Meet the 3 participants: Imen, Sami and Marko. They had been part of international group of youth workers who had met in April 2025 in Morocco to network, exchange good practices, develop new partnerships, and create impactful volunteering projects within the European Solidarity Corps programme.
Imen Ben Kacem comes from Tunesia and is active in the Association de Volontariat, Echange Culturel et Action des Jeunes. Imen, what was the reason for you to join this seminar?
I joined the seminar because as the person in charge of the European Solidarity Corps projects in my organisation and managing several Erasmus+ Key Action 2 projects, I wanted to establish new collaborations and find a lead organisation for our environmental team volunteering project. It was also my first time exploring the concept of a Partnership Building Activity.
Sami Karvonen is from Finland and a project manager in Union Plaani sport club. Sami, what about you, why have you joined this seminar?
As a newcomer to international youth cooperation, I saw this seminar as a valuable entry point into a wider community of practice. I wanted to understand how partnerships across borders actually work in practice — especially between programme and neighbouring countries — and how I could contribute through my own local work with young people.
Marko Boyko is an Ukrainian living in Poland and active in the Logos organisation. Marko, what were the reasons for you to join?
At Logos we had been working a lot with the European Solidarity corps and different youth projects over the years, but until now, we didn’t have any partners from North Africa, so this seminar felt especially relevant and exciting!
What was the most interesting for you during the seminar?
I was very curious about the opportunities for cooperation with the neighbouring countries, especially in North Africa, and wanted to explore how we could build new partnerships and exchange ideas. Honestly, the way the whole seminar was organised, the friendly atmosphere, the open approach, and the full support from the team made it really enjoyable. It felt more like being part of a well-run Solidarity Corps project: good vibes, learning moments, and lots of inspiration – says Marko.
For Sami the most interesting part was seeing how open and collaborative the space was. Even though I was new, I felt welcomed from the very beginning. The activities were designed in a way that helped me quickly understand both the policy background and the practical realities of cooperation. Hearing the real-life stories from experienced participants made things very concrete and inspiring – underlines Sami.
What was the most surprising, unexpected for you at the seminar?
Imen says that he was surprised by the quality of participants. I didn’t expect to see that those warm people I met are of such high caliber and were willing to work with my Tunisian organisation. Many of them seemed to know about our organisation in relation to different Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects. It looks like we have quite the reputation! It was unexpected to notice the recognition of our organisation from such prominent people – shares Imen.
Marko had been surprised by getting a deep insight into Moroccan culture, mentality, and traditions. That added so much value. It wasn’t just about learning the programme, but really connecting with the people and the context. We’ve already kicked off two collaborations! One project is planned for September in Morocco, and another will bring team volunteering to Tunisia. The connections we built during the seminar turned into real plans and we’re super excited about what’s ahead – Marko says with excitement.
What surprised me most was how much confidence and motivation I gained in just a few days. Before coming, I wasn’t sure if I “knew enough” to really contribute — but the atmosphere was so inclusive and supportive that I found myself jumping into discussions, asking questions, and even exploring possible project ideas with others – says Sami.
And finally, what was the most important outcomes from the seminar for you?
The seminar was a great success for me – says Imen. I was able to find a lead organisation to adopt our environmental team volunteering project in Tunisia. Additionally, we are now collaborating in the field of international volunteering with SIW organisation from the Netherlands. I am also maintaining connections with other organisations, such as the Greek organisation ARSIS – Association for Social Support of Youth, to explore new projects and establish partnerships for future cooperation. And from Azerbaijan and Albania, maybe in other fields in the future but we’re still keeping in touch together. This experience has been truly amazing, and I look forward to repeating it in the future to enhance our networking and my skills in the field of the European youth programmes.
This seminar helped me see myself as part of something bigger: a shared effort to strengthen youth participation and cooperation beyond borders. I left with new contacts, practical knowledge, and a much clearer idea of how I can take first steps toward the European Solidarity Corps projects in my own work. Most importantly, I left with the belief that even as a newcomer, I have something valuable to bring to the table – Sami shares.
