When I was 18, I stepped beyond my comfort zone into my first youth exchange trip. It turned out to be an incredible experience where I discovered numerous amazing individuals who shared my passions across Europe. These youth exchanges became our gateway to connecting, sharing our passions, gaining insights, building a community, and fostering enduring friendships across Europe.

After that initial exchange, I participated in many more. But eventually, I felt the urge to give back some of the opportunities I had received through these exchanges. It all began with a casual conversation between Matteo and me during another project in Denmark where our paths crossed. We pondered, ‘Why not create something in Forlì where we live?’ Fast forward to April 2022, ‘Make a Sustainable Change’ took off, dedicated to addressing environmental issues. We couldn’t have wished for a better first youth exchange. It was the awesome participants who made it so special. And for me and Matteo, it was our chance to step up as organizers and facilitators, and honestly, I couldn’t have wished for a better person to do it with. These experiences taught me a lot about sticking to goals, believing in them, and finding the right people to make things happen—people who eventually turned from colleagues into friends. ‘Make a Sustainable Change’ marked the initial milestone for Romagnaplus, leading the organization to involve numerous incredible individuals and initiate other impactful projects.

From ‘Make a Sustainable Change,’ I’ll always remember the shared tears among the participants at its conclusion, the chaotic logistics that Matteo and I had to deal with, which, in the end, were all worthwhile experiences to learn from, the incredibly engaging conversations I had with all the people, the laughter, the courage to put ourselves out there, and the multitude of life lessons that will stay with me.

So, if you’re inclined to make a difference, to have an experience that could genuinely impact your world and others’, and if you’re ready to handle a bit of stress while having fun with your team, then seriously, organizing a youth exchange is the place to be. Share what you love, believe in your vision, and you can craft an experience that’s as enriching for others as it is for you.