At Youth Works Hub, we love sharing the real journeys of our community. Yasemin, 27, a youth worker from Türkiye, led a team of 6 young people at an 8-day Youth Exchange on environmental protection in Braga, Portugal. A Youth Exchange is a meeting of groups of young people from at least two different countries who gather for a short period to implement jointly a non-formal learning programme, a mix of workshops, exercises, debates, role plays, simulations and outdoor activities on a topic of their interest. A group leader is an adult of at least 18 years of age who joins the young people participating in a Youth Exchange in order to ensure their effective learning, protection and safety. Here is her story, in her own words.
Last updated: November 2026.
by Yasemin, 27, 🇹🇷 Türkiye → 🇵🇹 Portugal
Merhaba! I’m Yasemin, a 27-year-old youth worker from Türkiye 🇹🇷. I’ve been involved in Erasmus+ projects for several years now, but nothing prepared me for the joy, depth, and challenges of leading a team during an unforgettable 8-day youth exchange in Braga, Portugal. 🇵🇹✨
The topic? 🌱 Environmental Protection & Ecological Practices — something I’ve always been passionate about.
But this time, I wasn’t just a participant — I was the team leader of 6 inspiring young people from Türkiye, all curious, motivated, and a little nervous (just like I was on my first exchange!). 💚
We were joined by teams from 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇨🇿 Czechia, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇷🇴 Romania, and of course 🇵🇹 Portugal. That’s 8 countries, 56 participants, 8 leaders — and one shared planet to protect. 🌍🤝
Every day was filled with interactive workshops, eco-games, and discussions about sustainability, circular economy, climate change, and real-life solutions. We visited local farms, recycled materials into art, and even held an open-air “Eco Action” fair in a local park! 🍋♻️🌿
As a group leader, I wore many hats:
🧭 Guiding my team emotionally and logistically
🗣️ Translating and mediating when needed
🌟 Empowering quieter voices to speak
💪 Showing up — even when I was tired
One of my proudest moments? Seeing one of our shyest participants confidently present her upcycled art project in front of 60 people — and getting a round of applause. 👏 That alone made everything worth it.
But I also grew.
💬 I improved my facilitation skills
🌍 Strengthened intercultural communication
📣 Learned to lead with both structure and empathy
And let’s not forget the human side of this journey:
☕ Late-night herbal teas and team check-ins
🎶 Dancing to every country’s traditional song
🌧️ Getting caught in Braga’s unexpected rain — and loving it
📸 Watching lifelong memories form between strangers
This youth exchange reminded me why I do what I do: to connect, to empower, and to protect what matters — our planet and each other. 🌱🌍
So, to any youth worker or aspiring group leader out there:
Say yes to leading. Say yes to challenges. Say yes to Braga. 💚
A Youth Exchange lasts from 5 to 21 days, excluding travel days, and is open to young people aged between 13 and 30. A youth worker is a professional or volunteer who supports the personal, social and educational development of young people. Our guide on how a Youth Exchange is planned shows the work behind the scenes, and green travel in Erasmus+ and ESC covers travelling sustainably to a project.
Thank you, Yasemin, for sharing 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: Lorenzo's Youth Exchange in Portugal · Aldona's training course in France · Marco's eco-volunteering in Slovenia
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=erasmus-projects
