The French team would like to extend their deepest and sincerest thanks to Active Rainbow for the immersive experience they provided during Simple Acts, as well as for their daily work on behalf of the LGBT+ community throughout Europe. This document is a collection of testimonials and feedback from participants about the Simple
Acts project.

Thanks to Cathy, Prato and the whole Active Rainbow team for their great work. Thank you to Erasmus+ for the opportunities they have created and continue to create to build bridges between cultures.

 

Ekkö

Simple Acts was my second project with Active Rainbow. I was delighted to be able to take part in one of their projects again, especially as I’d never been to the Netherlands and was looking forward to discovering Ommen. I came with my partner Armen, for whom it was the very first Erasmus experience. It was very powerful and moving to be able to experience this as a queer couple, to share this world with him and offer him a few days in an inclusive community.

I loved the solidarity and the reflexes of community life that were created right from the start. We were all learning to live together, with our different languages and cultures. It all happened very naturally and it was a great human experience.

One activity that stood out for me and that I loved doing was cooking together for our community. It was the first time I’d cooked for so many people, and it was great to spend time preparing the food, paying attention to specific diets (vegan, gluten-free, etc). I really had the feeling of being an active member of my community and taking care of others.

I feel I stepped out of my comfort zone during the Simple Acts project, and that really benefited me. For example, I was really scared of cycling after an accident, but I managed to cycle 37 kilometers with my project mates because they supported me and gave me confidence. We also took part in an activist demonstration to protest against the situation in Palestine, and that was a very moving moment that gave me a lot of strength.

I left the project with my heart full of love and the desire to do more activism and get involved in my local queer community. I feel that I now have the keys to being more combative and more rooted in myself and in reality.

Marti

In this project I have had a great time, I have really enjoyed the process of meeting new people and getting to know myself better. And, above all, I have always felt free to express ourselves. Despite our differences, we were able to connect on a deep level, united by the shared goal of fostering solidarity and understanding.

Active Rainbow is truly a dream organization. There should be an Active Rainbow in every city. The Youth Exchange organized this summer was a unique and enriching experience that allowed me to engage deeply with the queer community and made me new queer friends.


What struck me from the very beginning was the group’s ability to create an inclusive and welcoming space where each of us, with our own backgrounds, experiences, and limits, felt free to express ourselves. Despite our differences, we were able to connect on a deep level, united by the shared goal of fostering solidarity and understanding.

This environment, where everyone’s voice was heard, created a sense of safety that isn’t easy to find. It was inspiring to see how much could be accomplished when people come together in a space of mutual respect and openness.
One moment that particularly stood out for me was when we organized a sit-in in support of Palestine. It was the first time, for me as someone who lived in the associative world the entire last year, that an organization openly took a stand on such an issue. Until then, I had often witnessed hypocrisy among associations, so I have so much respect for Active Rainbow for breaking that mold. We can’t fight for just one form of discrimination— we have to fight to end them all.

We created something together with our minds and our hands, making a real difference.

Lucre

This summer, I had the opportunity to take part in a youth exchange in Ommen, Netherlands, as part of my ESC volunteering. I’m really glad I decided to join the project called Simple Acts, which became an unforgettable experience for me. It was my very first youth exchange, and I’m thrilled that it focused on LGBTQIA+ rights, with
the majority of participants being part of the queer community. This made it even more meaningful to me, especially since I was able to share this journey with my partner, which allowed me to feel fully immersed and connected.


For two weeks, I felt the excitement and joy of being part of something bigger. Small practices, like saying “lights” before switching lights on or off, or using the silent clap, opened my eyes to what it truly means to create a safe, inclusive space where everyone can feel respected and comfortable. These simple acts became powerful reminders of the value of respect and mindfulness, and they’re lessons I’ll carry with me always.


It was truly enriching to exchange ideas, opinions, and thoughts with people from diverse backgrounds. Engaging in these discussions helped broaden my perspective and deepen my understanding, not only of LGBTQ+ issues but also of the different ways these rights are recognized and upheld in various European countries. Learning more
about the legislative landscapes and community rights in nations beyond Italy and France (the ones I am most familiar with) added a valuable layer to my experience, opening my eyes to both the progress and the challenges faced by queer communities across Europe.


I’ll always hold close the memories of those final moments on the last day, filled with a mix of emotion and sadness as we realized our journey together was ending. Yet, this was also a time of celebration, of honoring everything we had created, shared, and built together over the two weeks. It was a beautiful farewell that underscored just how much this experience meant to all of us. I am leaving with a heart full of gratitude, new friendships, and a renewed commitment to fostering inclusive spaces everywhere I go.


This exchange has definitely sparked a desire in me to join more projects like this in the future and to be more actively involved in initiatives within my own community. Inspired by the experience, I am now part of a working group at the LGBTQIA+ center in Marseille, where we are developing an action protocol for addressing conflicts and
incidents of violence within the center. I’m excited to contribute more directly to creating safe, inclusive spaces and to continue learning from others committed to these same values. This exchange reminded me how powerful collective action can be, and I can’t wait to see where this path will take me next.

Armen

My first experience with Active Rainbow was through the Simple Acts project. I was thrilled to participate, especially since I had never visited the Netherlands and was excited to explore Ommen. I joined with my partner Ekko, for whom this was not the first Erasmus experience. Sharing this journey as a queer couple was deeply meaningful, allowing us to connect with an inclusive community for a few days.


From the beginning, I appreciated the solidarity and sense of community that developed naturally among us, despite our diverse languages and cultural backgrounds. It was a beautiful human experience, learning to live together and support one another. One activity that stood out for me was drawing and creating artwork for the
community. It was my first time using my artistic skills on such a large scale, and it felt amazing to contribute to various projects and missions. I truly felt like an active and caring member of the group.


The project also pushed me out of my comfort zone, which was a valuable experience. For instance, I joined my partner in singing during a karaoke night, something I wouldn’t have done before. Another impactful moment was participating in a protest against the situation in Palestine. The demonstration was powerful and left me feeling
strengthened and inspired.


I left Simple Acts with a heart full of love and a renewed passion for activism. It motivated me to engage more with my local queer community and embrace a stronger, more grounded sense of self. I now feel better equipped to take action and face challenges with determination.