I am visually impaired and almost blind, and the two IRHOV schools support children and young people with visual impairments from the age of three to 19. I chose this project because I wanted to spend some time in another European country and be involved with children and young people.

Before starting my placement, I spent the first two weeks receiving individual support to become more independent in my new environment. Different people helped me with mobility, shopping and everyday life in Liège. After those two weeks, I officially started my volunteering experience at the two schools.

At the beginning, I got to know the students, the teachers and the school environment. Step by step, I started supporting students both individually and in groups. From early on, I was encouraged to develop my own ideas and activities, which I really appreciated.

I enjoyed the warm and open atmosphere, which allowed me to create my own ideas and methods. Getting to know the students little by little and being part of their daily school life was a very positive experience.

One of the activities I organised was introducing the younger pupils to the piano and sharing my own approach to the instrument. On another occasion, we listened together to “Pierre et le Loup”. Later in the project, I also organised piano activities with older students.

I also supported students individually at both schools, for example by helping them use the computer or by practising French together. I especially enjoyed spending time with students from different countries who were learning French and supporting them throughout that process.

During my volunteering experience, I learned about the way teachers and students interact and learn together. I also learned a lot about myself and about how I communicate and teach. Teaching in French was a challenge, but it was one that I really enjoyed.

Throughout the project, I felt welcome both in Liège and at IRHOV because of the openness and support I received.

Greetings, my name is Silviu, I am from Bucharest, Romania, and for 8 months I was an ESC volunteer in Liege, Belgium, with VIEWS International.

Coming into this project was a big challenge for me. At one point I was doubting whether I should go away from Romania for this many months, if it’s the right choice for me or if I will manage. I chose to trust my intuition and the process, which indeed was proven to be the right path.

The beginning wasn’t too easy since Wallonia isn’t known for fluency in English, so I had to follow French classes and learn the local language, which was the biggest challenge for me, but also the process that gave me the biggest satisfaction when I started seeing results and was able to talk with everybody. And it was indeed such a helping tool in my day-to-day activities at the youth center at La Baraka, at the office at Views or at Coordination Sainte-Marguerite, where there was a lot of French being spoken.

In terms of activities specifically, I was never a quote to quote ,,Office person”, but with the team at Views office we found some tasks that sparked my interest, for example opening a new Instagram profile for the organisation and making videos on the activities we had during my stay.  Also, it’s worth mentioning that I was part of the organising team for 2 Dinners in the Dark, awareness-raising nights in the dark which were very tiring but equally very fun to set-up and coordinate in team.

At La Baraka, I can say I was right in my element. A lot of games to play with the youngsters, cooking workshops, events such as the “Fete de la Musique”, a music festival in Parc Sainte-Agathe in Liège, and so on. Lots of things to get my hands on and start doing with the staff and volunteers, which really helped me in the more stressful periods.

At Coordination Sainte-Marguerite, I got to help a bit with the administration, but the fun part was to go to the local school of French as a Foreign Language for newcomers and do activities with the groups of youngsters and adults, in order to help them learn French in an engaging way. We did everything from guessing games, to acting to even playing “Mafia”.  While it wasn’t easy to come up with a new activity every single week, I took the challenge and had fun with it.

8 months fly by just like that when you get a tight schedule, especially when you also do things after activity hours such as going to the gym, going to a bar or a party in the city, or simply hanging out with your mates.

I’d lie if I said that everything was perfect and I didn’t face not-so-good periods as well. There can always be things happening to us that are not in our power to prevent, combined with moments of doubt. Not being able to communicate unless I was speaking in French made me indeed question if I was even supposed to be there. I had moments where I was frustrated my activity wasn’t as good as I thought it would be, or when I couldn’t explain myself, or other instances where I felt lonely and stuck. And let me tell you right now that all that is perfectly normal and its part of the process. With time, things got better, and day by day I was building more confidence in my abilities.

Also, very important to mention, I learned a lot about living alone through this experience. From money managing to fixing things around the house or making a routine in cleaning clothes and the house, this is something that I am super proud of. Being this independent was super fun and inspiring, and now I look forward to move out and live by myself as soon as I can.

Overall, these 8 months have seen ups and downs, but the ups definitely compensated the downs, so if I had a piece of advice for future volunteers it would be to be patient with yourself and to trust your intuition.

All the thanks to the Views team, and everybody that was involved in my experience!

Silviu

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.

Between 14–20 July 2026, I had the opportunity to participate in the Erasmus+ Youth Seminar titled “Beyond that Project: Measuring Impact and Shaping the Future of Erasmus+ Youth”, held in Băile Govora, Romania.

Every Erasmus+ project adds something valuable to your life, but some projects make you think from the very first day, “I definitely have to write about this when I get home.” This seminar was exactly one of those experiences for me. During the week, I not only learned a great deal but also collected unforgettable memories. From unexpected travel adventures and acts of kindness to inspiring learning sessions and delivering my own workshop, it was truly a week full of meaningful experiences.

The seminar brought together representatives of accredited Erasmus+ youth organisations from across Europe. Its main objective was to explore how we can better measure the real impact of completed Erasmus+ projects and generate ideas for designing stronger projects in the next programme period. The seminar took place in Băile Govora, a peaceful spa town in Romania’s Vâlcea County. Surrounded by greenery and known for its calm atmosphere, it was the perfect setting for reflection and learning.

A Journey That Started with a Few Adventures

My journey began on Monday evening at 9:30 p.m. Although everything had been carefully planned, travel sometimes has plans of its own.

The first surprise happened in Osmaniye, where I missed the Havaş airport shuttle and had to travel to Adana as quickly as possible. Fortunately, I managed to catch another shuttle there and arrived at the airport on time. At 4:15 a.m., I boarded my flight to Istanbul, followed by my 10:45 a.m. flight to Bucharest. After passport control and collecting my luggage, I finally left the airport around 1:00 p.m.

My goal was to catch the 4:30 p.m. transfer to Băile Govora.

This is where I experienced something that deserves to be mentioned.

The police officers at the airport were incredibly helpful. They found the phone number of my transfer company, confirmed where the shuttle would depart, and even drove me to the transfer point in their own vehicle. They certainly didn’t have to do that, but they did. Receiving such kindness during the very first hours of my trip made me genuinely happy.

There was one more pleasant surprise. I had booked the 4:30 p.m. transfer just to be safe, which meant waiting for almost three hours. While I was wondering how to spend that time, the transfer driver noticed me and said, “If you’d like, you can take the 2:30 p.m. shuttle instead.” Thanks to him, I avoided a long wait and reached my destination much earlier.

After approximately three hours on the road, we finally arrived at our hotel.

The organisers’ commitment to accessibility became clear from the very first moment.

Since they knew I am visually impaired, they had reserved a single room for me right next to the reception and dining hall. This made it easy for me to reach the shared areas independently without disturbing anyone.

Their support went even further. Every morning, all presentations and training materials for that day were sent to me in Microsoft Word format. This allowed me to review the content in advance using my screen reader and participate in every session alongside everyone else. These may seem like small details, but accessibility is built on exactly these kinds of thoughtful arrangements. They allow you to participate naturally without constantly having to ask for assistance.

After dinner, we held our introductory activity. I only realised how exhausted I was the following morning when I woke up and noticed that I had forgotten to switch off the lights before going to bed.

Day One

After breakfast, we gathered in the training room for our first session.

Our opening activity was a short interview with the person sitting next to us. We asked about their name, organisation, the story behind their name if there was one, and an interesting event they had experienced during the previous month. Afterwards, we introduced one another to the whole group.

When I was asked about an interesting experience from the last month, my mind immediately went back to something that had happened in Bulgaria.

I needed a taxi, but Uber was unavailable. I asked a homeless man nearby for help, and we started walking together. He asked me where I was from.

“Turkey,” I replied.

Without any warning, he suddenly started singing a Turkish arabesque song at the top of his voice. If someone had told me beforehand that I would experience something like this in the middle of Bulgaria, I probably would not have believed them. It is still one of those memories that makes me smile whenever I think about it.

After the introductions, we discussed our expectations, concerns, and the contributions we hoped to make during the seminar. Together, we also established the ground rules that would guide us throughout the week.

I suggested adding one simple accessibility rule:

“When speaking to me, please say my name first. Instead of giving directions from a distance, come over and ask whether I need assistance. If I do, I can take your arm and we can walk together.”

Everyone appreciated this suggestion, and throughout the seminar they consistently followed it.

In the afternoon, we worked on identifying changes we would like to see at a university and developed strategies for making those changes happen. We concluded the day with a reflection session.

Day Two

We started the morning with a fun game. We listened to seven different songs and tried to guess which ones were performed by Romanian artists. Our team won the challenge, which was a great way to begin the day.

Later, we worked on the question:

“How would we explain to a local resident why it is important for us to be here?”

Each group prepared three key messages and shared them with everyone.

The most educational session of the day focused on the concepts of Output, Outcome, and Impact. At first, these concepts seemed quite similar, but through practical exercises we gradually realised how different they actually are. We classified examples and then analysed our own examples to determine whether they represented outputs, outcomes, or long-term impacts.

In the afternoon, we moved our work outdoors into the park. Each group received a different scenario and was challenged to develop evidence collection methods other than surveys and interviews. Afterwards, we presented our ideas to the other groups.

The day ended with the Czech and Slovak Cultural Night.

Day Three

The morning began with another interactive activity. Our trainer read a short story while assigning us to one of three groups: Police, Thief, or Witness. Whenever our group’s name appeared in the story, we had to stand up.

Later, we formed new teams to explore three different Erasmus+ project types. My group worked on KA154 – Youth Participation Activities, researching this action and presenting its objectives and opportunities to the rest of the participants.

We then analysed sample Erasmus+ projects to distinguish genuine impact from simple project outputs.

In the afternoon, we explored different methods of collecting evidence. My group focused on the Youthpass process, demonstrating how learning outcomes from a sample project could be documented through Youthpass.

Day Four – A Very Special Day for Me

Saturday morning was particularly meaningful because, for the first time during the seminar, I became one of the trainers.

I delivered the disability awareness workshop that I had prepared for the participants. I introduced both the medical model and the social model of disability, answered the most frequently asked questions about visual impairment, and discussed many common misconceptions people encounter in everyday life.

The workshop attracted much more interest than I had expected. Even after the presentation officially ended, participants continued asking questions for quite a long time. Most of them were especially curious about my daily experiences as a visually impaired person, and our discussion lasted much longer than originally planned.

In the afternoon, our trainer facilitated a session on creating inclusive learning environments before we headed into the town centre.

One of the most memorable moments of the entire week happened there.

As we walked through the streets, my friends naturally began commenting on the environment:

“This place is accessible.”

“A ramp is missing here.”

“This pavement could be dangerous.”

Seeing that the ideas I had shared during my morning workshop had already begun changing the way people observed their surroundings made me incredibly happy.

Final Day

On Sunday, we reflected on everything we had learned throughout the seminar and discussed how we could apply these ideas within our own organisations and local communities.

The seminar officially concluded with thank-you speeches and a group photo.

In the evening, we celebrated the Spanish Cultural Night, enjoyed a Kahoot quiz together, and watched the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final. Spending our last evening in such a relaxed atmosphere made saying goodbye a little easier after sharing an entire week together.

Two things stayed with me most from this seminar.

The first was that, although the seminar was not specifically focused on inclusion, everyone’s needs had been considered naturally throughout the organisation. Nobody ever felt excluded.

The second was that accessibility was not treated as an additional service but as an integral part of the event itself. From the very first day, I had a room conveniently located next to the reception and dining hall. Every morning, all presentations and training materials were sent to me in Word format, allowing me to review them using my screen reader before each session. I could follow every activity on equal terms with everyone else. Nobody ever had to wonder, “How will you manage this?” because the necessary arrangements had already been made in advance.

To me, that is exactly what accessibility means: creating an environment where everyone can participate equally without being made to feel different.

When I boarded my flight back to Turkey on Monday evening at 9:40 p.m., my suitcase contained much more than clothes and souvenirs. I was carrying home new friendships, unforgettable memories, and countless ideas that will inspire my future Erasmus+ projects.

Perhaps that is what I love most about Erasmus+.

Certificates eventually end up stored in a folder, but the stories you live remain with you for years. This seminar has certainly earned its place among the Erasmus+ experiences I will never forget.

Any plans for this summer?

From 17 to 26 August 2026, VIEWS International is looking for four young people living in Belgium to join VIPSport without Barriers, an inclusive youth exchange taking place in Botassart, in the Belgian Ardennes. The activity is funded by the Erasmus+ programme.

Over ten days, you will discover adapted sports, spend time outdoors, meet young people from Belgium, Finland, France, Romania, Slovenia and Türkiye, and experience how sport can bring people together. Whether you have already tried adapted sports or are simply curious to learn something new, this exchange is a chance to stay active, make new connections and share experiences in an inclusive environment.

Who can apply?

We are looking for:

• two young people with visual impairments;
• two sighted young people;
• aged between 18 and 30;
• living in Belgium;
• able to communicate in English.

What can you expect?

During the exchange, you will:

• discover inclusive and adapted sports;
• enjoy outdoor activities in the Belgian Ardennes;
• meet participants from six European countries;
• take part in team challenges and intercultural activities;
• learn more about accessibility, inclusion and teamwork.

Accommodation, meals and activities are provided throughout the exchange, and travel costs are reimbursed according to Erasmus+ rules.

Interested? To apply and for any questions contact us at office@viewsinternational.eu!

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Des projets pour cet été ?

Du 17 au 26 août 2026, VIEWS International recherche quatre jeunes vivant en Belgique pour participer à VIPSport without Barriers, un échange de jeunes inclusif qui se déroulera à Botassart, dans les Ardennes belges. Cette activité est financée par le programme Erasmus+.

Pendant dix jours, tu découvriras des sports adaptés, profiteras d’activités en plein air, rencontreras des jeunes venus de Belgique, de Finlande, de France, de Roumanie, de Slovénie et de Turquie, et découvriras comment le sport peut rassembler les personnes. Que tu aies déjà pratiqué des sports adaptés ou que tu sois simplement curieux·se d’essayer quelque chose de nouveau, cet échange est l’occasion de rester actif·ve, de faire de nouvelles rencontres et de partager une expérience dans un environnement inclusif.

Qui peut participer ?

Nous recherchons :

• deux jeunes ayant une déficience visuelle ;
• deux jeunes voyants ;
• âgés de 18 à 30 ans ;
• vivant en Belgique ;
• capables de communiquer en anglais.

À quoi peux-tu t’attendre ?

Pendant l’échange, tu pourras :

• découvrir des sports inclusifs et adaptés ;
• profiter d’activités en plein air dans les Ardennes belges ;
• rencontrer des participant·e·s de six pays européens ;
• participer à des défis en équipe et à des activités interculturelles ;
• en apprendre davantage sur l’accessibilité, l’inclusion et le travail d’équipe.

L’hébergement, les repas et les activités sont pris en charge pendant toute la durée de l’échange, et les frais de voyage sont remboursés conformément aux règles du programme Erasmus+.

Ça te tente ? Pour postuler ou si tu as des questions, écris-nous à office@viewsinternational.eu.

Organised by Babilon Travel NGO, the exchange will bring together young people from Belgium, Romania, Serbia, Hungary and Germany for a week of outdoor activities, intercultural learning and discussions on environmental sustainability and social inclusion. The exchange is designed to be fully accessible and welcomes young people with and without sensory impairments.

What will you do?

Throughout the week, participants will:

• take part in outdoor activities, including hiking and kayaking;
• explore environmental sustainability through non-formal learning activities;
• discuss social inclusion and accessibility with young people from across Europe;
• develop communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills;
• experience intercultural learning in an inclusive international group.

Who can apply?

We are looking for 6 young people who:

• are 18–30 years old;
• are Belgian citizens or legal residents;
• can communicate in English;
• are interested in inclusion, environmental sustainability and meeting young people from different cultures.

No previous Erasmus+ experience is required.

Practical Information

Dates: 27–31 July 2026 (excluding travel days)

Location: Botassart, Belgium

Participation costs: Accommodation, meals and travel costs are co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme.

Apply

If you would like to take part in Step Into Action, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at office@viewsinternational.eu

My On-Arrival Training took place from the 1th to the 5th of June in a small village next to Halle, in Flanders. We were around 20 ESC Volunteers from several countries like France, Türkye, Spain, Italy, Palestine, Germany.

I have really enjoyed the seminar as I got to meet many new people from different backgrounds. The environment was very open and friendly, we participated in a lot of activities to get to know each other, but it felt really natural to just talk, and ask questions. We talked about our projects, our personal lives, our own experience here in Belgium and the ESC programme, but also about the history of Belgium, which was very interesting to me.

We often worked in smaller groups or in pairs and presented our thoughts to each other, but we also spent a lot of time all together, sitting and sharing our ideas in a big circle. I really enjoyed the open, respectful atmosphere we created together.

We also had the chance to travel together to work on a group project. My group and I went to Brussels and we really had a good time together.

I think that this Seminar was really an important part of my ESC project here in Belgium, because I had the chance to meet a lot of cool personalities and get new perspectives on me and on my time here.

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.

Hello everyone! I’m Caroline, currently in the Netherlands since nearly 8 months. So much has happened since the first months. It’s hard to sum up my experience in just a few words and photos, but I’ll give it a go!

Since January, two new people have moved in and share our house with my roommate July. Together, we work hard on the farm, whether during the cold, snowy winter months, the lovely spring months, or the last few stormy, hot months. We’ve seen the landscape change far more than we’d ever noticed before. Working mainly outdoors and moving mostly by bike is a completely new experience for me. I’m grateful to be living in such beautiful countryside.

At work, I now feel closer to everyone: staff, volunteers and participants (people with mental disabilities). I learnt a lot from each of them and so much about myself too. Being faced with new people and new situations in a new country is teaching me a lot.

The work hasn’t changed much, but I now feel more confident about taking initiatives, asking more questions, training new people, and so on. In the vegetable garden, the tasks vary depending on the vegetables in season, but we always have to plant, weed, and harvest. At the dairy, it’s very regular, I go there on Wednersday to prepare the quark (kind of fromage blanc). In the stable, I milk the cows on Tuesday mornings (at 6:30 AM!), then I take them out to pasture and clean cowshed.

Finally, I do lots of activities with my roommates. We’ve been to Dutch special events and concerts, visited several towns, gone swimming in a nearby lake and had picnics. At home, we sometimes cook dinner together, watch movies and just chat and laugh a lot. I’ve made some wonderful friends, and it’ll be hard to say goodbye to them when this project comes to an end. But I’ll tell you how I’m feeling back to Belgium next time! I hope my adventure inspires you to try that kind of experience yourself. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to know more.

Bye bye!

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.

As part of the ALTFuture project in Romania, we organised an activity with the young people of La Baraka. Around fifteen participants joined us for a morning filled with reflection, discussion, and shared experiences.

We began with the activity “The Rainbow of Values”. The young people were invited to reflect on the values that matter most to them and represent them through a drawing. The longer the line, the more important the value; the thicker the line, the more energy it requires in their daily lives. Using paper and coloured markers, each participant created their own rainbow of values. They were then asked to imagine and draw how their values might look in ten years’ time.

We then continued with an activity based on the concept of Ikigai. Often translated as “reason for being” or “purpose in life”, Ikigai is a Japanese philosophy that encourages reflection on what gives meaning to our lives. Through a series of questions and circles to complete, the young people explored their passions, motivations and the elements they consider essential to their personal fulfilment.

The morning was both enriching and inspiring, offering many opportunities for discussion, self-reflection and discovery. We shared a convivial moment in a warm, respectful and supportive atmosphere.

A big thank you to all the participants for their enthusiasm, openness and active involvement throughout the workshop!

How accessible are digital learning tools and employment opportunities for young people with visual or hearing impairments in Belgium? What barriers still exist, and what does reasonable accommodation and meaningful support truly look like?

These are some of the questions behind Inclusive Horizons (InHo), a European Erasmus+ project bringing together partners from Belgium, Greece, Poland, Spain, and Romania to promote more inclusive and accessible pathways in education and employment.

As part of the Belgian research phase coordinated by VIEWS International, we are currently inviting young people aged 15 to 30 with visual or hearing impairments to participate in a short anonymous questionnaire.

The survey explores experiences related to digital learning, accessibility, employability, and inclusion, with the aim of identifying both existing barriers and practical solutions.

The results will contribute to research reports and help shape future accessibility tools and resources developed within the project.

The questionnaire takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and participation is entirely voluntary and anonymous.

Deadline: 20 June

English version

Version française

If you know someone who may be interested, we warmly encourage you to share this opportunity!

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FR

Contribuez à améliorer l’accessibilité et l’inclusion des jeunes en situation de handicap sensoriel

Dans quelle mesure les outils numériques d’apprentissage et les opportunités professionnelles sont-ils réellement accessibles aux jeunes en situation de handicap visuel ou auditif en Belgique ? Quels obstacles persistent encore aujourd’hui, et à quoi ressemblent concrètement des aménagements raisonnables et un accompagnement réellement inclusif ?

Ce sont quelques-unes des questions au cœur du projet Inclusive Horizons (InHo), un projet européen Erasmus+ réunissant des partenaires en Belgique, en Grèce, en Pologne, en Espagne et en Roumanie afin de promouvoir des parcours plus inclusifs et accessibles dans les domaines de l’éducation et de l’emploi.

Dans le cadre de la phase de recherche menée en Belgique par VIEWS International, nous invitons actuellement les jeunes âgés de 15 à 30 ans en situation de handicap visuel ou auditif à participer à un court questionnaire anonyme.

L’enquête porte sur les expériences liées à l’apprentissage numérique, à l’accessibilité, à l’employabilité et à l’inclusion, dans le but d’identifier à la fois les obstacles existants et des solutions concrètes.

Les résultats contribueront à des rapports de recherche et au développement d’outils et de ressources pratiques en matière d’accessibilité dans le cadre du projet.

Le questionnaire prend environ 10 minutes et la participation est entièrement volontaire et anonyme.

Date limite : 20 juin

Version française

English Version

Si vous connaissez des personnes susceptibles d’être intéressées, n’hésitez pas à partager cette opportunité autour de vous!