By Vakhid Dadaev. Photo by Kamila Neuman. After the first partner meeting in Pernik, Bulgaria, November 26 – 29, 2019.

We went to Bulgaria in search of a key for connection. Who are we? Special ones. The philosophy of this project is that each person is unique so we had to find ways to break the ice between different people and in different life situations.

The main theme of this project was the art of movement and dance, but this doesn’t mean that only artists took part in the project. There was a place even for me – a person with many insecurities, always shy and have no connection with dance.

Meeting in Movement 1 with local youth. Day 1.

We broke the ice amongst participants from the very first activity. Everything around us was charged with energy and positivity. We moved a lot and we talked a lot. I believe this was one of the most important experiences. This moment helped to look into myself and to go on a journey through the world based on feelings. At the same time, it helped me to better understand people around me. A test of trust, an attempt to understand without words, care for others, the opportunity to learn more from the traditions and experience of people from other cultures. It felt amazing to realize that we have a lot in common such as words, national songs and traditional dances.

Five days were not enough, because participants got to know each other better during the training and didn’t want to separate. Participants that came from different backgrounds learned to work towards a common goal.

I became more confident, the wall between me and other participants disappeared as the result of care and kindness of people around me. I felt like I was surrounded by family. I want to thank everyone for an unforgettable experience! You helped me to find the key for connecting with people in various life situations. Where to find this key? Someone special has it.

the Key to Connection is implemeneted in the framework of Erasmus+: Youth in Action  programme – key action 2, Strategic Partnership for exchange experiences.