A sunny week of February by the sea, 47 youngsters from Spain, Portugal, Estonia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Italy, and Romania came together for an Erasmus+ program called "The Future is ECO." Organized by Arousa Moza, we stayed at a cozy hostel just in front of the beach, co-living, learning about the topic, discovering Galicia and for sure, having fun.
We worked with the topic of sustainable tourism, starting our own businesses, and learning about protection of the environment. But it wasn't all only "serious" stuff! We spent also time outdoors doing activities like hiking and even dressed up as dinosaurs for a parade during the local carnival. Why dinosaurs? To remind everyone how important it is to take care of our planet and avoid going extinct like them!
During this week of activities we had the opportunity to learn in totally different and original ways. For example, we performed a simulation of the local city council and political groups, in which we practiced our debating and public speaking skills to vote for or against a new large hotel in the old town.
The most intense part of the week, however, was the creation of original ideas for sustainable tourism-based businesses. We started with the analysis of local issues in each country, spent another session brainstorming, and continued designing our ideas as a group, with a SWOT analysis. Finally, we had the opportunity to present and vote our projects to the audience. A moment full of intensity and emotion!
But not everything was based on activities, we had the opportunity to share our cultures with intercultural theme nights of each country, and on a day trip we went on a nature trail to the monastery of Armenteira, nestled in a typical Galician Atlantic forest.
After the hike, we also had time to visit Cambados, a charming town steeped in history. We wandered through its streets, soaking in the stories of the past.
As we said goodbye to our new friends and the beautiful coast of Galicia, we left with more than just memories. We left with a determination to make a difference in the world, one small step at a time. So, wherever you are, remember: the future is ECO, and we all have a part to play in keeping our planet green and healthy. Here's to more adventures and making the world a better place, one day at a time!
Text: Lucas Docampo Gacio