it hasn’t really given me the chance to take part of projects like this, so I am quite nervous, but I hope to learn a lot from the trainers and also my fellow participants.  

See you soon!:)

I am very excited to be a part of this training and I am looking forward to meet you all!

Fun fact — I’m also a reservist volunteer in the Lithuanian Armed Forces. So yes, I can make you laugh, help you with integration projects, and probably teach you how to camouflage in a forest 😃

Can’t wait to meet you all!

I’m beyond excited to be part of this beautiful journey with all of you through the Volunteering4All program in Cyprus!

I’m a passionate and curious soul who believes in the power of connection, empathy, and active citizenship. I absolutely love being part of initiatives that bring people together from different cultures — because that’s where the magic happens! As a psychologist, CBT therapist and Clinical neuropsychologist, I have dedicated my work to one core belief: It’s not a luxury — it’s a right. And for many groups who face marginalization — especially children, adolescents, people with disabilities (physical, intellectual, or neurodevelopmental), and LGBTQIA+ youth — access to mental health care and emotional safety is often limited or stigmatized. That’s exactly where my passion lies.

Through my studies and clinical work, I’ve supported individuals navigating trauma, neurodivergence, identity struggles, and emotional distress — not just in private practice but also in schools, community centers, and mental health units. I’ve developed and implemented/facilitated European programs that aim to reduce stigma, increase accessibility, and empower every person to feel seen, safe, and supported. Beyond clinical practice, I teach, supervise in CBT settings, and serve as co‑Chair of the FESN Student Liaison Committee and Academic Affairs Administrator with the International Psychology Students Initiative.

My vision? A global health system that recognizes mental health as fundamental—especially for people with disabilities. Volunteering isn’t just about giving—it’s about learning, connecting, and growing together. Being part of this European volunteering family means the world to me. I look forward to sharing, learning, and co-creating with all of you, while staying grounded in what truly matters: human dignity, compassion, and equal rights for all.

Let’s make this experience transformative — not just for others, but for ourselves too.

With warmth and hope,

Stella

Although the message is simple, it carries remarkable clarity and warmth.

On a personal note:
This child’s voice is often my guide.
Their laughter, their way of expressing care, their effort to find words — all of it stays with me.

Their presence, even just through a sound recording, is a quiet but powerful reminder of the value of proximity, of warmth, and of showing up for one another.

It’s not about grand gestures. It’s about staying close.
Close to people.
Close to what matters.

This video is not just a testimony — it’s a reflection of the kind of world we’re trying to build: one where everyone can contribute, grow, and be part of something meaningful. <3

Please note: The child’s face does not appear in the video, in line with data protection and privacy regulations. Their voice, recorded in Greek with consent, remains authentic and true to their experience.

I have prepared two short videos featuring young participants I work with through several organizations: Estrellas del Sur, ESN (Erasmus Student Network), and Equipo Europa, a pro-European youth organization. These videos present their interests and reflections on international volunteering, as part of our contribution to the Erasmus+ activity.

Estrellas del Sur is a Spanish youth association that works actively to promote inclusion, European values, and opportunities for young people through non-formal education, volunteering, and cultural exchange. The association focuses on empowering young people in our local community, offering them tools to participate in international mobility projects and fostering intercultural dialogue.

In these videos, the young participants share their ideas, motivations, and previous experiences related to international volunteering. The stories were recorded to respond to the PRE-TASK request, helping other participants in this training to meet the young people around us and to understand the local reality we work in. (I could just upload one of the 2 videos, i can show the second there)

Our aim is to bring their voices into the planning process, highlight their enthusiasm for international cooperation, and inspire future projects.

I’m José, and I’m very happy to join this Erasmus+ journey with all of you as part of the Volunteering4All program in Cyprus!

I have been involved in several organizations that work to promote European values, youth participation, and active citizenship. I collaborate with Estrellas del Sur, a Spanish youth association that focuses on inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and empowering young people through non-formal education and international opportunities. I’m also active in ESN (Erasmus Student Network), supporting mobility and exchange for students, and Equipo Europa, a pro-European youth organization that encourages young people to engage in building a stronger and more united Europe. Recently I took part in ELSA (European Law Student Association) an international network that connects law students and young lawyers across Europe to promote mutual understanding and legal education

Through these projects, I’ve seen how volunteering and international cooperation can create connections between people, break stereotypes, and inspire change. I believe in the power of young people to shape a fairer and more inclusive world. I’m passionate about creating spaces where different cultures can meet, share, and learn from each other.

I look forward to meeting all of you, exchanging ideas, and working together to make this a meaningful and memorable experience for everyone involved!

Best wishes,
José

I am Chris, originally from Germany but living for the past 5 years in Athens/Greece and recently moved to Nicosia/Cyprus. I've been part of youth empowerment frameworks since I started teaching a team HipHop. In Athens I began to use HipHop as a tool to support the personal development, wellbeing and social inclusion working with refugee/migrant youth, setting up a project called HipHop4Hope Athens. At YEU Cyprus I am working as a ESC Officer and bringing my expertise of Youth Empowerment through HipHop into the organisation. Next to that I love traveling, spending time in nature and meeting people and their cultures.

Let's chat more about details when we see each other. Looking forward to meet you all.

Kind greetings

Chris

I work at @my_madeira_island association, we are a non-profit, that primarily works with eramus+ projects. Aiming to bring to the island the skills / knowledge that are currently in need. Sprinkeld with what the team feels passioned to develop and implement.

We work with a variety of topics, from food security / environmental projects to youth participation / financial literacy / underage gambling and may more - check us on Instagram 😉

I can describe myself as a person who is very good at solving and creating (good) problems, so I always have something to take care of.

This is all for now, see you all soon 😎

My experience with Erasmus+ is pretty long, since I was a EVS Volunteer (currently ESC) for 12 months, from 2017 to 2018; since then I was taking part in European projects, most of them being Erasmus+ and ESC projects (but also other types, such as Transborder projects with Ukraine, SEE projects or creating my own trainings) both in Romania and abroad, writing and implementing Youth Exchanges, Training Courses, Local Solidarity Projects, KA2 Cooperation, while currently I am in charge of implementing a Youth Participation (Ka154) project under E+

While my organization, called Timbru de Bucovina association (Stamp of Bukovina), is a youth oriented association that I established in 2022 together with other 2 colleagues. We are working mostly with young people 16-30 years from North East of Romania, most of them from rural areas and small urban areas.

I am also part of Europeers network Romania.

Over the past year, I’ve been in Spain for a volunteering project funded by the Italian government (Servizio Civile Universale), but it happened to me to live in France, Morocco and UK too! I work in the field of youth and migration as a facilitator, youth worker, I also write project proposals here and there... and I’d love to write a few more — that’s why I’m here!

In my free time, you’ll find me hiking or biking (I’ve just come back from the Camino de Santiago!), playing volleyball, or singing my heart out.

Happy to meet you soon! Kisses, Ari

YEU Cyprus came together as an informal group in 1995, and was officially registered as an independent non profit, non governmental organization/ association (Reg. No. 2709) in 2004.

Being a members-based organization, we are an organization created by and for young people. Our members not only engage in our diverse activities and avail themselves of the opportunities tailored for them, but they also play a pivotal role in shaping our priorities, strategic vision, and operational trajectory during each phase of our journey.

Presently, YEU Cyprus has a dedicated team of four employees, and supported by seven volunteers participating in a long-term European Solidarity Corps (ESC) project. The organization is governed by seven dynamic volunteers who form our Board of Directors.

Our Vision and Mission

At YEU Cyprus, we firmly believe the concept of closer cooperation and better understanding among the global youth community

Our organization is dedicated to advocating for the rights of young individuals, nurturing their potential to emerge as influential contributors to society. We are committed to fostering a culture of engagement and empowerment, both within our immediate community and extending far beyond the borders of Cyprus. Through dynamic initiatives, activities and projects, we aspire to create a world where young people are equipped, inspired, and connected to shape positive change, not only locally but on a global scale.

What We Do

YEU Cyprus is dedicated to creating meaningful experiences and implementing impactful youth oriented projects, at a local and transnational level. We specialize in a range of activities, including organizing and facilitating workshops, conducting training courses, and orchestrating dynamic youth exchanges.

Our work extends beyond the surface; we're committed to thorough research and mapping endeavors. These efforts contribute to a wealth of insightful publications and multimedia materials that we produce.

At the heart of our approach is a dedication to non-formal education. We harness the power of experiential learning to fuel youth development, foster awareness, and build essential capacities. This drive is fueled by our core areas of focus: human rights, sustainable development, intercultural education, and youth participation

Through this comprehensive approach, we aim to empower young individuals with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives they need to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

International volunteers can help us to this by bringing new energy, ideas. On the other hand, the language barrier and different way of communication scares a little bit, but it might encourage both sides to step out of their comfort zones and look for creative ways to connect.

DEADLINE 13h EEST (Cyprus time)

european_solidarity_corps_guide_2026_EN.pdf

Quality Label | European Youth Portal