Panayiotis' Erasmus+ experience

In November (November 3rd to 11th) I traveled to Cyprus and participated in the Games 4all youth exchange program in Pervolia Larnaca. The Greek team consisted of 6 members (Panagiotis, Eleana, Ariadne, Vassilis, Tasos, Lazaros) and participants from Poland, France, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Romania, Hungary. The program organized by the Youth Enaal Organization (Union of Saints Anargyros of Larnaca) was highly successful and entertaining. The program was inspired by the Olympic games and aimed to promote the values of Olympism such as healthy competition, dedication, ideals of sportsmanship, cooperation, teamwork and the Olympic spirit. The central idea was to promote the Olympic ideal, that sport is a human right for all individuals, regardless of race, social class and gender.

The ancient Olympic Games were a religious and sporting festival held every four years at the sanctuary of Zeus in ancient Olympia. During the games, all conflicts between the participating city-states would cease, until the games were over. The idea behind the program was to connect different cultures and social strata through sports and outdoor activities. The main goals of this youth exchange were to promote a healthy lifestyle among young people, to develop self-respect and respect for others, and to show interest in their cultural diversity.

During this exchange it was important to motivate young people to be active in our lives, to understand that regular physical exercise helps to maintain a healthy body, as well as to promote equality and tolerance in society. Using different kinds of sports and different learning methods, young people are encouraged to think about human rights as a fundamental rule of fair play in life.

The project organized various sports games, seminars on healthy lifestyle and healthy eating habits, as well as non-formal learning activities such as simulations, role-plays, group work, experiential workshops and open discussions. Also, each country held its own workshop. (The Greek team won impressions as the team with the nicest and most original workshop was voted) The youth exchange managed to connect the European Youth through many outdoor and other non-formal activities, promoting tolerance and cooperation between people from different parts of Europe as well as other European values such as equality, solidarity, tolerance and respect for diversity.

Finally, some unforgettable moments are definitely the intercultural nights of each country as we had the opportunity to get to know the culture and habits of the participants from other countries. Special credits to the Cypriot night who, as organizers, created an incredible event. Our excursions to Nicosia, Deryneia and Ayia Napa were excellent as we had the opportunity to discover the island of Cyprus more and through the various museums we visited we learned a lot about the history of Cyprus!

Panayiotis