Maryna Makukha, a master’s student majoring in “Architecture and Urban Planning” at the Educational and Research Institute of Architecture, Construction and Land Management of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, took part in the youth exchange under the Erasmus+ program “ARTiculate to Create: Art for Change”. The project, implemented within the framework of the EU Erasmus+ program, took place on the island of Malta and united active youth from six European countries: Ukraine, Malta, Serbia, Luxembourg, Poland, and Hungary.
The exchange was organised by the organisation Friends of Don Bosco Malta. The main goal of the project was to empower youth in using art and culture as practical tools for civic activism, democratic participation, and social change.
The exchange program, which lasted from November 14 to 20, 2025, was packed with workshops, role-playing games, and creative sessions. Participants explored how various art forms – painting, music, theatre, digital media – can amplify community voices and foster intercultural dialogue.
Maryna Makukha shared her impressions of participating in the academic mobility program: “People have always been my greatest source of inspiration – particularly those whose eyes are alight with genuine faith in what they do and a thirst for change. It was in such an environment of incredibly motivated, creative, and active personalities that I found myself during the “Articulate to Participate” project in Malta. Such an intense atmosphere reigned here that every conversation, joint action, or even momentary everyday episodes became an impulse to move forward and achieve more.
The key vector of our work was the exploration of art as an effective tool of activism. Through the prism of intensive practical and theoretical sessions, we came to realise more deeply how creativity can transform social processes, unite communities, and give voice to those who are usually unheard. It was not only a theoretical experience but also a complete immersion in practice: we went through the process from the inception of an idea to the development of a strategy and the presentation of ready social initiatives. Especially valuable were master classes with specialised experts – in photography, storytelling, and public speaking – which opened new facets of creative self-expression and influence for us.
A separate discovery was the location itself. Malta is an island that enchants at first sight. For the first time, I felt its unique rhythm so deeply, where majestic architecture and ancient history intertwine with incredible natural landscapes. The atmosphere, full of Mediterranean lightness and cultural multilayering, became the ideal background for learning. Every walk, every sunset, or accidentally found picturesque corner only intensified the impressions of the project.
This journey acquired a profoundly personal, symbolic meaning for me, as I met my birthday on the final day of the exchange. Instead of loneliness far from home, I felt incredible warmth in the circle of new friends from different corners of the world, who during this time became almost like family to me. Sincere laughter, warm wishes, and shared stories made this day a memory I want to keep forever. It is hard to imagine a more beautiful and meaningful conclusion to this adventure”.
Maryna Makukha’s story is a vivid example that studying at Poltava Polytechnic goes far beyond the classroom and that our students have real opportunities for self-realisation at the international level. Participation in Erasmus+ projects allows not only to improve language skills or find new friends but also to return home with a baggage of ideas capable of changing our society for the better.
The university will continue to support initiative youth on their way to European horizons comprehensively, so this experience should become an inspiration for every student: do not be afraid to apply, discover the world for yourself, and become a creator of change today!
Previously, Maryna Makukha participated in Erasmus+ youth exchanges “YouthARTiculate: Voices for Social Change”, “STARTArt – Stimulating Talent in Arts through Resources and Training for Art entrepreneurship”, “Art Myths Culture”, the first and second parts of “The Power of Young Artists”, “Into the wild”, took part in the 8th International Conference ICAMES 2024, and as part of a delegation from the Polytechnic, represented the university at a large-scale event hosted by a Latvian partner university.
As a reminder, faculty members of Poltava Polytechnic are eligible to participate in academic mobility and internship programs. Students can study abroad through Erasmus+ credit academic mobility grant programs for a semester or a full academic year at leading universities in Austria, Greenland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.
For more detailed information on current internship, teaching, and academic mobility programs abroad, please get in touch with the International Relations Office (office 213-C, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua) or the coordinator of international activities at the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” – Anna Pavelieva, Ph.D. in Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation (email: kunsite.zi@gmail.com, phone: +38-(095)-91-08-192).
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