During September 2-14, 2022, an international youth exchange was held in the city of Zakopane (Republic of Poland) under the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange programme "Empowerment Youth People on the Job Market", which was organized by the Polish organization fundacja "Szukamy Talentów" and the Ukrainian NGO "Vzayemopomich". The participants of this year's project were 32 young people from four countries of the world – Ukraine, Italy, Spain and Poland, who discussed the topical issues of job search and successful employment in leading European countries.
The fourth-year student of the specialty 035 "Philology" of the National University "Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic" Yana Kharchenko and the 2021 bachelor's graduate of the Faculty of Philology, Psychology and Pedagogy, laureate of the 3rd M. V. Gogol City Literary Prize Anna Boiko took an active part in the international youth exchange and joined the discussion of topical issues of youth policy. According to the participants, the problem of finding a job and successful employment does not lose its relevance in highly developed European countries, and this problem has become especially acute in Ukraine. Due to the full-scale invasion of the russian federation on the territory of our state, thousands of its citizens cannot fully work, study and choose their own professional activity. Participation in such international exchanges is an additional opportunity to draw the attention of the world community to solve acute social problems, establish a fruitful dialogue with the youth of European countries, and find optimal ways to solve the situation in the modern labor market.
The project participants improved the skills necessary for a successful job search on the labor market and further employment, learned to work in teams, and honed the ability to conduct business negotiations. In general, this project enabled young people to expand their existing practical knowledge, develop their own entrepreneurial abilities, and acquire the skills necessary during recruitment.
Young people from different countries of Europe took part in various master classes and trainings on skills necessary for successful employment, which would help reveal their own potential for future employers, learned how to write a resume and cover (motivational) letter, and how to behave during an interview. In addition, the participants tried themselves in the role of entrepreneurs, developing ideas for their own companies, and also began to better evaluate their opportunities in the labor market.
Each team represented their country at the cultural evening, and introduced the guests to the culture and traditions of their own state. The students of the Poltava Polytechnic not only showed the participants from Italy, Spain and Poland how beautiful and rich our country is, but also told in detail about the events of the Russian-Ukrainian war. It was extremely pleasant to feel the moral support and compassion of Europeans to the terrible events taking place in our country.
Within the scope of the project, the participants also explored the nature of Poland and enjoyed the incredible views of Morskie Oko – the largest Tatra lake and walks along the Tatra National Park.
At the end of the international youth exchange, all participants received appropriate certificates.
"During the project, the representatives of other countries impressed us with their ease and openness, and it even felt as if we had known each other long before the exchange program. Despite the fact that this is my first serious experience of participating in international exchanges, the time spent together exceeded all expectations.
I am sincerely grateful to the public organization "Vzayemopomich" for the opportunity to take part in this project, words of special gratitude to my teacher, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation of the Poltava Polytechnic Anna Kostiantynivna Pavelieva for her help, organization, useful advice and support! After completing the project, I significantly improved my English, became more confident and creative, learned more about how to be competitive in the labor market, and just had a great time. I advise everyone to try themselves in this type of exchange programs!" – commented a participant of the exchange, student of the Faculty of Philology, Psychology and Pedagogy Yana Kharchenko.
Previously, a student-translator became a participant in the youth project against discrimination, xenophobia and bullying, the students successfully presented their eco-experience and held a charity auction, the philology students mastered practical skills in the field of ecology and environmental protection, considered the problem of alcohol addiction and methods of combating it, raised awareness of cultural diversity and studied the problem of refugees/migrants and internally displaced persons.
Recently, the Polytechnic scientist shared a selection of volunteer programs of the European Solidarity Corps, and the participants of the scientific club discussed the peculiarities of translating Ukrainian realities into foreign languages.
Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
