Friendship across borders: How a school exchange broke the ice!

Friendship across borders: How a school exchange broke the ice!

Rust, Deutschland - The challenge of puberty, which both parents and young people present with great tasks, can be enriched by international students. These experiences, as organized in the region as part of programs such as Erasmus+, are invaluable. When schools come together and initiate joint projects, there is a wonderful opportunity to make friendships across cultural differences. This also shows an impressive memory of a student exchange between German and French students who were skeptical at a train station. A first impression that was not necessarily inviting.

The teachers, on the other hand, greeted themselves in a friendly manner, which initially did not rub off on the students who seemed more to live in their own world. To break the ice cream, the parents organized a common grill event-a popular way to bring people together. However, the author, who describes this experience, initially had little confidence in the effects of grilling and instead decided to go to the Europa-Park with her daughter. On the way from Baden-Baden to Rust, the young people were shy at the beginning, but the mood in the amusement park was transformed: apart from the laughing rides, the two girls who were still a little reserved began to smile together.

The student exchange program Erasmus+

The famous youth exchange program Erasmus+ enables young people from different countries to work on joint projects for up to 21 days. The focus is on the expansion of skills and the awareness of social conditions as well as cultural differences. There are also workshops, debates, intercultural evenings and many other activities that not only promote exchange, but also strengthen the self -confidence of the participants. "Erasmus+ Jugend" is part of the program that has supported learning mobility and cross -border projects for around ten million Europeans since 2021.

For 2025, around 43.2 million euros in funding in Germany are available in Germany to enable young people to experience this valuable experience. Projects are mostly organized by youth organizations or informal groups of young people; However, individual applications are not possible. Nevertheless, it is an exciting way to get to know new people and to meet each other in an exciting framework.

personal memories and the future of exchange

The experiences in the Europa-Park warn us that learning outside the classroom is essential. The personal exchange not only promotes understanding and tolerance, but also makes a decisive contribution to the personal development of young people. Memories like that of the author and her daughter testify to how friendships can arise, even if the first impression is reserved. When laughing and playing together in the amusement park, the connection between the German and French girls was profound - a nice example of how important such programs are.

In this sense, it is to be desired that interest in international student exchange continues to grow and that more and more young people are given the opportunity to participate in these enriching experiences. The encouragement of having a good knack for friendships can create new horizons that extend far beyond your own four walls. And so it remains to be hoped that not only the grill event, but also many other occasions will follow to strengthen the band between different cultures and countries.

If you want to learn more about the possibilities that Erasmus+ would like to learn, you can read on the relevant websites: Stadtanzeiger reports that ..., [European nations informs about …] (Https://youth.europa.eu/GOOL-Ad-yth-exchanges/erasmus-youth-you-all-need-know_de), and Erasmus+ offers comprehensive information….