At Youth Works Hub, we love sharing the real journeys of our community. This time, we are proud to feature Serena, a 21 year old from Sicily, Italy. She started taking part in DiscoverEU, Erasmus+ projects and training courses at 19, and today she has visited around 30 countries. DiscoverEU is an action of the Erasmus+ programme that offers 18-year-olds the opportunity to have a short-term individual or group travel experience throughout Europe. Erasmus+ is the EU Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the 2021-2027 period. Here is her story, in her own words.
Last updated: November 2026.
Hi, my name is Serena Valentino
I’ve faced my share of disappointments in life—regarding university, friendships, and love.
But I’ve also been incredibly lucky to travel and meet new people, which introduced me to the world of DiscoverEU, Erasmus+ projects, training courses, and more.
I started participating in these projects at 19, and now, at 21, I’ve visited around 30 or 31 countries.
During the time I was involved in these projects, I struggled with anorexia nervosa; the projects themselves played a huge role in helping me overcome that fear. Today, I am a healthy person who loves learning about new cultures, and I’ve made new friends—including my best friend.
The projects I’ve loved the most focused on sustainability, fashion, music, depression, cybersecurity, and so on.
My English used to be terrible, but thanks to these projects and the chance to travel the world, I learned the language not by studying it, but by speaking it.
This is my story.
A Youth Exchange lasts from 5 to 21 days, excluding travel days, and is open to young people aged between 13 and 30. In a training course, participants must be minimum 16 years old, and the duration is from 2 to 60 days, excluding travel days. If you are thinking about your own wellbeing before or during a project, our guide to mental health and wellbeing abroad is a good place to start, and making local friends on a project covers the friendships Serena talks about.
Thank you, Serena, for trusting us with your story 💙 Have your own Erasmus+ or ESC story? Send it to Youth Works Hub and we will feature it here, so other young people can see what is possible.
More stories from our community: Silvia's Erasmus+ and ESC story · Gemma's DiscoverEU trip by train · Lorenzo's Youth Exchange in Portugal
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=erasmus-projects
