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The Science of Boomerang – Estonia

By Nina Bianca Dohr 30. Oktober 2016

Once again we were lucky to send a team on an amazing project – Palmse (Estonia) it was this time. Wanna know how it was and what it was all about? Read Manuel’s impression 🙂

The Youth Exchange ‚The Science of Boomerang‘ was not my first Erasmus+ project, but it was my third project. It was the first time, though, that I participated in another country. We started our journey on 14th October and came back home on the 24th October.

First arrival was in Tallinn, where Pato, Elena, Julia and I met. We spent the first evening checking out the secrets of this town and enjoying the tasty medieval food. On the next day we met our last participant of the Austrian team, Manuel. And here’s our first group-picture: (left to right Pato, Julia, Manuel, Elena, Manuel)

At evening all 50 participants of the project gathered at a meeting point and we drove off to Palmse by bus. I remember me talking to myself: “Oh my god, who are all those people?”.

Everybody seemed very excited so we spend our first night with some drinks, talking and singing together. It was the beginning of some awesome nights with a lot of joy and activities prepared by the participants. Now, being back home, I would definitely call them friends.

The next day the first project session started, so I was curious and really wanted to know what the “Science of Boomerang” is. As in any of my attended projects so far we started with some icebreakers and group activities. Pretty soon everybody could feel the awesomeness of this group. I never learned 50 names that fast before!

During the project we learned lots about formal/informal/non-formal learning, Erasmus+ and EVS projects, intercultural learning (ICL) and of course about volunteering. But still I couldn’t see what the science of boomerang was… Coming to the end of the project we prepared some volunteering activities, which we were actually doing in Tallinn. 50 people separated in groups were walking with dogs or helping at an animal shelter. Some of us worked with kids like my group. We prepared some dances. At the end we found out, that some of them where awesome dancers. It was a mistake to think that we could teach them something new. After the dancing we all sat down in a circle and talked about our hobbies, dreams and of course about volunteering. Hearing those kids singing, dancing and talking about their dreams was very touching to me. I still think about that sometimes.

After this activity all 50 participants met again in Tallinn city center. It wasn’t planned by the facilitators but the participants organized another big event at the Old Town Square. We organized a flashmob where we danced together in the name of volunteering. We gave it the Hashtag #voluncare so check it out on Facebook and Instagram 🙂

So the YE came to an end after this event and I thought about the science of boomerang once again, but this time it hit me. I remembered how many people started to dance with us on the square. I remembered the smiles of the participants when I did some nice things for them. Mostly I remembered the kids we danced with. I knew that all this happiness didn’t come by accident. It acted like a boomerang that I threw away at the beginning of this project and it came back at the end but much more powerful than I expected.

A big thanks to everyone who made this project this amazing!

Yours, Manuel (without beard)

Curious to hear more and get to know wEUnite members? Stay up-to-date, like us on Facebook and follow our blog!

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What happened meanwhile..

By Nina Bianca Dohr 27. Mai 2016
In case you have been wondering why it was so unusually quiet on our blog as well as our Facebookpage … we worked on new projects and travelled to create new partnerships and get even more ideas to apply for even more projects for you 🙂

Right after our KeepCalm! training course in February we wrote the final report for it, worked on the budget and last but not least – made this amazing video. As you can see we had a great time!


As we got so much energy from the project we decided „Hey! Let’s write some more projects and apply!“ – once said, we directly started working on them. The first training course – that hopefully will be approved – is called „DesireToInspire“ and will be all about leadership. Why leadership? Well, in youth work it is a highly relevant to work with groups and in order to be even better at what we all do, we want to give you some more tools. Doesn’t that sound great?

But of course one project alone is never ever enough for us, and because of all the questions we got on our previous projects, we came up with „Project 101“, which will deal with project designing. Most of you have been on one or more youth exchanges or training courses or have heard about those cool things. The question you asked us was: how does it all work? What is going on behind the scenes? Does a project last for one week only? How do you prepare everything? Who actually pays for Erasmus+ projects and how can we get the money? The most important question for us, though, was „Can I do that as well?“ – yes, yes and yes! You all can – and this is why we applied with this project, to show and tell you everything you need to know about project designing in Erasmus+ – and of course many lovely new projects will be born on this training course 🙂


After we successfully submitted our applications, wEUnite went to Estonia!

Having applied for many different seminars, Nina got chosen to take part in a seminar/study visit/training course, called „Formal-Non-Formal“, in Tartu/Estonia. Being there she met friends from previous projects – always a cool side-effect! getting to know people from everywhere and meeting them again – and also new partners. Moreover, she experienced the culture a little as well as the education system in Estonia, which is very different from what she was used to from Austria. Having spent 6 days in Tartu, another projects was being born – ENTERpreneurship, which will be applied at the next deadline. Until then, wEUnite, will work with its new partners from Estonia, Portugal, Turkey and Scottland to make this idea something real.





„Estonia is a really nice country! I didn’t have too much time for sight-seeing, but it was definitely worth the trip. (and I can imagine going back there to see a little more of the country) I have learnt many new things for my youth-work but also for my studies in those days. Not only did I get new ideas for projects and more knowledge about different educational systems, but also did I meet people from different countries and learnt about their countries, cultures and languages. While reflecting the intense days and writing the youthpass, I realized how much I improved myself in

certain aspects. Also, I met great people that I am looking forward to work with in the future! What I nearly forgot to mention – it was a really cool idea to create t-shirts about our NGOs instead of posters, as we can keep those as memory and even use them again for further projects.“ (Nina) 

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KeepCalm! – this was it

By Nina Bianca Dohr 28. MĂ€rz 2016
Keep Calm, an Erasmus+ Training Course which took place in Villach. This course was aimed at people, who wished to improve their knowledge on the topic – Conflict Resolution. This topic is an important one when it comes to Youth Work as well as any type of social work. The group began the meeting by getting to know each other. This was crucial, as they all needed to learn about one another so that they could improve their trust and teamwork. The participants spent time on cultural differences, which they all had but few of them were aware of it. Then the focus moved to understanding what exactly conflict is. Finding the

definition and causes of it, from that the group moved to learning and practicing methods of solving conflicts, focusing mostly on the skill of mediation. This skill was practiced with a number of activities, mainly role playing. During the entire meeting, the participants had free time to get to know each other as well as cultural evenings, during which they shared their own cultures. This had an amazing effect of letting people learn about foreign countries and the ways how they work as well as think. The meeting ended with group work part on preparing future plans part on attempting the Mission Impossible. The participants brainstormed ideas for what they could do together in the future. They came up with several ideas that were worth a try. The whole meeting ended with the Youthpass ceremony and a farewell party. The participants exchanged contact information and last warm words before leaving for home. This Training course was a great experience, which allowed all the participants and trainers to learn something new as well as to meet great people. 
(Krzysztof Bruzgul, Poland)



KeepCalm was the second project as a trainer and the fourth as organizer for me. Having experienced another week with new, amazing people definitely improved my social skills but also the way I work with groups. It showed me, once again, that we do learn lifelong and especially learn a lot from each other. This opportunity and the experience will stay in my memory for a long, long time and I hope to meet those great people again some day at different projects, at different places.
(Nina-Bianca Anranter, Austria)

I loved learning more about other countries, their culture, food, drink and even dances and games. It was also nice to get to tell others about my own country. My favorite has to be tasting all the food from all the cultural nights 🙂 And I am really glad that I experienced snow for the very first time!
(Ruth Grech, Malta)







During my semester break in February there has been my second one-week

project organized by wEUnite and it was great again. This time I expected it to be, because I saved some good vibes from last summer.  Again I got a lot of new friends and made some good experiences giving me energy for the next semester. Still there is always something different. I want to tell you about it: This time I knew mostly all nations better, because beside Malta the nations participating have been the same but not so the people. And this hit me the most. It wasn’t a bad hit, more an eye-opening one. I had to experience that people from the same nations can behave differently. Please don’t hang me up on this one but this seriously got me. I wanted to believe that people from the same region with the same history behind their nation behave similar but I got proven wrong. Last time I got the feeling that Polish people are very proud of their country and also their personal achievements but none of the polish participants substantiated my expectations. Also I thought that all

Estonians are more heavy drinkers than people from Austria but that didn’t seem to be right this time either. I could go one with this but I think everyone has to experience that wisdom on their own. Instead I want to tell you what I have mostly learned this time about culture: Sometimes you can apply certain stereotypes on people and groups of people. That certainly is ok as long as you are willing to give up on them, the first chance you get. To think in clichĂ©s can sometimes help you to cope with a situation even faster. Important is, that you recognize that you do and also that you are willing to change them if needed. If you do, you are allowing yourself to make the most out of you and all the awesome people around this planet. With this being said, I am already excited for the next project and for new awesome people that break my explorative stereotypes.          

                                         (Manuel Esberger, Austria) 



„smile“-Emotico

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KeepCalm! – 10 days left :)

By Nina Bianca Dohr 26. JĂ€nner 2016
Wow, time passes really fast… Our next project, KeepCalm!, is starting in 10 days already! You surely want to know what kind of project it is and what it’s all about 🙂 
It’s going to be a  training course, based on conflict management in everyday life situations and even more on those appearing in youth work. The focus will be put on strategies and techniques for conflict resolution, but also on how to use language efficiently for mediation. Another part will focus on the roots of conflicts but also intercultural exchange. „KeepCalm!” has the goal to teach youth workers how to react to conflicts and how to resolve them in an efficient way. Moreover, the participants will learn how to pass on their new knowledge to their coworkers.

As the beginning of this great week comes closer, we are getting more and more excited. You are curious now who we are? Well, the team that worked the last months to make this possible… 


Alexander Tscharre, Austria, organizer
“I was introduced to the Erasmus+ projects by wEUnite and they gave me an amazing view over the field of youth work and all it varieties. I want to change something in this world, especially for the youth, all the young people who are forsaken by society should get another chance and I want to give it to them. All of the different tools I’ve learned on my TCs so far and the ones I’ll learn in future will support me and help me to do my work with youth. In addition I got a view behind the scenes of an Erasmus+ project and the opportunity to involve in the organization of projects and I love it, I always give 200% for and during a project so you can enjoy it and have a good time.”
Studies: Paedagogical and Educational Science
Hobbies: Spending leisure time with friends, Youth projects, making videos, Music, Reading, Traveling




Nina-Bianca Anranter, Austria, trainer and organizer
“Thanks to the possibility of witnessing the world through numerous youth exchanges and training courses that I took part in, I developed myself a lot and learnt things that no school or university could have offered. Two years ago my colleague Kerstin and I decided to pass on our knowledge and give young people the chance to become more active. Organizing projects and being a trainer makes me happy as I always see people having fun, learn and grow.”
Studies: Teacher training programme English/Catholic Religion
Hobbies: Reading, Sports, Youth projects






Krzysztof Bruzgul, Poland, trainer
“With formal education in the field of pedagogy and three years in the field of non-formal education as a project participant, group leader, trainer and coordinator, my passion lies in education.”
My studies directed towards language, English and its philology, I specialized towards teaching this language as a second language. So, I am an English teacher by my education.
         My hobbies are wide and broad, for I am interested in a lot of things, but above all I value great stories. Listening, watching, reading or living through them





Kerstin Ess, Austria, trainer

“Taking part in youth projects for five years now made me a better person who wants to share those experiences. I wish for everyone to create such memories and great mind opening happenings. Cultural exchange opens not only your perception of others but also takes a great part in self-development.”
Studies: Meadia and Convergence Management

My hobbies are various, but what I prefer to do is travelling as it usually combines all my favorite activities.






Like our facebook page and follow our blog to stay up-to-date during the training course 🙂
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Work hard, play hard!

By Nina Bianca Dohr 10. JĂ€nner 2016
wEUnite is a team of young Austrians that applies for projects and organizes them. Last year we managed to host one youth exchange and two training courses on which we had 90 participants. The main reason why we are able to make this work besides being a full-time student is because we are friends. When you spend your freetime with your friends all the work we have doesn’t feel like work anymore.
After our two training courses in August (SpeakUp!) and September (In ya face(book)) and writing another application for a TC in February (KeepCalm!) we celebrated a successful „wEUnite-year“ at our local christmas market 🙂 As you can see our group grew bigger and bigger as young people from Klagenfurt liked what we do so much that they decided to join this organization.

 As a pre-christmas present we got some letters from our team … read for yourself:

„I am happy to be part of wEUnite. Thanks to that I gained a lot of experience that I will never forget!“

„Great people and awesome trainings with really interesting topics, where you always meet new, amazing friends!“ 

„The founders of wEUnite, Tini and Nina, are always there for all 
members. On the projects they put a lot of effort in making the week great and memorable for the participants. You can feel that those two are passionate about wEUnite and stand up for it, which makes it something unique.“


„wEUnite – the chaotic group! We’re going into every project with lots of energy. Connecting cultures – open-minded – warm-hearted. Three strong characteristics to change the world into a better place!“

„Dear wEUnite-team, thanks a lot for letting me celebrate with you, nice people!“

„wEunite, unfortunately, due to various reasons, I couldn’t take part in the projects you hosted here in Austria. I had the chance to design the posters for them, though, and by doing that was part of wEUnite’s projects. I hope that this is going to change and I will be able to be a participants! Thanks for all the happiness & merry christmas!“

„A great year behind us. A new year full of new ideas and projects before us. wEUnite grows and it’s becoming something even more beautiful.“

„We are young, we are active, wEUnite!“

Those speak for themselves … and were the most beautiful present we could have ever dreamed about! A big,big thank you to every single one of you – we are happy that we can count on you 🙂