Category Archive : wEUnite

Home / wEUnite

austria , blog , erasmus+ , estonia , friendship , trainingcourses , travelling , wEUnite , youth , youthinaction

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) 

austria , blog , erasmus+ , villach , wEUnite

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

austria , blog , czechrepublic , erasmus+ , estonia , friendship , italy , keepcalm , lithuania , malta , poland , trainingcourses , travelling , turkey , villach , wEUnite , youth , youthinaction

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 🙂
austria , blog , christmas , erasmus+ , friendship , trainingcourses , travelling , wEUnite , youth , youthinaction

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 🙂 

austria , blog , culturenight , erasmus+ , Ireland , trainingcourses , travelling , wEUnite , youth , youthexchanges , youthinaction

wEUnite in Ireland!

By Nina Bianca Dohr 17. November 2015
Tini, Manuel, Sarah and Daniel went on a project to Ireland for 9 days (29.10.-07.11.2015). There they learnt something about social media, the Irish culture but also they made new friends and had the chance to see parts of the country. 
To give you an impression about their time there,
keep on scrolling and reading 🙂

The reason for going there was a training course organized by „the traveller voice magazine“ under the topic „in yer face(book)“. This TC aimed to work on the proper use of social media and to create awareness about cyber-bullying, racism and slander in the web as well as policies of the most common social media platforms. „As I am very interested in any kind of social media due to my studies I decided to apply to participate“, said Sarah who participated in an Erasmus+ Project for the first time.
Manuel, who recently joined wEUnite said „The reason why I wanted to join the project in Ireland – besides seeing this wonderful country – was to gain new perspectives concerning Social Media nowadays and also to learn new techniques to work with people in a team“ – and after the project he told us that his expectations were met.

„I got the chance to meet new people and got to know my friends even better“
  â€žthe grass is so green it’s unbelieveable“ and „it looks like a golf court“ were sentences that were said quite often during their stay in this beautiful country.

Irish culture and traditions were explored during the 3 days-stay in Dublin and several excursions to famous ancient sights that are located in Meath and Lough, such as Newgrange, Drogheda and the seaside were made. „I got to know different kinds of cultural insights especially as some travellers joined our group and explained several aspects of their unique culture and traditions.“
They all say, that they’ve learnt a variety of new skills throughout this week. Daniel explained „the week in Newgrange met my expectations as I was able to develop new thoughts about inter-human exchange both online and offline in various discussions with peers from the other participating countries.“

The intercultural experiences they made included singing Irish songs about the “drunk lifestyle” as well as touching the boobs of the Molly Malone statue in the centre of Dublin for good luck. A whiskey tasting and twisting our tongues while trying to speak Polish were also parts of their trip and cultural exchange that they will definitely remember. „I enjoyed the intercultural night very much, as I learned various dances from other cultures“, stated Tini. The opportunity to try some new drinks from other cultures was also quite appreciated by our group.

All of them are keen on visiting Ireland again – for another project or to visit new-made friends.