Democracy

I’m Aylin, and I’m excited to share my first Erasmus+ experience!

Between November 28 and December 7, I participated in the “Discovering Democracy and Civic Engagement (DIVE in)” youth exchange project in Horezu, Romania. We came together with amazing teams from Türkiye, Greece, Hungary, and Romania.

The project brought together young people from different backgrounds to dive deep into the concepts of democracy and civic engagement. We learned how to be active citizens and how to ”dive in” to solve problems in our society.

Throughout the week, we made various interactive workshops, we discussed critical topics such as inclusion, equity, and media literacy. We shared ideas about how to make a difference in our communities. These activities allowed us to simulate real-world decision-making processes, strengthened our understanding of digital citizenship and showed us how we can work together effectively.

Beyond the activity room, we also explored the culture of the region! We visited the Horezu Town Hall, saw how the famous UNESCO-listed Horezu ceramics are made and visited a beautiful monastery. Also, we took a trip to the city of Craiova and even organized our own expedition to explore the capital, Bucharest.

In addition, being in Romania during their National Day (1st December) added a magical atmosphere to our experience. The Intercultural Nights further deepened our bonds as we shared our food, music, and traditions. It was also an amazing way to learn about different cultures and have fun together.

Looking back, this project was much more than just gaining a better understanding of democracy. It was a great chance to build connections with people from different cultures. The friends we made and the memories we shared made this experience unforgettable. I believe these kinds of projects are essential for young people to grow. I’m returning home with a wider perspective and feeling more connected to the global community.

Special thanks to my incredible team for this journey: Ayşegül, Hacire, Pınar, Zeynep, Musa, Tunahan, Doğukan and Kürşat. You guys are the best!

Finally, I have to admit the funniest part of our routine was one famous sentence: PUT IT ON PADLET. After every single activity we uploaded our results there. We couldn’t even have completed this without Padlet.

Aylin Türkücüoğlu

Between April 5-13, 2025, a team of 8 young people from Imece Network — including one team leader (Tuncay) and seven participants — took part in the Learning, Engaging, Acting for Democracy (LEAD) youth exchange, hosted in Horezu, Romania. For most of the participants, this was their very first international experience.

The project gathered 46 young people from Türkiye, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Hungary, creating a multicultural environment where ideas and cultures could meet. The program combined workshops, debates, role-plays, simulations, and outdoor activities to foster learning through non-formal education methods.

Throughout the exchange, participants explored key topics like democracy, cultural understanding, and active participation. The activities were designed and facilitated by experienced youth leaders, focusing on teamwork, creativity, and open-mindedness.

Our participants shared that this experience helped them break down prejudices, especially towards neighboring cultures. Many also expressed that their self-confidence and English communication skills improved significantly during the project.

The LEAD project was not only a platform for learning but also a place for new friendships and meaningful cultural exchange. As Imece Network, we are proud to continue supporting young people in their personal and international development journeys!