What happens in Gran Canaria, stays in Gran Canaria. Actually, not really! 🙂 

Project “Monitors’ Survival Kit” which gathered 30 people from 3 different countries in small village in Gran Canaria at the begging of October gave us knowledge, tools and opportunity to make ourselves better facilitators, animators or monitors in general and to transform our ideas and wishes into a project that can be implemented in the real world. We could meet people that share our interests and points of view, but also the ones who gave us another perspective on things. That differences were especially visible in our working groups when we were preparing for the final event- ‘Youth day’ in Santa Lucia de Tirajana, where we were given the chance to practice what we have learned about being a monitor during the whole week and where we combined all our differences and similarities. With every exercise and assignment, we were getting more knowledge and know-how on our monitor skills. 

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Franka Kos, one of the loudest in Strive! team Gran Canaria and active Erasmus+ projects participant said: “For me, this knowledge of dealing with potentially problematic situations, working in a multicultural environment, being prepared to compromise and sharing our ideas without fear, is what this youth exchange was about. People that were selected for this project were awesome and as a team, we were functioning really good. We all gained lots of methods, tools and information, that will help us in the next exchanges and hopefully, one day in our owns.”

When asked, people associate Erasmus+ mostly only with university exchanges; they are not aware that Erasmus+ is the name of one of the most important programs of EU, able to fund so many youth exchange projects in order to empower European citizens from 13 to 30 years of age, through activities organized in the field of education, training, youth and sport. “This is why this project was necessary, to learn how to transmit the EU values and our experience to the local communities and to teach others about Erasmus+ and the opportunities that come with it.”, added Franka.

Danijel Branilović, the active student of law and only male participant of Strive! team on this project commented: “It was a great pleasure to be a part of the Monitors’ Survival Kit project. We are now ready to apply all the useful information and knowledge we gained at the project about how to turn an idea into a project, develope all the activities and be the monitor or facilitator. It was a great opportunity to learn a lot about EU projects, to meet ambitious young people from the Canaries, Bulgaria and Croatia, and to explore beautiful Gran Canaria island.“

Antonija Tušek, a young journalist and active member of AEGEE – EUROPEAN STUDENTS FORUM gained something even better- motivation and confidence!

„I finally feel ready! I think we all need encouragement or a little bit of motivation in life to start something new. Since I have gone to my first project and sensed the fervour felt only by the people who have attended such project as this one – I want to organise some kind of an event! Even though the organising isn’t my stronger point in real life, somehow I have a feeling I’d manage to organise a project, agree on any means and solve ongoing problems. I have experienced all of this on the project I went to and I actually realized how much I love that adrenaline and how I react very fastly to everything, still being full of inspiration feeling like I can conquer the world! Those are the feelings that Erasmus+ projects bring and that is what I want young people to feel and by organising my own I could make them experience it. On Erasmus+ project Monitors’ Survival Kit I have met so many inspiring young people full of ambition, desires and will for a change and improvement. They were so conscious and mature to make a positive impact on society – those are the people I want to be surrounded with. These kinds of projects motivate me to work, progress and change the society I am in. This project also reminded me how important I am as an individual and how much I can do as my wishes and desires draw me. I want to thank all the girls from the Association that recognised my will, and also to the organisers for these beautiful 8 days that I will remember for the rest of my life!“

Mateja Gabor, our project manager and team leader on this project concluded: „The place, people, participants, Canarian culture and spirit, old friends, new friends, ocean and mountains, open-mindedness and active participation made me feel that world has no borders and that everything is possible again. Because it is! Huge thanks to Carlota Urtasun Martín, Jose Manuel González, Omara Ramos Báez and Bryan for hosting and gathering us, making everything so easy and beautiful. Also, big thanks to Danka Brumen for sharing all team leader’s responsibilities with me because bringing a team of 10 people to this amazing and wild island from all corners of Croatia requires sense for creating a team, really good travel plan, and enough of paperwork and administration to handle. And we have chosen amazing and active young people who worked great together and have a bright future as monitors!“

Anita Krtalić, our active member shared her thoughts about Erasmus + projects for pogled.ba where you can read her experience about mobility projects she took until now. Also, she has captured some incredible moments of this project through her camera.

Participants: Franka Kos (Varaždin), Antonija Tušek (Požega), Irma Rizvić (Cres), Sara Sučić (Slavonski Brod), Anita Krtalić (Mostar), Ingrid Jakšić, Petra Anić Božić (Zagreb), Danijel Branilović (Gornji Hrašćan), Danka Brumen, Mateja Gabor (Čakovec)

Written by: Franka Kos, Danijel Branilović, Antonija Tušek, Mateja Gabor

Photo and video: Anita Krtalić

Host: Jiribillas 3.0

Partners: AYPI (Bulgaria), Association Strive! (Croatia)

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