Romania’s’ stunning mountains and friendly people – this is what I will remember each time I think about our trip. But let’s talk about everything from the start. I Margarita Trociukaitė and three social work students Brigita Kuraitė, Modesta Petukaitė and Laura Rimgailaitė got proposal from Innovation Office to go to Erasmus+ project ‘AHA – Active Healthy Attitude’ training course in one of the oldest city in Romania, founded in XIII age, Sfantu Gheorghe. In the course, including us (Lithuanians), were participants from Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Italy and Romania. Four people from each country counted for 28 youth workers and volunteers and 6 organizers.
The aim of the course was to ensure that participants will get experience how to work with youngsters and motivate them to reduce drugs, alcohol and smoking and choose to live healthier and do more sport. For this reason all participants working in mixed groups by 5-7 people needed to learn how to create active methods (like playing games, discussions within different themes) and eventually write main ideas for future possible projects. Also it was inestimable opportunity to communicate with other participants from six countries and learn from each other. All days were full of activities and during them we were to present ourselves, sending organizations, situations of usage of drugs, alcohol and smoking in our countries. Also there was learning process presentations like Erasmus+ programme, how course leaders in their organization Harit are planning human library for locals. Because other persons who had experience on these themes attended all activities, we need to do all activities fast than present quickly.
Before each task we made energizers because in mornings or after lunch everyone felt sleepy and needed to wake up. One of these funny energizers’ idea which could be modified in other playing ways needed that all participants stand up in a circle, then the first person, the leader, says for example “don’t smoke baby” and name of a person which hand he takes, and after this that person replies the same. Eventually all participants hands interlace. ☺
Also we have met very interesting people. One of them was a guy who was addicted to drug using. He told his story about bad friends who involved him; his girlfriend who was unfaithful to him and how after all he managed to came free from this addiction. The following day a meeting was arranged with three men who had alcohol addiction and one who had game addiction. Addicted and now free men told their life stories, their hard learning, working years, colleges’ influence on bad and good choices, how these illnesses destroyed their life and finally how they decided to end this and ask for treatment.
One morning we met policewomen who presented drug species, new kind drugs and common using statistic in Romania. Also she told about her organization that works to help youngsters who have drug addiction and for this sentenced for prison. These young people (but not those who were drugs dealers) who get to prison has a need of medical, physical and psychological help, and thanks to that organization they are able to receive it.
In the middle of seminar week all participants attended Human library activity. Human library was organized to give opportunity for local people to communicate with foreign participants at local pub. The aim of this project is to eliminate stereotypical thinking about different people. Organizers let voluntarily choose who wants to be a book and want to tell his life story, which is different from others in some way. Those persons should create their book topic, their life moto and specify the most common stereotypes about them which may be denied. Other people who came in “human library” were asked to talk with person books and after registration start conversation. If local people couldn’t talk in English there helped translators, but for the others it was a good opportunity to improve English skills. From our Lithuanian group Brigita Kuraitė was a book „Night life in Lithuania“, she choose moto „My life – my rules!”. Also there was person-books covering topics like anonymous alcoholic, drug consumer, bland cooker, heavy karate trainer, person who is sick with Doune syndrome and etc.
But without necessary activities to learn new knowledge by seminar topics, also we had lot of funny outdoors activities and parties. First of them was International evening arranged on second course day. During this party each of 7 countries participants presented their national foods, drinks and snacks. There was really too much food for 34 people if we talk about healthier life, but everything was so tasty! Sometimes it is good to pamper yourself, especially if after dinner you are dancing all together until one o’clock after mid-night ☺
On the third course day we had Treasure hunting evening when 4 mixed groups get 12 tasks program and had fulfill it until morning. It was not so easy, because we needed not only to find two statues in the city, find local flag and write about its herb, find swimming pool working schedule, most cozy pub for other day parties, make group photo and video of each task and, oh my god, find who could sing serenade! Thanks to organizers everyone now have lot of group selfies.☺
Also there was Karaoke evening when participants were singing their national songs and the last day all of us traveled to Bran castle. By the legend in this castle lived Dracula – one of the most famous nationally legendary personas in Romania. But if someone is scared of story I can ensure it wasn’t scary at all, no blood, no innocent virgin girls… but a beautiful castle on mountain of stones and souvenir shop at the bottom. ☺
And finally during the last Farewell evening in city restaurant everyone got from AHA course organizers their youth-worker’s certificates and presents. At the end we all made our last group photo with AHA green T-shirts.
After all week we came home tired but happy and we want to say very BIG THANKS to Innovation Office for this opportunity, Agota Rapoltia for her care about everyone and to all participants for very good time we spent together! We hope that soon we will meet together in common future projects. ☺
