On March 11-19, 2022, the "EntreFUTUREship" Erasmus+ youth mobility project took place in Bakuriani, Georgia. With the support of the NGO "Development and Initiative", a student of specialty "Philology" of the National University "Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic" Victoriia Shefer (group 401-FH), despite the war in Ukraine, took part in the project. Zoom sessions were organized especially for participants from Ukraine, so that Ukrainian youth, in spite of everything, could learn and develop further.
Within the framework of the project, more than 30 youth representatives from different parts of the world mastered practical cases of social entrepreneurship and received certificates of successful completion. The program included seven practical days, during which the topics of entrepreneurship were discussed, and team projects were held, where participants created their business ideas, considered the main organizational, social, psychological aspects of entrepreneurship, volunteering as well as active citizenship.
"Unfortunately, due to the current situation in the country, I was not able to take part in the "EntreFUTUREship" project offline, although I really wanted to. But I took the maximum even from the online format. People are the most important thing that can be taken from such projects. New acquaintances, new opportunities, we still keep in touch with many participants in messengers. The topic of the project also matters. We, Ukrainians, were treated very well, on the first day I was already invited to talk on video, get acquainted with everything that is in Bakuriani, and I have already written to Ukrainian participants, so we were even more involved in the project – it's great! I would like to address the words of sincere gratitude to the organizers of the training – "Development and Initiative" for the opportunity to distract ourselves in such a difficult time from the horrific events that are currently taking place due to Russian aggression, and to deepen our knowledge and skills in a foreign-language environment within seven days. I also want to thank Kateryna Priazhnykova, the project coordinator and head of the international projects department at Dnipro Polytechnic, for her support and assistance. Special thanks to our lecturer – PhD in Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation Anna Pavelieva for thorough preparation for participation in the program. During the meetings of the students’ scientific club "Philology" Anna Kostiantynivna constantly tells us about the possibilities of Erasmus+ programs and motivates us to try our hand. So, with her help, I have already sent about a dozen applications for various trainings and exchanges under the Erasmus+ Programme, and this is the second such project in which I have participated, " – commented student Victoriia Shefer.
Since cultural evenings are part of Erasmus+, Victoriia Shefer offered to represent Ukraine. Here is the feedback received at the end of the project by Ukrainian youth from participants from other countries:
- "So that you understand, the Ukrainian cultural evening was the most emotional for all of us… So thank you for touching us wholeheartedly";
- "We really appreciate the fact that you, despite everything, were there, and we really enjoyed dancing your traditional dances... Hopak, right?";
- "My friends and I have already agreed that when the war is over, we will take cars, quad bikes, some construction tools, and we will go to help rebuild this amazing country!";
- "So we will hope for a meeting as soon as possible. The next project is the reconstruction of Ukraine! Save the dates!"
"It is a great honor to represent our country at such a difficult time for it. And the support shown by foreigners is worth a lot. This makes it clear once again that the world is all of us, common people. I hope that there will be more such projects in the lives of our students because this is a great opportunity not only to deepen our skills in a particular topic, but also to make friends with wonderful people with similar values!", – sums up Victoriia Shefer.
Earlier, the scientist of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation took part in the webinar "Information Hygiene during the War", participated in the academic mobility program Erasmus+ "Future Skills Now", and future translators participated in the online training "Volunteers without Borders".
Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
