ReConnection project - The final Youth Weekend Workshop – JUNE 2026
A period has come to an end, at the close of which not only the young participants, but also we ourselves returned home with countless experiences, realizations, and questions that continue to evolve within us. We gave and we received. Perhaps these words best describe the sense of mutuality that accompanied us throughout the months of the Messzelátó ("See Further") 2026 programme. The final weekend was a fitting conclusion to this journey, filled with moments that will stay with us for a long time.
From the very beginning of the programme, we wanted the participants to be able to discover themselves in a safe environment, connect with one another, and look towards their own futures with greater courage. The final weekend once again showed us how many different ways there are to grow. We witnessed small yet significant steps in cooperation, attentiveness towards one another, and open communication.
One of the special parts of the weekend was a series of conversations held separately in men’s and women’s circles. Guided by our trainers, these sessions gave the young people another opportunity to connect with one another and with themselves.
This individual work was complemented by low-rope outdoor activities, which offered both play and challenge. The participants were able to test their own boundaries and experience what it feels like to trust themselves, rely on their peers, ask for help, or take responsibility for someone else. The activities reminded us time and again that trust is not something that can be taken for granted. It is a relationship built together, born from honest communication, attentiveness, and courage.
As part of the ceremonial closing of the weekend, certificates were presented to everyone who had completed this journey with commitment. This time, however, the certificates represented much more than the successful completion of a programme. They symbolized a process experienced together, the work invested, the steps taken beyond comfort zones, the laughter, the tears, and the growth.
This training programme once again confirmed for us that the most important changes often happen quietly: in a sentence spoken aloud, a courageous step, an accepting look, or a moment when someone dares to believe for the first time that they are capable.
We trust that everything we experienced together did not end with this weekend, but will continue to live on in everyday life, in decisions, in relationships, and in the communities the participants will go on to build. The training has come to an end, but we believe that the experiences and human connections formed here will continue to illuminate their paths for a long time to come.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the successful realization of this weekend!
The venue was provided by Vila Bela in Banská Belá (Slovakia).
This training programme was implemented with the support of the European Union within the framework of the ReConnection project.
Project Title: ReConnection – Connections, integration and future planning for youth with fewer opportunities
Project Identification Number: 2024-1-SK02-KA210-YOU-000247398
This article was written by Viktória Zsoldos.
