Poland R4W Offline Dissemination

As part of the offline dissemination of the project “Level Up – Ready for Work”, I conducted a presentation and interactive workshop for 8th-grade students in a local primary school.

The goal of this activity was to share the knowledge, skills, and insights gained during the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange, raise awareness about European opportunities for young people, and inspire students to participate in international mobility projects in the future.

During the session, I introduced the students to the Erasmus+ programme, explained the differences between Erasmus and Erasmus+, and presented various types of mobility opportunities available for young people, including Youth Exchanges, Training Courses, the European Solidarity Corps and DiscoverEU. We discussed how these programmes support personal development, intercultural learning, language skills, teamwork and creativity. I also shared my personal experiences from the youth exchange in Vatra Dornei (Romania), describing the workshops, group activities, cultural evenings, and the main outcomes of our project focused on youth unemployment in Europe.

As part of the workshop activity, the students participated in a creative task involving designing their own coat of arms (herb) that represented teamwork, values and skills they consider important for young people entering the future job market. This method encouraged active participation, imagination and reflection on their strengths. We then discussed the meaning behind each symbol and what competencies they believe will be useful for their future.

The results of the activity included increased awareness of Erasmus+ opportunities among the students, their active engagement in discussions about skills and future careers, and a better understanding of how international projects can support their growth. Many students expressed interest in taking part in Youth Exchanges once they turn 13 or 14, which shows the positive impact of this dissemination activity.

The dissemination activity allowed me not only to share the results of the Erasmus+ project “Level Up – Ready for Work”, but also to reflect on the impact that international mobility can have on young people’s confidence, motivation and future choices. One of the most important insights was observing how students reacted to real stories from the youth exchange. They were surprised to learn that Erasmus+ opportunities exist not only for university students, but also for teenagers their age. This demonstrated how essential it is to raise awareness about such programmes early, so young people can plan ahead and feel encouraged to participate once they reach the eligible age.

Another conclusion was that interactive, creative methods – such as the workshop involving the design of a personal or group coat of arms – significantly increased engagement. Students became more open, expressive and reflective when they could visually represent their values, skills and aspirations. This activity also helped them understand the relevance of soft skills such as teamwork, communication, intercultural openness and responsibility, which were central topics of our project in Romania. It confirmed that experiential learning is highly effective for this age group.

The session also helped me strengthen my own presentation and facilitation skills. I learned how to adapt complex topics to a younger audience and how to combine information with practical exercises. Many students expressed curiosity about mobility programmes, asked detailed questions about travel, language requirements and project themes, and several said they would like to join a Youth Exchange in the future. This feedback proved that the dissemination not only informed, but also inspired and empowered.