When you go to an Erasmus+ project, you usually think about how the program will proceed, which activities you will take part in and what you will learn. But sometimes what a project gives you goes far beyond what is written in the program.

Model UNESCO Romania 2024 was exactly that kind of experience for me. One of the things that made this project special was that we constantly encountered situations that required crisis management. Not everything went as planned. Yet trying to find solutions together with my teammates in every unexpected situation became one of the most important gains of the project.

First step into Romania

The first day of the project began in a very dynamic way. First, we were taken to the hall where the opening conference would be held. Being welcomed with traditional dances and music allowed us to experience Romanian culture from the very first moment.

Starting a project not only with speeches and presentations, but also by introducing the host country’s culture through music and dance, was a beautiful beginning. After receiving the necessary information about the project at the conference, we moved to the school where the main activities would take place.

A small crisis, a big memory

At the end of the first day, we faced a small crisis. We learned that there would be no vehicle available for our return. At first, this was surprising. But after a while, instead of seeing it only as a problem, we decided to create an alternative.

Together with our teammates, we went out to walk around the city. This may not have been part of the program, but by the end of the day it had turned into a very beautiful memory. At that moment, I began to realize that a project is not made only of planned activities.

Crisis management in real life

These and similar situations throughout the project helped me understand crisis management not only as a concept, but as a real experience. When a problem appears, everyone may have a different solution to suggest.

Sometimes you need to make quick decisions, while at other times you first need to calm down and understand the situation. This is where the importance of teamwork becomes clear. A problem that is difficult to solve alone can become much easier when several people bring their ideas together.

The harmony within our team was a great advantage at this point. We listened to one another, shared our ideas and supported one another when needed. That is why I think the small disruptions we experienced during the project actually gave us an important skill: being able to continue the journey even when everything does not go smoothly.

We were more together now

On the second day, we went to the project venue by bus using our own means. The unfamiliarity of the first day had already begun to fade. We were talking to people more, moving together and adapting to the flow of the project more easily.

This was also the day when the project entered its closing phase. After intense work, we walked around the city. As we walked through the streets of Bucharest, we explored the city and talked about what we had experienced throughout the project.

I could feel a big difference even between the excitement of the first day and the comfort of the second day. Time spent together truly brings people closer.

The power of working together

Being in the same team with different people in an Erasmus+ project may not always be easy. There can be different working habits, different ways of communicating and different expectations. Yet the harmony we built within our team helped the process move much more smoothly.

I think being a good team does not mean that everyone thinks the same. On the contrary, it means being able to meet at a common point despite different ideas. This project showed me how important it is to trust my teammates and to make space for their ideas when needed.

Discovering Bucharest

On the third day of the project, we had a Bucharest trip. Since the project work had been completed, we had the chance to explore the city more freely.

Walking through the streets, observing the city and spending time together became a beautiful finale for the project. There is a real difference between visiting a country for a short time and spending time there with different people as part of a project.

This time, you are not only seeing the city as a tourist. You also begin to know it through the eyes of the people you have worked with.

The biggest gain for me

When I looked back as I was leaving Bucharest, the first thing that stayed in my mind was not the project schedule, but the people. My teammates, our teachers and the other participants I met throughout the project each became a different part of this experience.

Especially thanks to the support of our teachers, their guidance in the situations we faced and the way my teammates adapted to one another, the project became much more enjoyable for me. Meeting new people is already one of the most beautiful parts of Erasmus+ projects. But sometimes, even after spending only a few days with certain people, a bond forms that you will remember for a long time.

Sometimes the best memories are unplanned

Model UNESCO Romania 2024 showed me that a project is not made only of planned activities. Sometimes the bus does not come and you discover the city on foot. Sometimes the plan changes and you need to find a new solution. Sometimes an unexpected problem appears, but you overcome it together with your teammates.

That is why, when I look back on this experience, I do not remember the crises as negative memories. On the contrary, I remember the moments when we found solutions together. Because Erasmus+ showed me once again that what makes a journey unforgettable is not that everything goes perfectly, but that you have people by your side with whom you can move forward in every situation.