We were able to get to know ourselves better, align our core values with our soft skills, and put our employment competencies on paper.

Author: Rea Škuflić

From May 3rd until May 10th, I was able to participate in a Youth Exchange “Value of YOUth” project organized by Asociación Mojo de Caña on the island of Gran Canaria. The main aim of the project was to help youth from Romania, Belgium, Spain, and Croatia further develop competencies for future employment or entrepreneurial endeavours.

Through different workshops as a means of non-formal education, we were able to work on determining our strengths, passions, and possible opportunities relevant to our employment.

Day one of the project was fully dedicated to getting to know each other and making sure we became more comfortable working together and sharing our time and space for the duration of the project. The process was facilitated through the different games we played to accomplish the team dynamic. We have also had the opportunity to meet members and founders of LPA Juventud, a government association aiming to help youth development on the island, which also provided us with a working space called “La Grada”.

Apart from getting to know each other, we were able to see the city of Las Palmas by biking around and seeing some of its sights. We ended our tour with a beach get-together, where we continued to bond.

In the following days, with our facilitators Sam, Domingo, and Jana, we dived more into the topic of employment and entrepreneurship, where we were able to share more specific information regarding the national context of employment. In groups, we presented and heard information regarding employment situations in Belgium, Romania, Spain, and Croatia.

Through the Ikigai method, we were able to think about certain questions regarding what we love, what we are good at, what the world needs, and what we can be paid for. With the help of psychologist Amanda Celis, we focused more specifically on our strengths and how we can identify them both individually and in groups. Juan Cerantes taught us the importance of writing important information down and managing our time in order to maximize our potential and work efficiently.

We were able to get to know ourselves better, align our core values with our soft skills, and put our employment competencies on paper. The acquired knowledge and self-discoveries were tested during simulated job interviews, which helped demonstrate how the real-life setting might be and, in a way, prepare us for it.

With all the hard work and learning we were doing, we deserved a little break, and we had it most amazingly. Altogether, we got to spend a day in Mas Palomas, one of the best sights on the island. We enjoyed each other’s company with mesmerizing dunes overlooking the ocean in front.

On May 8th, we went to visit one of the islands’ elementary schools to help mark Europe Day, which is held on May 9th.

There, we were able to share our youth exchange experiences with the students. Apart from the youth exchanges, we were able to share other projects and programs that were funded by the Erasmus+ program and the European Union, such as this one. With this visit, we ended the program on a high note that certainly left everyone feeling inspired and with a sense of contribution.
During the closing day, we got to share our teachings and the knowledge we gained, but also to remember all the days we spent together and share some of our favourite moments.

For the Croatian team, the project wasn’t over since we got to spend another wonderful day together exploring the island and getting to know it a bit better. We have certainly learned a lot, but we also formed bonds among us that will continue to develop. It was certainly a beautiful experience that I will gladly remember!

I would like to thank Asociación Mojo de Caña and Association Strive! for the given opportunity! The project is co-financed with the Erasmus + program.

Trainer: Jana Pajić, Sam Vandezande, Domingo Pérez 

Participants: Karlo Požgaj, Filip Oroz, Petra Kuljis, Rea Škuflić, Lovro Crnković

Coordinators: Mirna Makovac, Kristijan Gaži

Find more project pictures and stories by following our  Instagram account: strive.hr!