Erasmus+ doesn't only fund university students. It covers a much wider range of experiences: volunteering, vocational training, youth exchanges and thematic projects. Since 1987 it has involved over 10 million people across Europe.
Before I tell you about my experience, it's worth explaining what Erasmus+ actually is — because many people don't realise it goes far beyond the classic year abroad at university. There are several platforms that offer Erasmus+ projects open to everyone, completely free of charge because they're funded by the European Union. The length varies from a few weeks to several months, and the themes are enormously diverse.
Mine was a one-week project focused on the impact of social media on the environment and on mental health. It took place in Pau, a small town in the south of France near Bordeaux.
We stayed in small wooden bungalows surrounded by greenery, far from the noise of the city — a setting that already, in itself, captured the spirit of the project. The group was made up of young people of different nationalities, each with their own background and perspective, and every day we tackled themes that feel urgently relevant: sustainability, technology, digital consumption and their impact on the planet.
It was a week in which I learnt a great deal — not just from the content, but from the people. The lifestyle throughout the project was entirely sustainable: fully vegetarian food, a conscious approach to waste, a way of living that was genuinely coherent with the topics we discussed each day.
During the week we also experienced the Pau carnival — wonderfully unexpected for such a small city. It's one of those moments when you realise that every place, however quiet, has its own pulse and its own traditions.
Before heading home I spent two days in Bordeaux. A beautiful city, with its UNESCO-listed historic centre, its cafés and the relaxed atmosphere of a university town. The perfect way to close the trip.
If you'd like to find out more about these projects and how to take part, book a free call with us — we'll walk you through everything.