NOORTEVAHETUS
Name of the project: R3 – Reuse, Recycle and Reduce
Date: 21st to 29th October 2018
Country/City: Dinnyési, Hungary
What was the main topic of the event?
Tairi Laats – Environmental issues and good practices of R3.
Karoliina Lorenz – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Markus Orub – Reduce, reuse, recycle.
Evelyn Pil – The main topic of the project was the R3 tree and we learnt how to reuse, reduce and recycle all the waste they we produce
Kirke Pärnapuu – Reducing, reusing and recycling in everyday life, cutting down waste production and saving the environment.
What was the biggest learning moments on the event for you?
Tairi Laats – As I was one of the main facilitators of the whole project, i learned something every moment. The most interesting was to discover the situation in other participating countries and to find out life hacks to reduce our waste and be more environmental friendly.
Karoliina Lorenz – At the very beginning, I found out that every little aspect, that we learned, I can use in my every life. All in all, I think that local action was the biggest surprise and learning point from me, because on that moment I realised, that me myself can help to clean the environment and also can talk with the locals about R3. Until that time we were a little bit in a comfort zone, because we did your workshops in our youth exchange group and we weren’t talked with other people outside this project. That’s why the interview in Budapest was also really important, because we had to talk with strangers and got to know how they recycle. For me, talking with strangers is not difficult, but talking with strangers in english is, because I don’t feel smooth when I talk in english. At this moment I had to put to aspects together, talking with strangers and talking in english, and then I realise, that talking about this subject that I know is not so scary that I thought.
Markus Orub – Changing the mentality that change doesn’t start from me, if I try then that little change will trigger a butterfly effect that the earth really needs at this moment
Evelyn Pil – I think I learned the most when we talked about our countries and how we manage our trash. It showed me a lot about the other countries and i was so surprised. I got to know much more about the other cultures. Also all the workshops taught me how i could reuse reduce and recycle many of the things i have in my home.
Kirke Pärnapuu – The fact that a lot of other countries don’t have national recycling systems. Garbage gets thrown on the streets and into the rivers. Compared to others, Estonia is quite advanced in that field. Also other countries’ habits, like Moldovians planting trees and using walnut shells for heating purposes.
Do you have any plans to continue active in the field? If yes, what?
Tairi Laats – I am and will continue being an active member of NÜH by writing and coordinating more projects and I try to spread the word about Erasmus+ opportunities to give this cool experience to more young people in Estonia.
Karoliina Lorenz – For beginning, I have planned to speak up little more about environmental fields during some conferences or among my friends. I can improve myself, but for me is important that people around me also know why and whom these actions are good. Likewise I have dreamed about being a full-time volunteer at some organisation, where I really want to help and contribute my time and ideas, that may like to other people to have this influence of being involved in the field what interests you.
Markus Orub – Yes, being vegan for a month (maybe more, we will see) and also creating a tradition of planting trees
Evelyn Pil – Yes, I loved the idea of this project and I really want to do something towards our world. I hope to use the knowledge i got from the project in my own home and give tips and tricks to my friends. And i also want to participate in some other projects.
Kirke Pärnapuu – I’m studying sustainable development in Tallinn University so being active in that field is my dream. Hopefully in the future I will be able to make an actual change in Estonia and maybe even in the world. Also after the project I have changed some of my habits and talked even more, than before, about R3 and raising awareness among my friends and family.
Would you recommend it to your friends? I yes, why? If not, why not?
Tairi Laats – Definitely! Erasmus+ projects are a must try thing in life. They are educative, exciting & eye opening. And of course give you a chance to travel and meet different cultures.
Karoliina Lorenz – I would definitely recommend this experience to my friends, because I feel that during those exchanges person gets to know himself or herself a little bit more. I mean it as a self-development. Also, these people, their background and stories are also so important, because at first we don’t know why we are interested in some kind of subjects, but in time we will discover, that people around us makes us better in every way! Besides, I liked this subject, even if at first I thought that I don’t have the knowledge of speaking with others or do the workshops, but sometimes it’s good to try something new, for example, I got to know this subject a little bit more. You may never know – maybe this subject will play an important role in your life.
Markus Orub – Yes, it was almost life changing and have many new perspectives on my everyday life.
Evelyn Pil – Yes, I would 120% recommend it to my friends because this experience is something that is so hard to get somewhere else. I could leave my comfort zone and i got so many amazing friends. So i think it is definitely a place where everyone should go to grow as a person.
Kirke Pärnapuu – Definitely, yes. It was an amazing experience, not just because of the topic, which was perfect for me, but because of all the people. You get to meet new people during these projects and make connections that may be useful in the future. Plus, you get to travel to different places and discover various cultures.
More comments or anything else you would like to share? You can add here in your own language, if you want!
Karoliina Lorenz – I just have to say, that I really appreciate the job that your organisation is doing. You actually make miracles, because meeting new people and get to know about new subjects helps so much to grow and be more self-aware of every day life. I will hope that you will do your job along and one day I hope to do same thing as you do. You are an amazing example for all of us!
Markus Orub – You might doubt the decision of going at first, but during the trip you realise how bad of a thought that was because everyone one is awesome and you learn a lot of things during the week!! Recommend to all.
Evelyn Pil – My team was amazing and i always felt that i could feel comfortable with them. Team leaders never gave out this intimidating aura and I trusted them so so much.
Kirke Pärnapuu – This project was my first ever youth exchange and it was wonderful. It inspired me to do more projects like this and I got so many new friends from it. I have talked about it to a lot of my friends and encouraged them to be part of these exchanges too. The only negative thing during our stay in Hungary was the bad WiFi. Not being on social media wasn’t the problem, but some of the tasks included uploading content on Facebook etc and it made it difficult to do so. Everything else was good.
This Project was financed by European Commission’s Erasmus + Programme