This is the personal experience of the Greek participants in Play Out!
For me these 10 days of Play Out! was a unique experience. First of all, I really liked the theme of the exchange, as I am really keen on sports and outdoor activities. In the project I had the time to play sports with people from all around Europe also also create new kinds of sports together! Moreover, I felt included in the LGBTQ+community and really free to be myself and open up to new people. In this way, I also felt a part of a community, having specific rules, expectations and responsibilities. I feel that I connected with some people and I know for sure I will keep contact with some of them. Also, it was a really good opportunity for me to practise my English and Spanish. Last but not least, I really enjoyed the cooking activities and I was really satisfied with the Active Rainbow organisation. I know for sure that if I have the chance I will join another youth exchange of theirs some time!
Zeta Voulgaridou
For me, Erasmus + projects always come with various surprises, some can hold true ✨magic✨ within. My experience in Latvia under the care of Active Rainbow has been a wholesome, wonderful one. The team managed to gather a bunch of amazing people who really loved playing together, eating together and eventually building a full community together one step at a time, one truth at a time, one hug at a time. I will keep the time that I spent there very close to my heart along with all the joy that I felt from doing sports with these people, the inspiration and creativity that connects us, so much so that we even invented new sports! Grateful for the openness, the safety and the personal growth that came as a result. Shout-out to our amazing community!!
Until next time,
Georgia Zioma
Joining this project has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Through the activities that were structured by the Active Rainbow team and the free time we had to explore on our own, we came together as a community. A community that was the perfect environment to have fun, to ask questions, to be vulnerable and honest with each other, to care for each other and take care of our personal and collective needs. Thanks to this I was able to rediscover sports and physical activity. I was able to enjoy playing again on my own terms with respect and true cooperation. I was able to experience a sporty environment that did not focus on competitiveness, but on moving our bodies for the sheer joy of moving our bodies. What I experienced during those ten days made it to one of the most magical and meaningful experiences of my life. I will forever be grateful that I got the chance to be part of it. Many thanks to the Active rainbow tem for all the work that they put into the creation of this programme.
Kona Panteri
Considering I was one of the last to join, for me, Play Out! Turned out to be one of my most successful spontaneous decisions. Though ten days may seem like a short chunk of time, it was enough for me to feel comfortable trying out things I had labeled “not for me”. From playing unconventional volleyball to co-presenting an open mic, there was so much this experience had in store for me. I got to deconstruct the icky feelings I had connected with sports and give myself the space to try without feeling the pressure to achieve something. It’s quite shocking how many new parts of myself I discovered when there was a support system there each step of the way. I could have never expected that, by the end, I would feel such strong connections with people who were total strangers just a little while ago. I am really grateful I got the chance to experience a bit of everyone’s magic from small mannerisms and seven minute conversations to the big, vulnerable talks that make your soul move a little. On the practical side, all the details were really well thought out, which I eventually realized was because the AR team created this program with the same care we prepare food for our loved ones: taking into account all of their needs, from the small ones to the big ones and sprinkling in lots of love.
Until next time,
Mirto Zagora
