Being the voice of the young people we represent: a journey in Chisinau
Author: Fatima Karimli
From 9-13 of June, I had the opportunity to participate in the ‘Youth Exchanges for All’ in Moldova and to represent theYoung European Ambassadors’ community. The activity was jointly coordinated by SALTO Inclusion & Diversity and SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus, which specifically facilitates learning for individuals from Eastern Partnership countries.
In Chișinău, I joined 27 passionate individuals who work with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. They came ready to be the voice of the youth they represent – sharing their needs and ideas.
We kicked off the journey with an eyes-closed activity. During the activity, we split into two groups and, blindfolded, had to form an increasing line based on the numbers assigned to us. Although I have taken part in many non-formal learning and team-building activities, this experience felt completely new. It helped me reflect on the meaning behind our team work. Even while blindfolded and without a clear strategy, some of us stepped up as leaders, created new approaches, and others followed with trust. Together, we reached our common goal through real teamwork. I look forward to implementing this exercise back home in my future activities.
We also took time to understand the youth we represent. We reflected upon their leisure time activities, needs, and the kind of youth exchange activities they would want to participate in. We used this information to create youth exchange profiles. Then we rotated from table to table, meeting different individuals, each ready to share their practices. Even though we work with different youth, in different local realities, and follow different practices, we all shared a vision – a drive to learn, share, contribute and to represent our communities in the best way possible. Through these conversations, we identified the shared needs that connect us.
We later brought those insights to the organisational market, where we presented the communities we work with and formed partnerships for future activities. Together, we developed youth exchange activity proposals – exploring the what, why, and how. I had the chance to work with individuals from the South Caucasus, Western and Northern Europe. We learned from each other, held open discussions, and developed our proposals with the guidance of our mentors, eventually presenting them.
One highlight was our study visit to the ‘MilleniuM Training and Development Institute’. We learned about local efforts supporting Ukrainian refugees since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. We listened directly to beneficiaries and engaged in a non-formal learning activity through a team strategy game. After each activity, we reflected together – a must-have takeaway activity I plan to use returning home.
On top of all that, the hospitality of the Moldovan organisers made a lasting impression. We learned more about Moldovan culture and traditions and explored how Moldova’s history – shaped by Russian, Ottoman, and Soviet influences – has left a mark on Chișinău’s cultural heritage.
This experience helped me step more into the shoes of the young people I represent. It gave me new insight into their needs, and how youth exchanges can meet those needs. It helped me look at youth exchanges from a fresh perspective – an approach that gives youth more authority and space to shape their learning. The activity provided a shared framework for dialogue and offered something quite different from the structured youth programmes I usually work with.
