Arriving in Riga, Latvia was not something new for us but the experience of the project was definitely something new.
Niki:
For me, all the explaining about NVC, differences about trigger and content warning, what can be warned about beforehand and all the things that came up when designing the toolkit is what I will keep from this project. Learning about the difference of mental and emotional, what these two words mean was also very meaningful for me, as I have confused them a lot in the past. Now the meanings have ‘clicked’ in my head and I can explain more clearly what I mean in an international environment.
There were some magical moments, most of them not related to the content of the project. It was seeing a rainbow, picking apples from the neighbour’s gardens, playing music on a steel tongue drum almost every day, seeing friends again and playing music with them. Personally, anything that makes me feel like I belong, like I am part of a community is a magical moment.
Yiota:
It was so important for me to realise how far ignorance is from knowledge but also how far knowledge is from actual practice. The project showed me that safety and accessibility are not elements you simply plan and execute beforehands but an active never ending process of being alert and open to foresee and adapt to any outcome. It was an amazing opportunity to learn from each other, our experiences and struggles in our daily lives. So many misconceptions got cleared out and realising how something that for one can be something very logical and taken for granted, for another might not even be a passing thought.
Tzo:
Over 7 days, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the R3SET training program, aimed at improving the quality of Erasmus+ projects by fostering safer, more inclusive, accessible and intersectional learning spaces. From the start, we connected as a community, sharing our motivations and learning goals, which set the tone for the rest of the journey.
Throughout the week, I explored key concepts like safety, inclusivity, and intersectionality, applying them to every phase of project development. We learned practical tools, from consent and trigger warnings to non-violent communication and risk assessment, making sure we can integrate these into both local and international youth work. We examined how overlapping systems of oppression and privilege shape experiences, particularly for queer youth in educational and social contexts. One of the highlights was co-creating a toolkit focused on making sure all participants feel safe and included. Collaborating with such diverse perspectives was inspiring, and seeing our work come to life during the event in Riga was a proud moment.
As we wrapped up, I felt deeply grateful for how this program reshaped my perspective on the importance of safer spaces. It gave me the tools and understanding to not only value but actively create and hold the space where everyone feels respected, and safe—both in youth work and beyond. To everyone that was part of this journey: thank you I felt connected, genuinely cared for and empowered to continue!