DIY for Youth - Let's Upcycle

Tünde

"The project leader, Antonio, was very friendly and helpful with everything we asked him. During the first few days (roughly halfway through the project), most of us felt that the group activities were aimless, as if they weren’t really connected to the project’s theme—recycling in everyday life—or to sustainability. However, after Antonio asked for our feedback, we started working on DIY crafts the next day. We organized into groups based on what each person wanted to try, which meant we had the chance to try things we might never have done before. Some groups worked with wood, others renovated furniture, one team created a mosaic pattern on a table, some worked with textiles, and others made jewelry. I was in the last group. First, the groups had to set up their workspaces. Some worked in the group room, some outside, and some in a basement room. I enjoyed watching everyone get immersed in their work while some music played in the background. Toward the end, as a group, we did a quick calculation of how much time we had left and finished up a bit in a hurry. Personally, I feel I could have created a better final product, but in any case, it was great that we had access to all kinds of machines and tools, and everyone was able to find something they enjoyed doing."

Hunor

"On the second day, after breakfast, we went to a community center for young people, where we met the project leader, Antonio. He welcomed us warmly, and we spent the morning playing icebreaker games. During the coffee break, I had a nice chat with a Spanish teacher who teaches Spanish to foreign children who have moved here. He praised my language skills, which felt good. After the short break, we continued getting to know each other in mixed groups. After lunch, we had about two and a half hours off; we played cards at the big table in the dining room, then I worked a bit on a university report and slept for an hour. After lunch, we discussed the difference between formal and informal learning in small and large groups, then we drew pictures of each other, with everyone drawing just a small detail of the other person, and by the end, a somewhat successful drawing came together. At the end of the day, we assigned the teams for the next day’s program: exploring Alcalá.

(...)

Last night we held an international cultural night at a bar; every country prepared a dance, a quiz, and some traditional food and drinks. The atmosphere was great, and we laughed a lot. The volunteer helpers and Antonio came too. We Hungarians prepared the unmissable “Devil’s Path” circle dance and a Kahoot quiz."