On Thursday, 4 December, Sofia, our ESC Volunteer, attended the European Day for People with Disabilities (EDPD) 2025 in Brussels at the European Commission.

During the day, she participated at the two panels, enriched by personal testimonies, informative presentations, and engaging exchanges. From the opening greetings, it was clear that the space was intended for reflection and for taking responsibility – not only personally, but also institutionally – toward concrete action.

The first panel in the morning, Forging Ahead: The Next Chapter in Implementing the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021–2030, offered a deep immersion into discussions that strengthened the shared mission of building an inclusive future, not only on words but also on tangible actions, policies, laws, and strategies that can be realistically implemented.

The testimony of Nicole Sophia Marinos was particularly moving. She explained how “inclusion gave her a voice, exclusion the determination” emphasizing how the environment shapes both inclusion and exclusion. A supportive environment, she noted, places no limits on potential.

The morning session prompted reflection on key challenges: independent living, mobility, political participation, media representation of disability, discrimination, and employment. As Markus Schefer highlighted that to change a society that was designed to be uninclusive takes time, but the effort must continue.

During lunch and coffee breaks, Sofia had the opportunity to meet and speak with other representatives from European associations and organizations, sharing insights and exchanging ideas. She observed how the common mission connects people not only in intentions, places, and events, but also through concrete actions and initiatives.

In the afternoon, Panel 2, Funding the Union of Equality: Towards a Disability-Inclusive EU Budget, opened with the empowering testimony of Patrick Luypaert about his successful experience as an inclusive employee. He shared that in his workplace, he is no longer seen as “a person with a disability who works on computers, but just a person working on computers”.

Following the panel, the Q&A and discussion provided another valuable opportunity to deepen understanding of both personal and national challenges, as well as the shared commitment to negotiate, act, and promote inclusive practices. The session highlighted how collective efforts can help shape a more inclusive Europe.

For Sofia, attending her first European event was highly motivating. She returned with a stronger commitment to listening, understanding, and contributing to meaningful change.

By Sofia Mangiaterra

From 23 to 25 November, a team of representatives from Views International aisbl and Loryhan asbl (Belgium), united under the VIEWS INTERNATIONAL flag, attended theProfessional Development for Youth Workers: Digital Leaders for a Sustainable Planet initiative in Paphos (Cyprus). Accredited by the Erasmus+ Programme, the Project (No: 2025-1-CY01-KA151-YOU-000302997) was hosted by the Cross Culture International Foundation Cyprus(CCIF Cyprus).

It was a dynamic professional development program designed to empower youth workers with digital skills and environmental advocacy tools. By combining technology, sustainability, and international cooperation, the initiative equipped 20 youth workers from Italy, Cyprus, Romania, Belgium, and Croatia to inspire and guide young people in their communities toward a greener, more sustainable future.

This mobility brought together diverse perspectives and fostered meaningful collaboration among youth workers across Europe.

Sustainability was at the heart of the project. The initiative provided participants with the digital tools and skills needed to address environmental challenges, enabling them to design and lead impactful campaigns that promote environmental awareness and action among youth. Participants also gained hands-on experience in integrating digital innovation into sustainable practices.

Throughout the program, we strengthened our ability to use digital tools and platforms to develop effective environmental campaigns.

Workshops focused on:

• Digital literacy and online communication
• Visual storytelling and campaign design
• Innovative approaches to environmental education
• Tools for collaboration, evaluation, and impact measurement

By the end of the program, we had developed a solid understanding of digital tools, enhanced our environmental advocacy skills, and expanded our network of international peers.

The youth mobility also included a hands-on activity in collaboration with the Municipality of Paphos, during which participants planted trees along the coastline at Antasia – Sodap Beach, reinforcing the project’s strong sustainability focus.

The Digital Leaders for a Sustainable Planet initiative successfully empowered youth workers to become confident, digitally skilled advocates for sustainability. Through practical training, international collaboration, and creative campaign development, participants left the program equipped to make a tangible impact in their communities—encouraging young people to take action for a more sustainable future.

We are confident that the skills we gained will inspire innovative projects and new partnerships in 2026!

By Anca DAVID and Abraham DIATTA

In this context, an educational tool referred to any approach, activity, or method that meaningfully engaged learners—whether through simulations, role-plays, creative workshops, outdoor learning activities, or other participatory techniques.

The ITF provided an open space to exchange, refine, and reimagine these tools with a strong focus on practical transferability.

With sport as a driver for inclusion, wellbeing, empowerment, and community cohesion, the 2025 edition of the Tool Fair highlighted sport as a powerful pedagogical and social tool. Participants examined how both formal and informal sport practices can promote equity, resilience, safe learning environments, and meaningful social transformation.

The structure of the event connected participants in an organic way in a multitude of activities like:

• Tools Workshops – hands-on sessions where selected participants facilitated their own learning activities;
• Tools to Explore – thematic deep dives dedicated to developing or improving specific approaches;
• Tool Coaching – supported presenters before, during, and after their sessions;
• Tools Market – an open and dynamic space showcased a wide range of tools, publications, digital resources, methodologies, and initiatives;
• TF Talks – inspirational presentations inviting reflection, and challenged participants to think differently about education, sport, and social impact.
• Hot Spot of EU Youth Programmes – guidance and insights from National Agencies (NAs) and SALTO Resource Centres into opportunities within the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes.

During the “Tool to explore” we examined how sport can foster inclusion, break down social barriers, and strengthen communities. Through practical strategies and hands-on tools, the sessions highlighted the power of physical activity to promote diversity and equity, use sport as a platform for connection, and create meaningful relationships beyond the basketball playing field. These moments offered not just learning, but trasformative experience-showing how sport can catalyse social change in our local context.

Among the TF Talks, the testimony of Lama HATTAB from Lebanon was particularly powerful: “Twenty-five years ago, I ran 240 kilometers across the Sahara Desert with my twin sister, carrying a message of peace. I didn’t know then that this journey would shape the rest of my life — leading me to discover how sport can heal, connect, and transform. In this talk, I share what I’ve learned along the way — from breaking stereotypes as a woman athlete to witnessing the power of sport through the lives of young people at Generations For Peace. It’s a story about endurance, learning, and how every step can become a step toward peace. » 

The XIX International Tool Fair created an energising, multicultural, and collaborative environment where sport became more than a game—it became a tool for learning, transformation, and social impact. Held in Marrakech, a city known for its hospitality and cultural richness, the event left everyone inspired, connected, and equipped with innovative tools to bring meaningful change to our communities.

Account by Anca David

Hello again! Long-time readers may remember me from my volunteer days at VIEWS International. I’m back to share a new adventure. I attended the International Computers and Communication Camp (ICC) 2025 for the very first time. What made it even more special was that I wasn’t there as a participant, but already as an instructor to share and inspire with my experiences. I went in curious and a little skeptical, and came back convinced of its value.

So to start, what exactly is ICC? It’s a summer camp for blind and visually impaired young people between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one, and it offers a 9-day period packed with learning, exchange, and fun. Participants can attend workshops that cover a wide range of topics such as technology and programming, daily living skills like cooking, educational and career-related issues such as studying abroad or finding a profession, and even disability or just personal advocacy.

A Truly International Experience

Every year it takes place in a different country, and this year’s edition was in Aveiro, Portugal. I guess at this point, I don’t even need to mention that I tried pasteis de nata and other delicious pastries that Portugal offers extensively.

But ICC is not just about the workshops, or learning, or pastries in my case. It is also a truly international meeting point. Young people come from across Europe and sometimes from much further away, this year, for example, even as far as from Japan. That means it is as much a cultural exchange as it is a learning camp, also with good practices in accessibility and disability rights being shared across borders.

And of course, there was plenty of time for fun too. The evenings were filled with activities like dancing classes, painting sessions, treasure hunts, and even making local sweets. Learning and growth were at the center of the program, but joy and friendship took the front seat just as much.

Discovering ICC

As for my own role, I represented the European Blind Union and co-led a workshop on studying abroad together with Paraskevi, another travel and study-abroad enthusiast. We shared our personal experiences of studying abroad, talked about how to plan a semester or two in a different country, and gave practical tips on everything from mobility and accommodation to funding and accessibility.

Later, I also joined Paraskevi’s workshop on languages and language-related professions, where I introduced participants to computational linguistics, human machine interaction, and artificial intelligence. The curiosity in the room was palpable, and the conversations were so passionate that we barely stopped it from spilling beyond the official workshop time. Beyond my purpose to be there, I loved meeting people from so many different places, exchanging stories, and getting a sense of the vibrant community that ICC aims to foster.

Reflections and Takeaways

At first, I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure whether such a concentrated week of workshops could really make a difference in the long run. But seeing the participants engage, hearing their thoughtful questions, and watching their confidence grow day by day quickly changed my mind. It seems like ICC creates an environment where young people don’t just absorb knowledge, they also meet role models, discover concrete opportunities, and realize that paths which once seemed distant or impossible or unimaginable are actually possible.

The social side of the camp only strengthens this effect. Friendships formed at mealtimes or during evening activities often become just as valuable as the lessons learned in the workshops.

Looking back, I can say that ICC 2025 was a unique experience. For me, it was both rewarding and inspiring to contribute as an instructor, and for the participants it was clearly a chance to grow in ways that will continue to matter long after the camp ends. If you’re blind or visually impaired, between sixteen and twenty-one, and curious about technology, independence, study or career opportunities, or simply the chance to connect with peers from all over the world, I can definitely recommend applying to ICC next year. It’s a week that can open doors, expand horizons, and leave you with friendships and memories you’ll carry for a long time.

Spanning two days, the conference featured workshops and discussions. The first day concentrated on how youth volunteering can shape Europe’s future, primarily through ESC schemes.

Day 1: Workshops and Thematic Discussions

The first part of the day addressed:

• Updates on the final evaluation of the European Solidarity Corps (2018–2020) and the interim evaluation of the 2021–2027 programme. Preliminary findings show the ESC is exceeding expectations, with 1 in 10 young people expressing interest. However, challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have significantly impacted the programme. The final mid-term evaluation results are expected in March.
• Research findings on national volunteering schemes in France, particularly the Civic Service and the ESC.

The second part of the day focused on networking and thematic discussions, covering:

• Promoting social cohesion and European values through civic engagement
• Citizens at the heart of the European Project
• Green, Greener, Greenest: A critical look at the data on green volunteering
• Promoting sustainability through volunteering
• Young people bloom up in solidarity
• Tools for inclusive volunteering

Through group discussions, participants recognized common challenges in engaging young people in long-term volunteering, despite working in different contexts. Visa-related obstacles remain a major hurdle in implementing ESC projects effectively across the EU.

Day 2: Policy Discussions and Future Perspectives

The second day centered on fostering connections between organizations and decision-makers to discuss the future of youth volunteering from a policy perspective. Key panel discussions included:

• “EU Youth Volunteering: Bringing Europe Closer to Its Citizens”
  This panel reaffirmed that in the upcoming EU programme cycle, ESC will not be merged with other initiatives. Instead, its visibility and impact will be enhanced.
• “Youth Volunteering and a Greener Europe”
  Discussions highlighted the importance of shared leadership and ownership in addressing EU Youth Goal #10 (Sustainable Green Europe) and SDG #13 (Climate Action).
• “EU Volunteering as a Driver of Youth Empowerment, Solidarity & Inclusion”
  This panel addressed the disparity between the high number of young people registered on the European Youth Portal and their lower actual engagement in ESC volunteering. The role of Sending Organizations, as well as the definitions of solidarity and inclusion, were also debated.

Conclusion

Hosted by the SALTO European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre and Agence Erasmus+ France Jeunesse & Sport, the conference underscored the European Solidarity Corps’ impact as a value-driven initiative rooted in solidarity.

Held approximately every 18 months, this event strengthens ESC programme approaches. The ESC remains a life-changing opportunity for young people while fostering significant local community impact and reinforcing EU values such as democracy, solidarity, and mutual understanding.

Through discussions, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration, we contributed to strengthen the European Solidarity Corps—empowering young volunteers to tackle societal challenges and contribute to a more united and promising future.

The event gathered professionals and volunteers from organisations that work with youth with visual impairments, offering a space to share and learn from each other’s experiences, to build partnerships with entities working in the same field and to develop projects related to social inclusion, tailored for young visually impaired people.

During the seminar, we connected with the various organisations and familiarised ourselves with the ways of work in the different national contexts. The activities encouraged us to share our experience and best practices, and to find joint solutions to the common challenges related to adapted international mobility projects, such as the fear of the unknown and adaptation to new places holding participants back, or new forms of engagement to make our programmes more attractive and stimulating for our beneficiaries.

The event was also an opportunity to learn more about the functioning of the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes, the different kinds of mobility projects that can be organised within them and the ways to make international mobility programmes inclusive and participatory for young people with visual impairments.

Finally, we dedicated the last days of the seminar to establishing strong partnerships with the participating organisations, to sharing our plans and expectations for our future work, and to coming up with exciting new ideas for joint projects to develop over the course of the next few years!

This exciting opportunity was completed by the breathtaking setting of the medieval city of Pontevedra, where we could enjoy some sun, try some incredible foods and dive into the enchanting Galician culture.

• During their permanence in Romania, they visited:
• The Pamfil Seicaru Technological High School in Cionogarla, Ilfov, with a volunteering centre and a student campus that can host up to 15 volunteers;
• The Foundation for the Youth in Bucharest (FTMB), partnering with over 60 between member organisations and youth clubs to support young people in achieving their goals and development;
• The Cezar Nicolau Technological High School in Branesti, Ilfov, with a volunteer centre and student campus which can host between 60-80 young people in the framework of the Youth Exchange projects promoted by the high school in partnership with the SAKURA Youth Association.

Additionally, our delegation visited a training and seminar location in the mountains, in Paraul Rece, took a quick viist to the castles nearby and a had a stroll in Bucharest’s old town. The team is also happy to report that they had a lot of Romanian food!

In September our volunteer, Anna Czaman, was in Budapest to attend the Strategic Partnership for Inclusion (SPI) Harvesting Conference 2023, an event that gathered experienced and future Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps volunteers, as well as youth workers from organisations interested in implementing inclusive practices in their European mobility programmes. In her blog, Anna shares her experience at the conference, whose focus was to assess the impact of these practices and collect ideas from volunteers and experts working on inclusion and diversity in the EU Youth Programmes.

From 19 to 22 September 2023, Budapest, Hungary buzzed with the
Harvesting Conference, a melting pot of ideas, connections, and good vibes.
The first evening was all about breaking the ice. It was clear right away that the
group was all about inclusion and embracing new perspectives.

The next day, participants had the chance to chat with representatives from various
organizations in smaller groups, firing off questions about their practices.
Day two was a dose of personal inspiration. The panel session kicked things off,
with individuals sharing their passions and all the things they love and believe in,
such as sustainability, inclusion, and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC)
program. Then, it was back to small groups for more intimate discussions, from
gender equality, solidarity projects, inclusion and diversity to language animation,
and everything in between.

Beyond the talks, this event was the place to be for making connections and
building friendships that’ll last.
The European Youth Center in Budapest was the perfect backdrop. It catered to
everyone’s accommodation needs, making sure everyone felt right at home. The
organizers were like your supportive sidekicks, always there when you needed a
hand.

Looking back, Harvesting Conference 2023 proved that when you bring passionate
minds together, the possibilities are endless. It painted a picture of an inclusive,
bright future where ideas flow freely.

“This was the first time I came to learn about this conference, which is the result of the strategic cooperation between national agencies and the SALTO Resource Centres on volunteering (SNAC volunteering). The conference’s activities are geared towards reinforcing the European Solidarity Corps programme by contributing to analyses and researches that are being conducted across Europe.

We were impressed with the number of participants – over a hundred! – but also with the constant exchange between organisations, former volunteers, representatives of national agencies and researchers from EU institutions and SALTO resource centres, that led to many interesting perspectives and examples of best practices on how the ESC programme could evolve in the future years.

At the conference, we had the opportunity to share experiences and opinions on the programme, that would in turn help identify concrete measures for the improvement of the conditions of ESC volunteering programme and reinforce the implementation of recommendation of the European Council on the mobility of young volunteers in Europe.

Having so many participants from organisations hosting and sending ESC volunteers from and to South-Eastern European countries (Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, etc.) made the event even more interesting, as we learned more about the realities of ESC partner countries and the support and solidarity required from the EU and the other participant countries: not only do they need a programme country to apply for subsidies, but also for long-term volunteering projects and more support for the administrative procedures to apply for EU visas.”

We also assisted to the presentation of the first results of the researches conducted on the European Solidarity Corps programme, and particularly on its impact on youth, and to updates on the implementation of the programme in the partner countries from the EU Neighbourhood. The numerous workshops were also useful to collect the responses and commentary of participants taking part to the programme, to work on the recommendations of the Council of Europe on the mobility of young people across the EU and to meet various actors involved in the political activities behind the implementation of our recommendations. The event also offered us a great opportunity of celebration, as it was organised on the 5^th anniversary of the first call for application launched within the European Solidarity Corps programme.”