DAY 4 #EmpyAbility 6th of June 2025

Our fourth day began on a high note with a lively energizer game. We stood in a circle and passed a pillow around as quickly as possible, laughing and cheering each other on. It was a great way to get our bodies moving and boost our group energy and teamwork.

The main focus of the morning was the session “Culture of Work.” This engaging session consisted of four rotating stations, each exploring important topics such as inclusion, equal opportunities, and diversity in the workplace. Through group discussions and interactive tasks, we reflected on how different social, cultural, or economic backgrounds can impact access to employment. Each station brought up real-life challenges and encouraged us to think about how we, as young people, can contribute to creating fairer and more inclusive work environments.

In the next part of the day, we turned our focus inward with a personal development session. We each worked on our own SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), which helped us better understand where we are now in our career and personal journeys. This was followed by creating our skill maps, visual representations of our current skills and the areas we aim to grow in. These exercises gave us clarity and direction as we thought about our future career paths.

With our self-reflection work complete, we began preparing for a very practical task,  recording our video CVs. We brainstormed what to say, how to present ourselves confidently on camera, and what skills or experiences we wanted to highlight. It was a great opportunity to combine creativity with self-awareness and communication skills.

Before dinner, we received our study visit kits, which included cool project T-shirts and handy lunch packs for the next day. In the evening, team leaders gathered for a feedback meeting to discuss the day’s outcomes and logistics for the upcoming sessions.

The day ended on a relaxing and cozy note. Some of us picked up the guitar and played music, while others enjoyed board games and casual chats. It was the perfect way to wind down and connect after another full, productive day.

DAY 3 #EmployAbility 5th of June 2025

We kicked off the day with an energizer game led by the Czech team, setting a collaborative and energetic tone that carried through all our activities. It was the perfect way to get us moving and focused before diving into deeper discussions.

The main focus of the day was youth employment. We worked in national teams to prepare and deliver presentations on the current state of youth employability in our countries. Each team highlighted key challenges faced by young people in entering the job market, from lack of experience and digital skills to economic instability and limited career guidance. We also explored national initiatives and programs designed to combat youth unemployment, such as entrepreneurship support, vocational training, and youth employment strategies. The Q&A sessions after each presentation sparked great interest, leading to thoughtful exchanges of ideas and experiences.

In the afternoon, we came together as a full group to identify both the unique aspects of each country’s approach and the common strategies used across nations. This collaborative reflection helped us better understand how youth employment is tackled from different perspectives and what we can learn from each other. The day concluded with a reflection session to process our learning, a leaders' meeting to review the progress, and a relaxed social evening where participants connected through music, games, and storytelling, strengthening the bonds within our international group.

DAY 2 #EmployAbility - 04th June 2025

Today we started off with a fun energizer called “What If”. We stood outside in a circle and took turns saying random what if scenarios, like what if we were playing basketball or what if we were swimming. It definitely woke us up and got us laughing early in the day.

Then we jumped into a big challenge called NextGen: Mission Impossible. First, we split into two teams, picked our leaders, and each got an envelope with secret instructions. We had to search the garden for another envelope with three tasks to complete. Once both teams were done, we came together as one big group—but not before guessing a secret password. Our new mission? Find objects starting with every letter of the alphabet, take a group photo, and look for five strange objects people brought with them to the project. It was intense but super fun!

In the afternoon, we had an interactive session about Erasmus+. We talked about what Eramus+ youth exchanges and training courses are all about, and learned more about the Youthpass certificate. Everyone wrote down questions, and some brave volunteers stepped up to answer them. It turned into a really nice open discussion.

After that, we split into eight teams for Youthpass Theatre Scene. Each group got one of the Youthpass key competences and had to create a short theatre scene to represent it. The other teams had to guess what it was. Some scenes were hilarious, and it was a creative way to understand the competences better.

My NGO fair we presented our sending organization.

In the evening we had “Wow, I Got That!”, a reflection activity where we shared what we learned throughout the day, how we felt during each activity, and what we personally took away from the experience. It was a nice and creative way to wrap everything up.

Right after that, we met in our national groups for a Team Leaders meeting. We checked in with each other, talked about how we felt during the day, what we enjoyed most, and if there was anything we’d like to improve. It was a good space for honest sharing and feedback.

We finished the day with a cultural night hosted by Bulgaria, Greece and Italy. They showed us parts of their culture and history, taught us traditional dances, and tested our knowledge with a fun Kahoot quiz. Best part? They also shared with us snacks and sweet from their countries!

DAY 1 #EmplyAbility - 03rd of June 2025

The day began with a beautiful surprise: the breathtaking mountain landscape surrounding our venue. Energized by the fresh air and a delicious breakfast, we gathered for our first session.

We had a nice welcoming kit from Initiative Sociale.

We kicked off our first energiser – “Follow the Leader” to get our bodies moving and spirits lifted. With energy flowing, our facilitators introduced themselves, feeling very comfortable because of their good vibe and presented the main objectives of the project, helping us understand the journey we’re about to embark on.

To break the ice, we played a light-hearted "Fun Facts" game, where each participant picked a random number of slips of paper and shared the same number of fun facts about themselves. Laughter and curiosity set the tone for the rest of the day.

To help us connect on a deeper level, we took part in a series of interactive games: Toilet Paper Game – Participants took as many pieces as they wanted, and for each one, they had to share something about themselves.

Clock Dating – A speed-meeting activity where we had short “appointments” with each other to discover fun facts.

Name & Fun Story – A creative way to remember names through personal anecdotes.

Name & Favorite Animal/ Food/ Color – To learn more about each other's preferences and personalities.

After coffee break we started the session, A different kind of icebreaker game: Personal Coat of Arms.

We explored identity and storytelling through the “Coat of Arms” activity. Each participant created a visual representation of their personal and national identity. Through this, we discovered meaningful stories, shared values, and surprising similarities between us.

After lunch, we reflected on our:

✨ Expectations

😨 Fears

🤝 Contributions

This was done through the interactive “Backpack” session, where we symbolically “packed” everything we are bringing into the project: emotionally and mentally.

After this, we created our GROUP CONTRACT.

We closed the day with the “Wow, I Got That!” summary activity, where we reflected on what we learned during the day. This was followed by our Daily Reflection session, offering a moment of pause and self-awareness.

In the end we had also the leaders meeting to discuss the feedback of the day.

 

In the evening, we had informal social time. Some participants played the guitar, others joined in conversations about our backgrounds, cultures, and hometowns. It was a beautiful start to building a strong, cohesive group: one laugh and story at a time.

Erasmus+ Project "NextGen: EmployAbility" – Young people from across Europe gather in Vatra Dornei to boost their job skills

The “Inițiative Sociale” Association announces the launch of the international mobility activity within the Erasmus+ project “NextGen: EmployAbility”, a youth exchange that will take place from June 3 to June 11 (activity days), 2025, in Argestru, Vatra Dornei, Romania.

The project brings together 52 participants and 2 facilitators from 7 European countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Romania, Poland, and Turkey), under the coordination of Inițiative Sociale. For 9 days, young people will work and learn together to improve the key skills they need to find and keep a job.

The main aim of the project is to help young people develop essential employability skills, promote inclusion and intercultural dialogue, and support their professional growth. Participants will take part in activities focused on communication, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability.

The activity key objectives:

O1. To reflect and exchange opinions about youth (un)employment in different European countries by creating suitable enviroment for participants to discuss and share insights on the trends, factors influencing (un)employment among young people in various European countries, during the mobility perioad.

O2. To support inclusion and equal access to information by promoting diversity, social inclusion and equal access to opportunities while tackling employment barriers such as discrimination, lack of skills and limited access to information, during the activities. 

O3. To bridge the employment gap through innovation by encouraging 45 youngsters and 7 team leaders to develop sustainable solutions for employment challenges by using 4 C's: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creative thinking, throughout activities.

O4. To expand the network of partners at regional, national and European levels and strengthen operational and management capacity, by facilitating the exchange of good practices between partner organizations throughout the project. 

The project will use non-formal education methods, both indoors and outdoors, creating a friendly and inclusive environment. The program includes icebreakers, team-building games, interactive workshops, cultural visits, intercultural evenings, debates, reflection sessions, and evaluations.

At the end of the exchange, participants will receive a Youthpass certificate, which recognizes the competencies they developed and supports their personal and professional growth.

Through this project, we aim to empower young people to become more confident, active, and better prepared for professional challenges, while also contributing to a more inclusive and united Europe.