Pot changemakerstva se pogosto začne pri nas samih – s pogumom, da zapustimo znano okolje, stopimo iz območja udobja in se odpremo novim izkušnjam. Prav takšni koraki nam omogočajo, da bolje spoznamo sebe, navežemo nova prijateljstva ter odkrijemo, koliko lahko pridobimo ob srečevanju z različnimi ljudmi in kulturami.
V prvem delu predstavljamo razmišljanji Noe in Caroline P., ki sta v mladinski izmenjavi prepoznala priložnost za osebno rast, nova poznanstva in ustvarjanje nepozabnih spominov.
Moja druga Erasmus izkušnja v Sloveniji je bila povsem drugačna od prve. Tokrat je bila glavna tema osebni razvoj, zaradi česar smo se ustavili in razmišljali o sebi na načine, za katere zaradi natrpanega vsakdana običajno nimamo časa.
Med projektom smo sodelovali pri različnih dejavnostih, ki so nam pomagale bolje razumeti sebe in se povezati z udeleženci iz različnih držav. Izmenjevali smo si izkušnje, razmišljali o svojih osebnostih in drug o drugem izvedeli več, zaradi česar je bila ta izkušnja še bolj posebna.
Eden mojih najljubših trenutkov je bil izlet na Blejsko jezero. Vozili smo se s kanuji, plavali v jezeru in skupaj uživali v čudoviti pokrajini.
Zadnji dan smo obiskali Ljubljano, glavno mesto Slovenije, kjer smo raziskovali mesto in uživali v zadnjih skupnih trenutkih.
Na splošno je bila ta Erasmus izkušnja zelo drugačna od moje prve, vendar v najboljšem možnem smislu. Domov sem se vrnila z novimi prijateljstvi, čudovitimi spomini in, kar je najpomembnejše, z boljšim razumevanjem same sebe.
— Caroline P.
Na splošno je bila ta Erasmus izkušnja zelo drugačna od moje prve, vendar v najboljšem možnem smislu. Domov sem se vrnila z novimi prijateljstvi, čudovitimi spomini in, kar je najpomembnejše, z boljšim razumevanjem same sebe.
Zame je bila ta izkušnja veliko več kot zgolj potovanje in sodelovanje pri projektu. Spoznal sem čudovite ljudi, slišal različne zgodbe in videl, koliko lahko pridobimo, ko stopimo iz svojega vsakdana in se odpremo novim doživetjem.
Ugotovil sem, da je včasih treba zapustiti svojo cono udobja in se odpreti novim izkušnjam, da bi pridobili nove prijatelje in ustvarili lepe spomine.
— Noa
Ugotovil sem, da je včasih treba zapustiti svojo cono udobja in se odpreti novim izkušnjam, da bi pridobili nove prijatelje in ustvarili lepe spomine.Njuni izkušnji kažeta, da se spremembe pogosto začnejo pri nas samih. Ko si upamo stopiti iz ustaljenih okvirjev, se odpre prostor za nova prijateljstva, spoznanja in osebno rast. Prav ti prvi, majhni koraki so lahko začetek poti changemakerstva.
O projektu
Zapis je nastal v okviru mladinske izmenjave Erasmus+ »First Steps into Changemaking: Discovering Purpose, Creating Social Change«, ki je potekala med 20. in 25. julijem 2026 v Ljubljani. Na izmenjavi je sodelovalo 32 udeležencev iz Hrvaške, Severne Makedonije, Portugalske, Romunije in Slovenije. Projekt, ki ga je gostila Socialna akademija, je mladim omogočil razvijanje osebne identitete, komunikacijskih spretnosti, aktivnega državljanstva in sposobnosti za ustvarjanje pozitivnih sprememb v skupnosti.
Become a Changemaker 3: step out of your comfort zone
The changemaking journey often begins with ourselves – with the courage to leave familiar surroundings, step out of our comfort zone, and open ourselves to new experiences. These are the steps that help us understand ourselves better, build new friendships, and discover how much we can gain from meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures.
In the first part, we share the reflections of Noa and Caroline P., who saw the youth exchange as an opportunity for personal growth, new connections, and unforgettable memories.
My second Erasmus experience in Slovenia was completely different from my first. This time, the main topic was personal development, which made us pause and think about ourselves in ways we usually don’t have time for because of our busy daily routines.
Throughout the project, we took part in different activities that helped us understand ourselves better and connect with participants from other countries. We shared experiences, reflected on our personalities, and learned more about one another, which made the experience even more special.
One of my favorite moments was our trip to Lake Bled. We went canoeing, swam in the lake, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery together.
On the last day, we visited Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, where we explored the city and enjoyed our last moments together.
Overall, this Erasmus was a very different experience from my first, but in the best possible way. I came home with new friendships, great memories, and, most importantly, a better understanding of myself.
— Caroline P.
For me, this experience was much more than just traveling and taking part in a project. I met wonderful people, heard different stories, and realized how much we can gain when we step away from our everyday routines and open ourselves to new experiences.
— Noa
Their experiences show that change often begins within ourselves. When we dare to step beyond what is familiar, we create space for new friendships, new insights, and personal growth. These first small steps can mark the beginning of a changemaking journey.
About the project
This blog was created as part of the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “First Steps into Changemaking: Discovering Purpose, Creating Social Change”, which took place in Ljubljana from 20 to 25 July 2026. The exchange brought together 32 participants from Croatia, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia. Hosted by Socialna akademija, the project gave young people the opportunity to develop their personal identity, communication skills, active citizenship and their ability to create positive change in their communities.
