Minimise your Carbon Footprint Erasmus+ Project Evaluation

I have participated in several Erasmus+ Projects as a youth leader before this project, therefore I have experienced both positive and negative sides of these projects prior to this particular one. Let’s start with the positive.
Traveling was not a problem as the location, Virovitica, was fairly close to the Hungarian border. Thanks to that we managed to travel by train which is far more environmentally friendly than an airplane would have been, keeping in accordance to the topic of the project, which was Minimising our Carbon footprint. Accommodations were perfectly fine, a nice quiet part of the city with a small shop nearby and the city centre within walking distance. The project itself was well structured and included a bucketload of interesting topics. Organizers were extremely kind, took care of us, and listened to every comment we made attentively. We had plenty of free time which allowed participants to explore the city and take part in additional activities such as working out in the dormitory gym, cycling around town and all kinds of sport activities like swimming, volleyball, basketball etc. For the most part, participants seemed to enjoy the project and spent valuable time together with other national groups, improving communicational competences in the process and perhaps even forming some friendships. Events organized by the hosts were well thought-out, engaging and a pleasure to participate in, especially the quiz.
Of course it wouldn’t be an evaluation without some criticism. Although the topics of the workshops were interesting, it did feel too much at times. A single topic got around 45 minutes or so which made detailed discussion impossible. I felt that a proper review of the topic was needed at the end of each workshop to help participants understand more about what they’ve learnt. The workshops themselves ended up way to similar and repetitive with a few exceptions. This is not the organizers fault however, as the workshops were supposed to be created by participants beforehand. The similar nature of most of the workshops made it hard for participants to engage with every topic wholeheartedly. By the end of the project some of the participants were quite bored, especially on the last days when they finished their final products quickly and had nothing to do for the rest of the day.
Overall, I believe this was a well-organized project which could have benefited from longer workshop hours for meaningful discussions. I do believe the experience was overwhelmingly positive for the majority of participants and I know the organizers did everything in their power to make this a lasting experience for them, in which endeavour they’ve succeeded in my opinion. I recommend working with the hosting organization in the upcoming years as well.
Irmalós Dávid (Youth Leader)

Together with my colleague Dávid, I led the Hungarian group during their participation in the ‘Minimise your Carbon Footprint’ Erasmus Project in Virotivica, Croatia. Our 10 participants, together with groups from Romania, Spain, and the host country, Croatia, were tasked with delivering workshops on issues related to ecology.  Guidelines were issued by the organising body, and students were required to do their own research into these topics. I am happy to say that they were able to communicate clearly in an engaging manner, despite the presence of language barriers.
Staff at the dormitory in which we stayed were helpful and friendly, and activities were coordinated well. The workshops themselves however, were perhaps a little lacking in terms of variation, and consideration could be given to this in future. Overall, I feel the project achieved its goals, and participating students have become more conscious of issues surrounding climate change, sustainability, and the environmental damage caused by the current production and consumption model.
Tom Dent (Youth Leader)

Reflecting on my recent Erasmus+ adventure in Virovitica, Croatia, I came away with a wealth of new knowledge and connections with remarkable young people, despite a few areas that could have been improved. The program covered a range of topics, including CO2 emissions, the impact of polluting companies, and the benefits of vegetarianism and veganism. 
Our journey began with a brief trip to the dormitory, which quickly became our home base for the week. Staying there offered a unique communal living experience and provided a great environment for socializing and unwinding after the day’s activities. From Monday to Friday, we started each day early with workshops at 8:30 AM, wrapping up by 1:00 PM. These workshops, although informative, often felt repetitive. However, the session on “upcycling and recycling” stood out as my favourite due to its unique focus. 
The weekend brought a change of pace as we dedicated our time to creating and presenting videos, national presentations, and reflections on our Erasmus experience. These activities were both entertaining and heartwarming, particularly during the closing ceremony. As the event drew to a close, participants from other countries gradually departed, giving us one last afternoon to ourselves. 
Throughout this Erasmus program, I gained a deeper understanding of different cultures and how various communities perceive environmental issues. While my English language skills remained mostly unchanged, I developed other valuable abilities. Navigating language barriers and enhancing my social skills were particularly significant, fostering better communication and understanding in a multicultural setting. 
In summary, despite its challenges, the Erasmus+ trip to Virovitica was a highly rewarding experience. It expanded my environmental knowledge and honed crucial interpersonal skills, making it an unforgettable journey. 
Györkei Soma

I applied for this Erasmus+ project because I thought it would be a great first experience, since the location was Virovitica, very close to the Hungarian border, so I had more courage to try it out.
On the 23rd, Sunday, we began our journey to Barcs with a 3-and-a-half-hour long train ride. When we arrived safely to the dormitory everyone got their rooms and for the rest of the day we could rest and meet some of the participants who already arrived. Our programs began every day at 8:30 a.m. and ended around 13:30 p.m. On Monday we started by getting to know the other participants including the Croatians, the Romanians, and the Spanish. The rest of the days went by listening to and presenting the workshops which the participants had to make. On these workshops we learned about how we can recognize and manage the problems about carbon footprints. After the programs we had free time when we could explore the city, or the leaders made smaller programs such as hiking, biking, swimming, or playing volleyball. On Saturday and on Sunday we had to make a summarising presentation about the week. It was a very interesting first experience since it was nothing what I imagined it would be.
There were some problematic participants who were a bit overexcited about this project, but they were able to calm down after a few days, and the workshops could have more time between each other because it was noticeable that the participants felt tired. Apart from these small issues, and that I got sick in the middle of the week, it was a very enjoyable and instructive first project. It was great to try out my English live.
Jakus Zsuzsanna

Reflecting on my recent Erasmus+ trip to Virovitica, Croatia, I gained a lot of knowledge and met a few great young people, even though there were some areas that could have been better. The program provided some information about CO2 emissions, polluting companies, vegetarianism, veganism, and more.
Our journey began with a short trip to the dormitory where we stayed. From Monday to Friday, we had three workshops every single day, starting at 8:30 AM and usually ending before 1:00 PM. Lunch was served in the dormitory cafeteria at 2:00 PM. We had plenty of free time, except on Wednesday when we went on a hike to a national park about an hour and a half from the city. Dinner was at 7:00 PM, and we were allowed to go out until 10:00 PM. The workshops were informative, though they tended to be somewhat similar. My favourite was the “upcycling and recycling” workshop, since it was the odd one out compared to the others. Outside of the workshops, we enjoyed several memorable activities. A standout was hiking in one of Croatia’s beautiful national parks, organized by our hosts. Another enjoyable activity was a bike ride and a hike through a forest near Virovitica. However, due to a shortage of bicycles, only the Hungarian participants, including myself, could join this adventure.  On Saturday and Sunday, we prepared and presented three videos, national presentations, and short statements about our Erasmus experience. This was entertaining and heartwarming, especially during the closing ceremony. Gradually, participants from other countries departed, leaving us with the last afternoon to ourselves.
Throughout this Erasmus program, I learned a great deal about different cultures and how people from various backgrounds view the environment. Although my English didn’t improve much, I gained other valuable skills. Navigating language barriers and enhancing social competencies were particularly notable, fostering better communication and understanding in diverse, multicultural settings. In conclusion, while the Erasmus+ trip to Virovitica had its challenges, it was ultimately a rewarding experience that broadened my environmental awareness and honed essential interpersonal skills.
Kemény Tamás

This Erasmus trip to Virovitica, Croatia, was a great experience. It was one of the best parts of my summer. I met many people from different countries and cultures. It was interesting and sometimes hard to talk to people, but my communication skills got better. We stayed in a dormitory. From Monday to Friday, we had three workshops every day. They started at 8:30 AM and ended before 1:00 PM. We learned about pollution, veganism, and how to be kind to the environment. We had free time in the afternoons. On Wednesday, we went on a hike to a national park. It was a beautiful place. Another fun activity was a bike ride and a hike in a forest near Virovitica. On the weekend, we made videos and gave presentations about our Erasmus experience. This was fun and nice, especially during the closing ceremony. After that, participants from other countries left, and we had the last afternoon to ourselves. I learned a lot about different cultures and the environment. My English didn’t improve much, but I got better at talking to people and understanding them. This trip helped me communicate better in different situations. In conclusion, the Erasmus+ trip to Virovitica was a rewarding experience. It taught me about the environment and helped me improve my social skills. My favourite parts were the quiz night and the hiking. This trip was a memorable part of my summer.
Kenyeres Kristóf

To summarize my journey to Virovitica; it went like this:
We started our day going to Szentlőrinc by train from Keleti train station, then we took another, local train, to Barcs, where we were picked up by car, and escorted to Virovitica. On day 0 we got to get used to our rooms and met up with a few of the other participants. On day one we participated in 3 workshops, where we got formally introduced to each other.
Each day we started with breakfast at 7:00-8:00 and the first workshop began at 8:30. After each workshop we had a 15 min coffee break, and then we went back to workshops. On the first five days we had 3 workshops each day, which were held by different countries and groups. After we got done with the workshops (around 12:00) we had lunch, usually at 14:00, after finishing lunch we could roam around the city. We roamed around the city every day. On one of the days, we went to a beautiful nature reserve one and a half hours from Virovitica. It was a well needed rest and a really good refresher; I could’ve spent a whole day there.
On the weekend, nearing our departure and the end of this project, we made three videos, each showcasing a different part of the Erasmus project and what we’ve learned. On the final day (for most) Sunday, we projected our short movies onto the canvas and watched the fruits of our labour. Satisfied with ourselves, we said goodbye to each other, since almost everybody aside from us left on Sunday. We filled the empty holes left by our comrades with a long talk that evening. I still shed a tear of joy, thinking back to those moments. We left on Monday and got home safely.
Kirchner Tamás

In my opinion, this Erasmus could have gone better, but I think I’m more educated on the topic, and I have met many brilliant young people through this trip to Croatia. Throughout this programme, we have learned about CO2 emissions, polluting companies, vegetarianism, veganism, and much more. My favourite workshop was definitely the upcycling and recycling workshop, because there I was able to repurpose a blank black T-shirt, which I wasn’t really using. My favourite activity outside the workshops, was probably the hike in one of Croatia’s national parks, or the bike ride and hike in a forest close to Virovitica. Both of these were organised by our hosts, but on the second one, only the Hungarian participants were able to go because we didn’t have enough bikes for everyone. In the end, I think my English hasn’t really improved much, but other competencies have, like how to jump a language barrier or just social competencies in general. 
Németh Barnabás

Participating in the Erasmus youth program in Virovitica, Croatia, was a transformative experience, particularly focused on fostering eco-friendly practices. Our days were filled with engaging workshops and hands-on activities that deepened our understanding of environmental sustainability.
The program also emphasized the importance of reducing waste and promoting recycling. We participated in creative upcycling projects, turning everyday waste materials into useful items. This not only sparked our creativity but also instilled a strong message about the value of reusing materials instead of discarding them. Additionally, the workshops on renewable energy sources and energy conservation strategies were eye-opening, showing us practical ways to reduce our carbon footprint in daily life.
Moreover, the cultural exchange aspect of the program was invaluable. Sharing ideas and practices with peers from various countries broadened our perspectives on environmental issues and solutions. We exchanged knowledge on how different cultures approach sustainability, from traditional practices to innovative technologies.
The Erasmus youth program in Virovitica was more than just an educational journey; it was a call to action. It equipped us with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to make meaningful changes in our lifestyles and to promote eco-friendly practices within our communities. The friendships and connections made during this program continue to be a source of inspiration, as we all strive towards a common goal of a sustainable future.
Papp Noel

This Erasmus project was full of exciting adventures. I spent ten days with really kind Croatian, Spanish, and Romanian people. It was interesting for me to get to know people with different backgrounds and cultures. Sometimes it was a bit difficult to communicate because not everyone could speak good English, but it wasn’t a problem. We always managed to understand each other, and then very good friendships could born. The programs brought us together well, especially the Hungarian group I think. I became friends with people I had never talked to before at school and I realised how many nice people surround me, but I will only realise it when I start talking to them. There were many exciting workshops, but sometimes it was a bit difficult to discuss the topics because I felt that the students from other countries were not as well-informed about the topics. In my favourite workshop, we had to reuse old materials. This was the workshop that we enjoyed the most, we just painted and created all morning. One day we went for a hike and saw a nature reserve with lakes and a beautiful waterfall. After that we had some free time, we played badminton, football and talked a lot with each other. Overall, I’m very happy with this project, I met a lot of nice people, and I had many interesting conversations with the others.
Pongrácz Villő

After a relatively short trip, we arrived first at the dormitory. Between Monday and Friday, each day we had three workshops from 8:30 usually ending before 13:00. At 14:00 we had lunch in the cafeteria of the dormitory. We had lots of free time, except Wednesday, when we went hiking to a national park one and a half hour away from the city. Dinner was at 19:00, but even after dinner we could go out of the dormitory until 22:00.
On Saturday and Sunday, we prepared and presented three videos, national presentations and short statements about the Erasmus. It was very entertaining and heartwarming. We had the closing ceremony, and slowly every country left except ours. We had the last afternoon all to ourselves.
We learned a lot about the different cultures and how other people view the environment. I learned a lot of important words regarding the topic, but we couldn’t get into them deeply, and the workshops were rather similar. Regardless, it was still very enjoyable and worth the trip.
Schneider Mihály

It was my first Erasmus, and I think it was a really good experience. The accommodation was nice and clean, and the food was okay. The topic was interesting, but most of the workshops were similar and sometimes boring. For example, we learnt about vegetarianism, veganism, upcycling – recycling, fast fashion and eco-friendly shopping.  After the workshops we had a lot of free time when we could play table tennis, cards, cycling and much more. On Thursday we went to a nearby school to play volleyball which was a lot of fun. On Wednesday we went hiking to a national park which was really beautiful. On Saturday and Sunday, we had to make and present videos in small groups. One of the best things was meeting new people, improving my English and getting to know other cultures. Unfortunately, by the end of the project many of us were sick but it was still a very good experience.
Varga Júlia