Four young girls hailing from small towns located on the territory of Consortium BIM Taloro —Desulo, Austis, Gavoi, and Teti—participated in the period 1- 9 September in Romania 🇷🇴 in a training course titled “AIM HIGH – Advancing Intercultural Mentoring for Holistic Impact and Growth.” This project was part of the Erasmus Plus 🇪🇺 program and was organized by our Romanian partner, Asociația Comunități pentru Tineri.
Below are the testimonies from our participants, who enthusiastically share their experiences:
Luisanna (Desulo):
My experience in Romania was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. It lasted from September 1st to September 9th. We were surrounded by greenery with a lake nearby. We participated in a training course focusing on the role of a mentor.
There were 19 of us, from Italy, Portugal, and Romania. After lessons, we took walks in the afternoons, saw waterfalls, bridges, and lakes. We also visited a monastery where the nuns explained their work, how they cultivate the land, and operate the tractor. We discussed the future, comforted each other during sad moments, and laughed during the fun times. I believe everyone should have this experience at least once in their life, with people from different nationalities but with big hearts. These people will always hold a piece of my heart.
Giusy (Austis):
From September 1st to 9th, I participated in a training course focused on the importance of the mentor as a figure who approaches young people.
The experience was very intense, not only because it took place in the small town of Sasca Montana, Romania, which allowed us to fully experience the area and interact with the local population, but also because the various sessions were filled with activities and discussions.
Our days were divided between “ice-breaking games” to help us connect with the group and more serious sessions with explanations and practical exercises, brainstorming activities, and role-playing games in diverse groups, allowing us to collaborate with almost everyone involved.
We also had the chance to explore the area through various excursions to more isolated countryside locations; we visited a monastery and exchanged a few words with the nuns living there, which was a moment of great enrichment, especially since we got to know another reality with a different belief.
Using a different language was challenging, not because I don’t know English well, but because I had to force myself to think in English, follow the “lessons,” and perform exercises. It was mentally exhausting, and at a certain point in the day, I felt the need to switch off my brain.
I realized, however, that even just a few days can make a significant difference in gaining confidence with a language that isn’t your own, and I ended up being able to express longer, more articulated thoughts, which was one of my goals.
What I appreciated most about this experience were the group activities. I have always preferred teamwork to working independently because I feel more stimulated by interaction and learn much more. Working with people from the field who respected each other and did not seek to excel above others allowed me to learn concepts I was unfamiliar with and express myself without worrying that my contributions were useless or meaningless, as they were met with great enthusiasm.
Speaking of the group, I was truly fortunate to meet my travel companions; we all had different levels of English, but we were able to understand and interact with each other.
Despite being three distinct groups by nationality (Italians, Romanians, and Portuguese), we did not confine ourselves to our own groups but sought to mix and spend time with everyone; even after lessons, we would gather on the balcony of the guesthouse to spend a few hours getting to know each other better, playing board games, singing, and relaxing together.
I would truly recommend this experience to everyone; it’s not just a way to enrich your skills or improve your English, but it’s a chance to challenge yourself in an uncomfortable context, which, if experienced the wrong way, can be boring and heavy. Being in such a small and isolated place connects you with yourself and shows you what you want to achieve, while also helping you realize that you can do anything by throwing yourself into new experiences and that there are no limits set by shyness or lack of preparation because you are forced to face all challenges.
Raffaella (Gavoi):
I participated in the training course on how to become a mentor in Romania. Initially, I must say I went without expectations because I had already participated in projects with “Sportello in Spalla” but had never attended a training course, and it was a discovery.
It was an enriching experience not only in terms of the course topic but also on a personal level. I had the opportunity to learn what it means to be a mentor through non-formal, interactive, and stimulating activities. I met people from other countries, explored a part of Romania that I didn’t even know existed, saw beautiful places immersed in nature, and broke down some stereotypes about the country, which, contrary to common belief, is inhabited by incredibly hospitable, kind, and interesting people. I also had the chance to improve my English, enriching it with more specific vocabulary, and saw how people from different countries with various cultures—Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Venezuelan—can work well together and how different yet similar we can be in certain aspects.
Iris (Teti):
Thanks to the Malik Association and the “Sportello in Spalla” project, I was able to participate in the training course held in Sasca Montana from September 1 to 9, 2024. The course was “ADVANCING INTERCULTURAL MENTORING FOR HOLISTIC IMPACT AND GROWTH.” As the name suggests, the main topic was mentoring. The entire project was fantastic, and it’s an experience I would recommend to everyone. The reasons I consider it such a positive experience are many. First and foremost, I learned additional skills, knowledge, and qualities related to mentoring. This acquisition was closely tied to the activities carried out for learning. Many activities were very useful, especially the group activities that allowed me to interact with people from other countries, such as Portugal and Romania, with whom I could engage and gain experience in using English. This exchange allowed me to learn something both about mentoring and about cultures different from my own. I also greatly appreciated the activities like the excursions we took because they allowed us to visit beautiful places. Another aspect that contributed significantly to making this experience so enjoyable were our organizer Marius and our mentors Roxana and Celeste, who provided us with a wealth of useful knowledge and were very supportive. The environment was fantastic because we were warmly welcomed, and everything contributed to having an even more positive experience.
