“Within the framework of the Creative and Cultural Youth Exchange, and especially through my participation in the Urban Street Art Festival, I experienced an incredibly valuable and inspiring journey. During the exchange, I had the opportunity to learn about the traditions of other countries, create art, but most importantly, I had the chance to be authentic.
Through this international exchange, I worked and learned together with young creatives who brought diverse perspectives on art. The exchange of ideas and experiences showed me the vast potential that lies in openness and teamwork. What enriched me the most was getting to know different artistic techniques and approaches that inspired me to develop my own style. Every encounter and collaborative effort reminded me that art has the power to connect people and build bridges between cultures.
I truly felt how important it is to share creativity and learn from one another, because it is precisely through exchange that we discover new ideas and gain deeper understanding. This experience brought me fresh motivation to continue using art as a space where understanding and togetherness are nurtured.” – Ena Zirić
“From august 17th to august 25th I spent a wonderful time in Passail/Graz. This exchange being my first ever really made me even more excited. My time in Passail was better than I could expect. Nature was beautiful and the location of the apartments were perfect. I was in a music workshop and it was really fun to be a part of it. I was so honored to work with mentors Murat and Juanito Carlos which made the experience even better. Cultural nights were definitely the best part of the exchange. It was so fun and special to learn about other countries, their culture, to try their cuisine… Cooking was also an exciting part for me as I don’t cook alot at home. I learned many new skills. My favourite part was how we all worked together whether it was cooking, preparing for the festival or cleaning. It was really good to upgrade my recycling and cleaning habits. It was really hard for me to say goodbye to Passail, especially to the wonderful lake. But, I had an amazing time in Graz. I even celebrated my birthday there! To sum everything up, this was a truly life-changing experience for me. It really helped to find my inner peace and to better express myself as an artist. I also practiced and improved my english speaking skills, aswell to work and function in teams. I really hope I have a chance to again be part of similar exchanges as it really helped me to find my true self. Thank you to all of the orginisers for making my first youth exchange experience unforgettable and amazing.” – Melika Ganić
“The recent Youth Exchange project was truly a unique and special experience for me. Our whole national team was amazing, and everyone was cooperative and really friendly. All of the participants from the exchange had a special talent that they could showcase to others, and that is something that really changed my perspective. Being suddenly surrounded by so many different people with different backgrounds, in contrast to everyday surroundings, is certainly a positive shock. The artists who took part in the project were also amazing and actually helped us a lot in our final performances. I had conversations with them that really helped me gather my artistic ideas into a solid thought. Pasail, the town where the majority of the project took place, was something straight out of a movie. We were surrounded by mountains, forests, and fields. Making any sort of art there was a privilege, and I never felt more inspired. After we left Pasail, we went to Graz where we had our festival in the town park. Overall, this experience was something I will remember for the rest of my life, and I still have a bunch of impressions that still haven’t quite settled down.” – Mahir Đuvić
“Taking part in The Creative and Cultural Youth Exchange in Passail and Graz was truly one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. Surrounded by the beauty of mountains, lakes, and fresh air, I enjoyed every moment, from swimming in the lake, playing table tennis and badminton, to sharing creativity with young people from Ukraine, Spain, France, Latvia, Turkey, Austria, and Greece. Learning their dances, exploring their traditions, and expressing ourselves through colors, painting, and music gave me new friendships, meaningful conversations, and perspectives that will stay with me forever.
Cooking together was an unforgettable part of the exchange , trying new dishes but also preparing our own, like ćevapi and krompiruša, which I proudly shared as part of my culture. What I found especially valuable was the collective life we created: taking care of the space where we lived, being mindful of the environment, and respecting each other’s different habits and rhythms. Preparing for the festival in Graz was both inspiring and joyful, while visiting the cheese factory and yodeling with Austrians was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Graz itself is a city full of culture and life, and Austria, with its people full of energy and perspective, awakened in me a strong desire to expand my knowledge and vision, and to bring those experiences back home.
Austria showed me beauty, diversity, and hospitality. I am deeply grateful to BRAVO, the leaders, and the coordinators for this unforgettable week of unity, creativity, and growth.” – Hena Begić
“As a youth worker and cultural professional, participating in this exchange was an extremely valuable and transformative experience for me. From the very beginning, the environment in which we worked and lived together was both inspiring and relaxing, creating the perfect atmosphere for creativity, learning and collaboration. I was deeply impressed by the very idea of the project and used every opportunity to ask the organizers about the implementation methods – how the partners and the leader came up with such a concept. This was important to me as I want to transfer the knowledge, models and inspiration gained here back to my local community and I hope that following the example of this exchange, I can create something similar for young people in my area in the future.
What I especially appreciated was the diversity of the participants. Meeting many young people from different countries, sharing experiences and building friendships were not only fun, but also enriching both professionally and personally. Working together on joint performances and creative results was one of the highlights of the program. These activities reflected the main goals of the exchange – fostering creativity, cultural understanding and cooperation – and left me extremely motivated to continue such work.
The organizers were always available, supportive and approachable, which greatly contributed to the positive atmosphere. I also found the concept of preparing and sharing national dishes particularly meaningful, as it gave us the opportunity to get to know each other’s cultures in a unique and personal way.” – Adi Glavinić
“As a youth worker and cultural professional, participating in this exchange was an extremely valuable and transformative experience for me. From the very beginning, the environment in which we worked and lived together was both inspiring and relaxing, creating the perfect atmosphere for creativity, learning and collaboration. I was deeply impressed by the very idea of the project and used every opportunity to ask the organizers about the implementation methods – how the partners and the leader came up with such a concept. This was important to me as I want to transfer the knowledge, models and inspiration gained here back to my local community and I hope that following the example of this exchange, I can create something similar for young people in my area in the future.
What I especially appreciated was the diversity of the participants. Meeting many young people from different countries, sharing experiences and building friendships were not only fun, but also enriching both professionally and personally. Working together on joint performances and creative results was one of the highlights of the program. These activities reflected the main goals of the exchange – fostering creativity, cultural understanding and cooperation – and left me extremely motivated to continue such work.
The organizers were always available, supportive and approachable, which greatly contributed to the positive atmosphere. I also found the concept of preparing and sharing national dishes particularly meaningful, as it gave us the opportunity to get to know each other’s cultures in a unique and personal way.” – Dalal Šatara