I was 24 years old when I first discovered Erasmus+. I was looking for ways to broaden my horizons, so I decided to apply for training with SALTO-YOUTH, which is a network of resource centres for young people within the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes. It turned out to be exactly what I needed, so I continued to participate in Erasmus+ projects. This snowballed into me eventually designing and managing projects and it’s been an integral part of my career since.

Over the last 10 years I have been coordinating Erasmus+ projects in Romania and then in Iceland. Most of these projects centred around creating learning tools on mental health topics such as emotional resilience, peer support, mental health through the arts, empowerment, and social and emotional skills. I currently work at Hugarafl, which is a mental health organisation in Iceland. The projects I’m involved with support people in their mental health recovery. They create spaces for people with mental health challenges and professionals to work together to design better mental health approaches and solutions.

For as long as I live, I will try to keep at least one foot in the world of Erasmus+, where diversity is celebrated and fructified, and innovation is a way of living.

The non-formal, experimental learning that’s possible with Erasmus+ resonated with me as it opens infinite possibilities and can be adapted to the learning needs of any individual. I loved meeting people from different cultures, many of whom became close friends. Erasmus+ inspired me to start a mental health organisation and travel across Europe, collaborating with people from different countries. I moved to Iceland where I managed several Erasmus+ projects for Hugarafl, a mental health organisation. Erasmus+ sparked my creativity and sustains my capacity to innovate. I learned a lot about myself and developed skills that I use in my personal and professional life such as cooperation, self-expression, leadership and entrepreneurship.

Erasmus+ is beneficial for everyone as it opens you up to different perspectives. It increases your capacity to understand others, which helps forge long-lasting relationships.