“YouthInnoSport” was my first exchange project, and I wasn’t sure how to prepare for it. After arriving at the airport, and later in Türkiye, I realized I didn’t even have to.
From the first glimpse of the group, I knew we would have seven unforgettable days- and we did.
I enjoyed every moment we spent indoors and outdoors, as we did a lot of activities that helped us bond with each other.
We also had the chance to learn about other cultures and their traditions, and to see that sport isn’t strictly about following the rules, but also about using it for personal and professional growth.
One of the main things I learned is how different we all are, yet how we connected through the knowledge we gained and the fun we had.
I met some incredible people from all around the world whom I can now call my friends. I am very grateful for everything related to this Erasmus experience. – Ilma Husika
“YouthInnoSport” was my first Erasmus+ project and because of that, it will always have a special place in my heart. It was a big step out of my comfort zone. Before it started I felt insecure and full of doubts, but now I see that all those worries were unnecessary.
I was especially touched by Zonguldak, a small town on the Black Sea in Turkiye. Even if some people were surprised by the location, I am truly happy it was held there. The warmth of the town and its people made the experience unforgettable. The locals were incredibly kind. Even though many of them did not speak English, they welcomed us with smiles, invited us for tea and offered us sweets and baklava. They were happy to see foreigners in their small town and felt proud to host us in the best possible way. After visiting bigger cities, I could really feel the difference and the special warmth of a smaller place.
The project itself connected sport and entrepreneurship through creative workshops and practical tasks. We worked in teams, practiced communication and sales skills and even had a challenge to exchange a pen for something more valuable, which helped us connect with the local community. We also visited the local municipality and learned about their youth strategies.
We became so close as a team representing Bosnia and Herzegovina that people asked if we had met before or if we were already a friend group. I am proud that I stepped out of my comfort zone and hope for more exchanges in the future. – Dženana Tursunović
My name is Eldin Mujčinović, I am from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participating in the “YouthInnoSport” project in Kilimli (Zonguldak) was my first Erasmus+ experience. I joined this project through the BRAVO organization, and it was an experience that exceeded all my expectations. Everything was well-organized, and meeting young people from different countries was very interesting.
I really liked Turkey and the local hospitality. Living in a town by the sea, drinking Turkish tea, and eating delicious food was a beautiful experience. One of my favorite parts was the cultural evenings. It was very interesting to show my country and traditions to others, but also to learn about their food and customs.
Through sports activities, I learned how to work better in a team and how to be a leader. This project helped me improve my English and I feel much more confident now. I made many new friends and I really want to travel to more projects like this in the future. I hope I will have a chance to go again soon! – Eldin Mujčinović
The Erasmus+ project I attended took place in the small town of Kilimli, near the Black Sea in Turkiye, about six hours from Istanbul. Although it was a bit far, the town’s charm and the warmth of its people made the trip truly worthwhile. The locals were incredibly kind and welcoming, happy to see tourists and very hospitable. During one of the exercises, where we had to trade a pen for something more valuable, many locals even gave us items for free, and treated us with tea and baklava, which was a very touching experience.
The project aimed to connect sports and entrepreneurship, which was a very interesting topic. Some workshops were engaging, but I felt the connection between entrepreneurship and sports could have been stronger. We also had a sports day where everyone played their preferred sport, like basketball, football, or volleyball. Even though workshops were short, there was a lot of time for socializing, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the experience. I met amazing people, shared life stories, laughed a lot, and stayed up late talking about everything and nothing.
It wasn’t my first project or my first time in Turkiye, but I was pleasantly surprised by the kindness of people in this small town. The coordinators were good, yet I think a bit more preparation could have made the project even better. – Elmir Rašidović
YOUTHINSPORT was my first Erasmus+ experience with BRAVO and I have to say it met my expectations in different ways.
I was happy to be a part of a team that was motivated to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina with enthusiasm and to put effort into building an actual friendship inside our team. Exactly that allowed us to function efficiently and in the best way possible.
Even if Zonguldak and Kilimli are relatively small and not so touristic towns in Turkey, they carry their own charm and have managed to offer us a special setting for this project. The locals were especially friendly and that made me feel even more comfortable in a foreign place. Since most locals didn’t speak English, it was a fun experience to try to find ways to communicate and to learn to speak Turkish a bit better than before. It’s safe to say that I’ll tie these places to many positive memories.
The project itself was interesting and interactive, but it wasn’t as intense as I expected it to be. The way that teams consisted of participates from different countries allowed us to become comfortable working in unknown environments and find common ground. This is something that I’ve liked the most as I’m interested into intercultural communication. Overall, I would say this project gave us space to get close to other participates and enjoy every activity with time to spare, however it would’ve been better if it focused a bit more on the educative side.
I’m happy that we as a team prepared a memorable cultural night and made many memories together and with other participates. I’ll hope that this isn’t the end, and that I’ll have a chance to experience more of these projects in the future. – Ilma Mutapčić