Hello, my name is Mila, I’m 18 years old, I’m blind, and I’m from Belgium.

During the summer of 2026, I had the opportunity to take part in an Erasmus+ youth exchange called VIPSport, which took place in Botassart, Belgium, from 17 to 26 August. The exchange brought together young people aged 18 to 30, some with visual impairments and others without. Six countries were represented: Belgium, France, Turkey, Finland, Slovenia and Romania.

Accessible Sports and Cultural Exchange

The exchange focused on sports accessible to people with visual impairments. We took part in various activities, including blind football, a sport adapted for people who are partially sighted or blind. We also had opportunities to share and learn about sports practised in different countries.

There was also an intercultural evening during which each country brought traditional specialities, mostly food and drinks, along with a presentation about their country. This gave us the chance to learn more about each other’s cultures.

An Enriching Personal and Linguistic Experience

For me, this exchange was a wonderful experience. It allowed me to discover different cultures, meet people from various countries, step outside my comfort zone and practise my English.

A particularly close-knit group naturally formed between the Belgian and French participants, but that didn’t stop me from reaching out to others, trying to communicate with them in English and keeping in touch with some of them afterwards.

I also think this project was particularly inclusive because of the strong sense of mutual support among participants. People with visual impairments received plenty of support, and the young people without visual impairments were very attentive to their needs. Communication within the group was easy and natural, helping everyone develop their independence, teamwork, listening skills and sense of solidarity.

Don’t Hesitate: Give It a Try!

I strongly encourage everyone reading this article to take part in this kind of youth exchange. As I mentioned earlier, these experiences help you develop a wide range of skills and can open many doors professionally.

They are also an opportunity to meet wonderful people and build lasting friendships. Even for those who are more reserved, shyness tends to fade naturally as the days go by. Being shy should never hold you back. Quite the opposite!

As for me, I’m already thinking about taking part in more projects with VIEWS International, and I can’t wait to sign up for future youth exchanges abroad.

–

Bonjour, je m’appelle Mila, j’ai 18 ans et je suis non-voyante. Je viens de Belgique.

Durant cet été 2026, j’ai eu la chance de participer à un échange de jeunes dans le cadre d’un programme Erasmus, plus intitulé Vipsport qui s’est déroulé en Belgique à Botassar, du 17 au 26 août. Cet échange a réuni des jeunes de 18 à 30 ans, certains ayant une déficience visuelle et d’autres n’en ayant pas. Il y avait 6 pays représentés : la Belgique, la France, la Turquie, la Finlande, la Slovénie et la Roumanie.

Le sport accessible et le partage culturel

Cet échange était axé sur les sports accessibles aux personnes déficientes visuelles. Il y a eu diverses activités, notamment le cécifoot, qui est un sport adapté aux personnes malvoyantes et non-voyantes. Nous avons également eu des temps de partage autour des sports pratiqués dans différents pays.

Il y a aussi eu une soirée interculturelle où chaque pays apportait des spécialités — le plus souvent à manger et à boire — accompagnées d’une présentation de leur pays. Cela a permis d’en apprendre davantage sur la culture de chacun.

Une expérience humaine et linguistique enrichissante.

Selon moi, cet échange a été une très belle expérience. Cela m’a permis de m’ouvrir à différentes cultures, de rencontrer des personnes issues de pays variés, de sortir de ma zone de confort et de pratiquer l’anglais. Il est vrai qu’un très beau groupe s’est naturellement formé entre les Belges et les Français, mais cela ne m’a pas empêchée d’aller vers les autres, d’essayer de leur parler en anglais et de garder contact avec certains.

Je trouve également que ce projet est particulièrement inclusif grâce à la grande entraide qui règne entre les participants. Les personnes déficientes visuelles sont bien accompagnées, et les jeunes qui n’ont pas de problème de vue sont très attentifs. La communication au sein du groupe est fluide, ce qui développe l’autonomie, l’esprit d’équipe, le sens de l’écoute et la solidarité.

N’hésitez plus: osez vous lancer!

Je tiens vivement à encourager toutes les personnes qui liront cet article à participer à ce type d’échanges. Comme mentionné précédemment, cela permet de développer énormément de compétences et d’ouvrir de nombreuses portes professionnelles.

C’est aussi l’occasion de faire de magnifiques rencontres et de lier des amitiés durables. Même pour les personnes plus réservées, la timidité s’efface naturellement au fil des jours ; être timide ne doit donc absolument pas être un frein, bien au contrair!

Pour ma part, j’envisage de participer à d’autres projets avec Views et j’ai hâte de m’inscrire aux prochains échanges de jeunes organisés à l’étranger.

(English translation below)

Bonjour, je m’appelle Mila, j’ai 18 ans.

Je suis étudiante en sixième année secondaire en technique sociale à l’Institut Marie-Thérèse, une école située à Liège, et j’habite à Flémalle.

Dans le cadre de mes études, je réalise actuellement un stage d’observation de 30 heures au sein de l’ASBL Views International.

J’ai découvert cette association il y a trois ans, alors que j’avais 15 ans. J’étais alors dans le club tandem de l’ASBL La Lumière lorsqu’une affiliée est venue me parler de Views International et des différents projets qu’elle met en place. Elle m’a ensuite parlé d’un échange de jeunes qui se déroulait en Belgique, plus précisément à Botrange. J’ai décidé d’y participer, convaincue que cela m’ouvrirait de nombreuses portes, me permettrait d’améliorer mon anglais, et me ferait vivre de belles rencontres ainsi que des amitiés durables.

J’ai été tellement enchantée par cette première expérience que, cette année, à 18 ans, j’ai saisi une nouvelle opportunité. Cet échange s’est déroulé au même endroit, mais avec une tranche d’âge différente. J’ai tout autant apprécié ce second projet, qui m’a permis de faire de merveilleuses découvertes. C’est pourquoi j’ai le vif désir de participer à l’avenir à d’autres projets et échanges avec l’ASBL.

Quant au choix de mon stage d’observation, il s’est imposé naturellement : connaissant déjà l’équipe et souhaitant m’investir dans le bénévolat, c’était l’occasion idéale d’en apprendre davantage sur les coulisses de l’association. De plus, étant en technique sociale, Views International correspond en tout point aux valeurs et aux critères de ma formation.

–

Hello, my name is Mila, and I’m 18 years old.I’m in my final year of secondary school, studying social sciences at Institut Marie-Thérèse in Liège, and I live in Flémalle.

As part of my studies, I’m currently completing a 30-hour observation internship at VIEWS International.

I first discovered the organisation three years ago, when I was 15. At the time, I was part of the tandem club at La Lumière, a Belgian non-profit organisation, when one of its members told me about VIEWS International and the different projects it organises. She then mentioned a youth exchange taking place in Belgium, more specifically in Botassart. I decided to take part, convinced that it would open up new opportunities, help me improve my English, and allow me to meet wonderful people and build lasting friendships.

I enjoyed that first experience so much that this year, at 18, I decided to take another opportunity. This youth exchange took place in the same location, but with a different age group. I enjoyed this second project just as much, and it gave me the chance to discover many new things. That’s why I’m very keen to participate in more projects and youth exchanges with VIEWS International in the future.

As for choosing where to do my observation internship, the decision came naturally. I already knew the team and wanted to become more involved in volunteering, so it was the ideal opportunity to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes at the organisation. Moreover, as a social sciences student, VIEWS International is fully aligned with the values and requirements of my studies.

From 19 to 23 October, I had the privilege of joining a SALTO training course on mental health in youth work. Twenty-two youth workers from nine EU countries met in a beautiful center located in an enchanting pine forest on the outskirts of Helsinki. The setting was no accident: surrounded by tall trees and Nordic stillness, it was easy to slow down, listen and learn.

The training laid the foundations for understanding how youth workers can strengthen young people’s mental health, wellbeing and resilience. It brought together mainly youth workers who are active in various youth settings. Its main focus was our role and increase our competences: how we can help young people build their emotional and mental health skills.

The course set out to:

• Clarify what mental health really means
• Understand our role in promoting mental health in everyday work with young people
• Develop practical skills to support mental health
• Reflect on our daily practice with young people
• Create a supportive, inclusive and stigma-free environment

Mental health was approached through promotion and prevention, not through diagnosis, therapy or healing. Those belong to professional work outside youth work and require competences that youth workers are not expected to have.

During the three days, three layers have been developped. We began with basic concepts, making sure we shared an understanding of mental health before trying to support anyone else’s. Day two turned inward, to ourselves: our own mental health, how it meets the lives of the young people we work with, and psychological first aid for supporting them in moments of crisis. The final day focused on competences related to mental health and on community practice at organisational level.

Several tools and methods stayed with me:

• A shared language. A common definition of mental health and the socio-ecological model of mental health and wellbeing gave every participant the same starting point.
• Meeting my 14-year-old self. This reflection exercise was among the most powerful. The young people in front of us carry the same uncertainty, hopes and fears we once did, and remembering that makes us empathetic, more patient and more present.
• The window of tolerance. We explored three states: hyperarousal, being present and hypoarousal. Each calls for different strategies to regain balance. Recognising which state I am in, or which state a young person is in, turns a confusing reaction into something we can respond to.
• Emotion coaching. Through role plays, we practised helping young people name and understand their emotions, and we drew our own charts to map our approach.
• Psychological first aid. We worked through a practical guide and its protocols. Good intentions need structure: knowing what to do, and when to refer onward, protects both the young person and the youth worker.
• Competences in context. We saw how our competences shift depending on the setting, and built our own pie chart to see where our strengths lie and where we can grow.
• Some of the richest moments happened in the Open Space, where participants shared methods such as talking cards and move-and-walk conversations. There I discovered Intervision, a peer-support method in which youth workers support one another within their team. Since we so often carry the emotional weight of others, it offers a way to share that load and avoid working alone.

I return home with three commitments: to introduce Intervision in our team, to use the window of tolerance as a shared language for young people and for ourselves, and to keep the psychological first aid protocols close at hand.

I also bring back a network of colleagues across Europe, and a simple reminder: sometimes the best way to support others begins with a walk in nature and a willingness to listen.

To conclude, this training reminded me that supporting young people’s mental health begins with looking after our own. Knowing the concepts, understanding ourselves and having clear tools for crisis are pieces of the same puzzle. Youth work can promote and support mental health.

Anca David

That is why the Inclusive Horizons consortium decided to take on this challenge. We joined forces as partners from Romania, Poland, Greece, Belgium and Spain, each bringing its own expertise in youth work, education, and supporting people with sensory and physical impairments. Together we are building a toolkit that aims to become a one-stop shop: a single, trustworthy place where young people, youth workers and families can find the tools they need to overcome at least some of the challenges of everyday life.

Why we are doing this

Across Europe, young people with physical and sensory impairments, and especially those with visual impairments, often find that good assistive technology exists but is hard to find, hard to trust and hard to learn. Information is scattered. Some tools are expensive, others are poorly tested, and many are only available in one language. Youth workers and educators want to help, but they rarely have a reliable place to start.

We wanted to change that. Instead of guessing what young people need, we began by asking them. Partners in Poland, Spain, Belgium, Greece and Romania have been talking with young people and the people who support them, and the toolkit is built around what they told us.

Who it is for

First, young people with visual and other sensory or physical impairments, who should be able to learn, communicate and work on equal terms. Second, the youth workers and educators who support them and need practical, tested tools they can put to use straight away. Third, the families and organisations around them, who often carry much of this journey.

What it will be

The toolkit is a growing collection of digital tools and guidance, chosen carefully and explained clearly. It will include at least ten tools, including AI-powered applications, Braille-compatible resources, audio guides and video tutorials with subtitles and sign language. Where we can, we are prioritising free and open-source tools, because cost should never decide who gets to take part.

Why usability matters

A tool that is “accessible” on paper but frustrating in practice isn’t much use. So the toolkit itself has to be accessible: screen-reader friendly, available in large print and in Braille versions, and translated into our partners’ languages. We are testing it with the people it is meant for. Views International, which works with visually impaired young people, is testing and evaluating how well it works, and every partner is running co-design workshops with both young people and youth workers. If something doesn’t work for them, we change it.

How you can help

You don’t have to be an expert to support this work.

• Try it and tell us what you think. Honest feedback from real users is the most valuable thing we can receive.
• Suggest a tool. If there is an app, device or resource that has made a difference to you or to someone you support, we’d like to hear about it.
• Share it. Pass it on to a school, a youth group, a family or an employer who might benefit.
• Join a workshop if you are a young person, youth worker or educator in one of our partner countries.
• Follow our progress on our channels and help spread the word. [add links]

When will it be ready?

We are working towards a complete toolkit by early 2027. We will share updates and early versions along the way, because we want you to help shape it before it is finished.

Digital inclusion shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be at the heart of every service and product. Help us bring that change one step closer.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

I spent the morning with two different classes, talking about the European Solidarity Corps, the organisations involved in my project, and what I actually did during my time in Liège. I also introduced them to the city and showed two videos I helped create: one about a typical day of volunteering and another showing how we prepared my first “Dinner in the Dark”.

After the presentation, it was time for something more interactive. I organised a game where the students worked in pairs and took turns guiding each other around obstacles. The idea was to give them a small glimpse into some of the challenges people with visual impairments can face. I stayed close to make sure everyone was safe while they tried it out.

The students were very receptive throughout the morning. They asked questions, actively participated in the game, and showed a lot of curiosity and openness towards the topics we discussed. It was a nice opportunity to share my volunteering experience in Belgium with young people back home.

Silviu, former ESC volunteer at VIEWS

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Each programme addresses a different aspect of the transition from education to employment:

• For vocational educators: Creating more inclusive learning environments through accessible teaching methods, digital tools and approaches that prepare learners with disabilities for employment.
• For employers and recruitment professionals: Addressing unconscious bias, inclusive recruitment, workplace accessibility and reasonable accommodations, alongside practical ways to support employees and interns with disabilities.
• For learners and jobseekers with disabilities: Developing personal, social and digital skills, from job applications and interview preparation to employment rights, self-advocacy and greater autonomy.

Together, the programmes aim to address barriers at different stages of the same journey, recognising that inclusive employment depends not only on the preparation of jobseekers, but also on the opportunities and environments available to them.

The next milestone will bring the W.I.N. partnership to Liège on 23-24 November 2026, for its second in-person transnational meeting. With the training materials nearing completion, partners will focus on finalising the curricula and discussing how to reach educators, employers, learners and other stakeholders.

For VIEWS International, the meeting will be an opportunity to welcome project partners to Liège and contribute to the next steps in bringing these resources closer to the people who can benefit from them.

Some of the organisations already knew each other and had cooperated before; others were meeting for the first time. Having five days together gave us the time to get past the introductions and better understand what each organisation does, what it can bring to a partnership and what it would like to develop next.

Accessibility and inclusion were among the main focal points throughout the week. We exchanged experiences around making international youth activities accessible to everyone, while also looking more broadly at inclusion and meaningful participation in youth projects. For some participants, the week was also an opportunity to become more familiar with visual impairment and with different ways of communicating and cooperating with people with disabilities.

Environmental sustainability was another important part of the programme, looking at the choices involved in planning international youth activities and how environmental considerations can be integrated in practice.

Alongside these discussions, a large part of the PBA was dedicated to finding common interests and looking at where future cooperation could take shape. As the week progressed, we moved from exchanging experiences and getting to know each other’s activities to working on concrete project concepts.

In small groups, participants took initial ideas and developed them into possible future projects, defining their focus, objectives and activities and considering how they could be taken forward after the PBA. This also gave us the chance to move beyond talking about potential cooperation and actually start building something together.

By the end of the week, participants left Liège with new connections, a better understanding of the organisations they had met, and several project ideas that they can choose to develop further together. The PBA ended there, but hopefully some of the connections and ideas that started in Liège will continue beyond it.

My path across international youth initiatives began from a deeply personal place: first as a participant and beneficiary. It started with a teacher who trusted in the power of communication, showing me that as a young person, I could actively participate in my community, share my ideas, and bring my own initiatives to life.

When I joined VIEWS International as a European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteer I knew I wanted to turn my own experience into tangible opportunities for others. I wanted to take everything I had learned and everything I could learn to open doors for other young people who face additional barriers.

At VIEWS, inclusion isn’t just a concept; it’s a daily practice. Supporting both the Communications and Project Management offices, I learned about all the work behind managing Erasmus+ mobility projects, I supported turning complex policy frameworks into smooth, supportive journeys for participants. I created engaging visual content for our social media platforms, ensuring our messaging was clear, accessible, and welcoming.

But some of the most meaningful moments so far have happened on the ground. I have had the opportunity to realize local awareness activities and facilitate artistic workshops, using creative spaces to encourage self-expression, break down social barriers, and build genuine connections among participants. European mobility and civic participation should never feel like exclusive privileges for a few. They must be open, inclusive opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background or starting point.

My time at VIEWS International continues to remind me of why authentic, multi-faceted communication matters so much. It has given me the space to grow, sharpen my digital storytelling and project management skills, and learn alongside incredible peers who share the same values of equity and accessibility.

With a few more weeks of my project still ahead, I already carry many lessons of my experience in Liège with me. Opportunities only change lives when people know they exist. When we communicate with empathy, creativity, and clarity, we aren’t just sharing information, we are building communities of trust and empowering the next generation to shape our shared future!

Sofia

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

The project focused on inclusion, outdoor activities, environmental awareness and intercultural learning. Hiking, outdoor activities, team challenges and other experiences in nature created opportunities for participants to cooperate, communicate and simply spend time together outside their usual environments. The project was designed to bring together young people with and without sensory impairments, and this interaction became one of its most interesting aspects.

Participants were not only meeting people with and without disabilities, but also discovering different ways of communicating and interacting with people with different sensory impairments. In particular, there were many attempts to connect between visually impaired and hearing-impaired participants. Communication was not always straightforward, but this was precisely what made these interactions meaningful. People had to find their own ways of understanding one another, adapting and taking the initiative.

The diversity went even further. Although the participating organisations officially came from five countries, the group itself represented many more cultural backgrounds, including people with origins in Ecuador, India, Pakistan, Portugal, Afghanistan, Turkey and Morocco. With such a large and multicultural group, communication and organisation could easily have become complicated. Nevertheless, the group managed to create a positive atmosphere and make the exchange work well.

For some participants, the experience also meant stepping outside their comfort zone. One participant, who described himself as normally not being a very social person, said:

“the project was a real challenge for me. At the same time, I learned a lot about sensory impairments and about interacting with people whose experiences were different from my own”.

Another visually impaired participant particularly appreciated the rhythm of the activities: rather than feeling overwhelmed by a demanding programme:

“I felt that the exchange had something of a holiday atmosphere: being in nature, enjoying outdoor activities and having time to experience the surroundings”.

For those who have already participated in many international projects, the activities themselves may not necessarily be new. What remains interesting, however, is seeing how differently people from different backgrounds approach the same experience. Expectations, concerns, ways of communicating and even what participants consider satisfying can vary considerably from one country or culture to another.

That may be one of the most valuable things about an exchange like Step Into Action. It is not only about doing activities together. It is about discovering how differently people can experience the same situation, finding ways to connect despite those differences, and realising that inclusion is something we build together through everyday interactions.