My experience learning about ecology in croatia

1. MY EXPERIENCE LEARNING ABOUT ECOLOGY IN CROATIA
By Martín Fernández
From 24th
November to 2nd
December 2018, I had the opportunity to participate in
an EcoActive Project in Daruvar, Croatia.
During this week we learnt a lot, but not just about ecology, we also learnt about
ourselves. The days were intensive, we had 6 lessons almost each day, but we also
had time to enjoy and visit places.
The first day, essentially consisted in learning about each other’s name, feelings,
likes… We were encouraged to work as a team not as group, and I learnt the big
differences between these two words. We also talked about our fears, expectations
and contributions to the group.
Next day, we showed the Problems of Our Community by a video we made here,
and I learnt that usually I only take care about myself and I don’t think about
ourselves, our Planet. We thought about what we do to help the environment and
how we can improve our actions. At evening we had an intercultural night
presented by Croatia and Galicia.
On Tuesday, we went out and we searched for waste, to make new things with it.
Then we went out again to take photos of the environment and we created a story
with them: what things were good and what was bad. Then, at night, we had
another intercultural night presented by Portugal, Serbia and Georgia. For me, this
evening was more interesting than the before one because I learnt and I tried more
food that I have never eaten before.
On Wednesday, we learnt how we can become a leader and how difficult it can be.
First, you’ll be the only one defending your goals, but people will come by
degrees, and then something that many people thought it was stupid, has many
followers and your goal come true. After this, we learnt how to prepare a
questionnaire, we did it and, we applied it in Daruvar’s community. We learnt that
many people aren’t interested in this topic, many of them didn’t want to talk with
us, and we realised that sometimes we do the same with others.

2. Next day, we analysed the results of the questionnaire, we had a talk in which we
learnt how waste is processed. In the afternoon we went out and we learnt tips and
tricks from Georgian people, who were scouts.
On Friday, we noticed that we had only few days more together we prepared an
event in the main square to raise awareness about the most unknown ecological
problems for people. It was too cold, and many of them didn’t come, but we were
there, for those who came.
Saturday arrived, and we reflected about what we had learnt during this incredible
project, we decided how dissemination will look like and we had the Youthpass
ceremony.
Finally, Sunday arrived, and we left between smiles, hugs and some cries… Our
returned to home had just begun and maybe we won’t see this people again in our
life.
Personally, I learnt many things about myself. For example, I know now that I like
mushrooms, that I prefer to work in small groups than in big ones, that I can stop
being so shy and I can try and try things until I get my goal. I learnt how to work as
a team, how a team can be a whole family with every types of people…
I met new people and I have new friends now which with I don’t want to lose our
friendship. I learnt about other cultures, their food, their life, their traditions,
anthems, flags… We had fun at the same time we learnt useful things and we
visited the place. The accommodation was nice, all the people very kind and
friendly. All those things made this experience unique. I would like to be there
more time, but now, I’m again in this reality, the school, the exams, my town, my
life. I will go to another project without hesitation and maybe I’ll see once more
these people I know.