The project “Interexchange Academy – A Co-Creative Academy of Peacebuilding, Social Inclusion and Greener Future” brought together motivated young people from Ukraine and Germany to share knowledge, ideas and joint learning. This is an educational initiative supported by the Klitschko Foundation, DFB-Stiftung Egidius Braun, Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps, aimed at developing the personal potential of participants and preparing them to deal with life’s challenges.
Two students of Poltava Polytechnic – Vladyslava Herashchenko, a student of group 301-FM, speciality 292 International Economic Relations, and Viktoriia Boiko, a student of group 301-FF, speciality 035 Philology, took part in the Erasmus+ youth exchange “Interexchange Academy – A Co-Creative Academy of Piecebuilding, Social Inclusion and Greener Future”, which took place on 24-28 October 2024 in Berlin, Germany. This is an international educational project for young people aged 16-20 from Ukraine and Germany who want to learn how to deal effectively with challenges and develop leadership skills. The project was supported by the Klitschko Foundation, DFB-Stiftung Egidius Braun, Erasmus+, and European Solidarity Corps.
“Our goal is to teach young people skills that they can use in their volunteer work, as well as in their studies, training and careers,” – said Tobias Wrzesinski, Managing Director of the DFB Foundation Egidius Braun, who, together with the Klitschko Foundation, is organising the academy for the fourth time.
The exchange programme participants shared their impressions of the project.
A student of group 301-FF, speciality 035 Philology, Viktoriia Boiko said that the aim of the project was to bring together creative and motivated young people from Germany and Ukraine who dream globally and are ready to act locally to exchange thoughts and ideas.
“The project’s programme is unique and based on Volodymyr Klychko’s “F.A.C.E. – the Challenge” method. Each day of the project covers one of the blocks of the “F.A.C.E. – the Challenge” method. On the first day, we worked with the F – Focus component, which is about combining personal and collective vision.
The second day: A – Agility, which means being proactive and planning our actions.
The third day: C – Coordination, which is about finding synergies with the environment.
The fourth day: E – Endurance – endurance, which is the long-term implementation of positive actions.
The Academy lasted from 24 to 28 October. Each morning started with a run and outdoor exercises, which charged us with energy for intense classes and workshops. The sessions were held in an incredible atmosphere where I felt like I was moving in the right direction and making progress. During these days, we focused on strengthening mental health and developing the skills needed to successfully deal with life’s challenges. It was an invaluable experience thanks to the amazing people, organisers and speakers!
A special event was the day of travelling around Berlin, when we went on a boat trip along the Spree River in the sunshine. On board one of the best ships, the Pioneer One, media experts Justus Enning and Eleanor Quick spoke about the topic of “Fake News and Journalism”. It was a lively discussion about disinformation and media responsibility, after which we had the opportunity to participate in the podcast with a question: “What message would you like to convey to the authorities?”. These were exciting moments full of emotions, but the most valuable thing was the experience.
We also visited the German Bundestag – from the impressive entrance to the panoramic view from the dome. It gave a fascinating insight into political life. We finished the day with a tour of the historic Olympic Stadium.
I am sincerely grateful to everyone who contributed to the creation of this project, especially the Klitschko Foundation. You are amazing! From the moment I received the winning letter to the end of the project, you were my support and motivation.
There is nothing better than gaining experience, developing your personality, and meeting new people through travel. I urge everyone to apply for projects and volunteer programmes, participate in online events, learn new things and expand their horizons. Everything is in our hands!” – says Viktoriia Boiko.
Vladyslava Herashchenko, a student of group 301-FM, speciality 292 International Economic Relations, said that “Interexchange Academy” is about intercultural exchange, new acquaintances, diverse experience that fills you with motivation and inspiration.
“The days in Berlin were very busy and exciting. We studied the F.A.C.E. the Challenge methodology from Volodymyr Klychko, which changes the attitude to difficulties and challenges in life and teaches you to face your fears. Not to be afraid, but to see an opportunity for growth. Guests were also invited to the training sessions: Daniel Siebert, a well-known German sports judge, who shared his experience of overcoming difficulties, details about his career and answered all the participants’ questions; Paula Isringhausen, a sports psychologist, who shared useful information about mental health and stress management.
My favourite part of the programme was the tour of Berlin’s sights – we visited the Bundestag (German Parliament), the Olympic Stadium and had the opportunity to see the city on the ship “The Pioneer One”, which is the editorial office of a German podcast. Participants could even take part in the podcast and use it to address the German or Ukrainian parliament and deliver their “message”. The sense of the scale of this city, its history and culture truly impressed me and inspired me to return more than once.
Also on the last evening, we were visited by Croatian singer Mijo, who shared his thorny path through his art and created an atmosphere where everyone could tell an exciting and complex story of their life, receive tremendous support from the participants and advice.
It should be noted that the organisation of the project was at the highest level, and all participants are sincerely grateful to the Klitschko Foundation and DFB-Stiftung Egidius Braun for this. We stayed in a cosy neighbourhood of Berlin – Spandau, where we could enjoy the autumnal views of the city, peace and quiet. Everyone around us was extremely friendly and cared about the maximum comfort of each participant.
New acquaintances became a special value of the project for me. The Ukrainian and German participants quickly became friends, supported each other, shared their traditions and discussed the cultural characteristics of their countries. In a few days, some of us became close friends, and it was really hard to leave. Upon returning, each participant had to complete a project – in groups or individually – using and being inspired by the knowledge they had gained. Most chose to work in groups, which will allow them to keep in touch with each other in the future. I sincerely recommend joining such initiatives, in particular the Interexchange Academy, as this project is organised annually. It is an incredible and inspiring experience that will certainly remain in everyone’s memory,” – says Vladyslava Herashchenko.
“Projects that promote intercultural exchanges are an integral part of the modern educational environment’s development. They help students not only acquire new knowledge and skills, but also enrich their worldview, foster tolerance and openness to other cultures. Through such initiatives, young people learn to work together, support each other and develop the leadership skills necessary for successful professional growth and social development. Participation in such events motivates them to go beyond their comfort zone, develop leadership skills and better understand their role in the global community,” – highlighted Anna Pavelieva, Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation, Coordinator of International Cooperation at the University.
Recently, an international master student told about her experience of studying under the credit mobility programme in Wiener Neustadt (Austria), a student of our university became a silver medallist of the All-Ukrainian German Language Olympiad, and an International Training Centre for Economic Security and Financial Investigations was opened at Poltava Polytechnic, a student of the Educational and Research Institute of Oil and Gas took part in the annual scientific conference and exhibition ATCE in the United States of America, a delegation of Poltava Polytechnic attended the inauguration of the academic year at Białystok University of Technology, Poltava Polytechnic will cooperate with the leading university of Poland, Warsaw University of Technology, Professor Emeritus of Białystok University of Technology Volodymyr Onyshchenko congratulated his colleagues on the beginning of the new academic year.
It should be noted that Poltava Polytechnic teachers can participate in academic mobility programmes and internships, and students of Poltava Polytechnic have the opportunity to study abroad under the grant programmes of credit academic mobility for a semester or a whole academic year at the leading universities of Austria, Greenland, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, and the Czech Republic.
For more information about the current academic mobility programmes, please contact the International Relations Department (room 320-F, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua) or the Coordinator of International Cooperation of National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” – Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation Anna Kostiantynivna Pavelieva (room 310-C, email: kunsite.zi@gmail.com, phone: +3-8-(095)-91-08-192).
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