Every single one of us is familiar with the game domino. In a single row, only one touch is enough to move the whole row. Arranged like that, the domino bars themselves stay in place, it’s enough for only one to move, for the whole row to change. 

Youth activism works just like that, it starts with one “come on”, one small thing that produces waves that spread broad, broader than expected. Our first touch was the journey to Germany. 

Everything started with a commonly asked question: How much power does the youth hold? This was our “come on”, the spark that started a chain reaction, our own domino effect. 

Our team, made up of members of different ages, interests and challenges, set off on an adventure through which we explored this question more deeply. 

We found ourselves at the airport with one goal – wish for change. And to be honest, a better combination of personalities will never happen again. So, at 3 AM, half asleep with suitcases full of hope, our unforgettable trip to a small place in Germany began. None of us could have imagined such a scene even if we knew what waited for us. 

The journey to the venue where we stayed was a mini odyssey. From an airplane to a bus, to a metro, we also cannot forget the loyal trains, and at the end by walking. After hours of travelling, we somehow managed to arrive at KulturHaus without (completely) losing our minds. 

We were welcomed by an even more diverse group from Germany, officially our cultural exchange had started. In a Macedonian style, we welcomed the Romanian group, students from a music high school who changed the atmosphere in a matter of minutes and gave it a musical vibe that connected us all. 

The days that followed had a nicely organized plan of activities. Every day we had the chance to join in and be a part of workshops and even organize one as a matter of fact. 

Erasmus is known for its unusual nontraditional approach in lectures where the participants learn by group projects, games, discussions, and usually they get closer with their creative side that they didn’t even know existed. 

Generally, they woke us up with their so-called “energizers” or some short “ice breakers”, little games that made you join in on the fun and connect with the others. 

Afterwards we would go on with topics such as youth activism, community engagement, teamwork and possibilities that could help the participants make a difference. 

Nearing the end of the project, we had the chance to share some of the community problems from each country. As the Macedonian team, we were vocal about the problems that the youth face. The possibility to express what we fight for gave us a warm welcoming feeling and hope for change. Additionally, while listening to the other teams and their problems we found similarities. This opened space for mutual work between two different cultures. 

During the second part of the day, the workshops were focused on an activity that could help us learn how to make a change in different ways. 

There were also a lot of unforgettable moments such as cultural nights. The Romanian team using their magic made us traverse their cities and cultures in minutes. The possibility to try out traditional food was also a nice touch to all that. The culture, tradition and history of Macedonia helped us prepare a night filled with delicious food, interesting facts and dances where everybody joined in. 

Another memorable part was our trip to Bremen, where we explored the city, learned about its history and spent time as one big group. But the little moments, the laughs, the hard work we put against our obstacles, sharing our stories during workshops and staying up late at night were equally important. Those moments helped us create strong bonds between ourselves and made the whole story feel special. 

Some of the challenges that we faced were the language barriers as some of the participants had a hard time with their English. But by being creative, as a team, we rammed through those obstacles and made friendships that would last years. 

This trip taught us that even the smallest step can create waves of change, like that little domino that starts moving. We learnt that with trust, collaboration, and sharing we can trespass anything. Every little good deed, every initiative, and even the smallest speech can leave a big impression. And at home we took inspiration for change, and new ways to encourage the world around us. A world that changes with small steps, that start right here at projects like this one, that help make big decisions onward.

Sara Gjorgjinska

Translator: Viktor Gjorgjiev, David Petrov

The youth exchange “Youth: Empowered and Active” took place in Garlstedt, Germany on the dates 29.09–8.10.2025. The aim of the project was to introduce the participants to positive examples of activism across Europe, and the world.