Lithuania

ŽIVILĖ: I participated in the "Harmony in Diversity" project, which was focused on music. Overall, I really enjoyed this experience. I was especially happy to have the opportunity to visit Cyprus, change my environment, and improve my English language skills.

Since I already have a strong background in music, many of the activities were familiar to me, and there was not much that was completely new. However, I still appreciated the opportunity to improve, collaborate, and connect with others through music.

The most memorable activity of this project for me was learning to sing a traditional Cypriot song. It was a unique experience that helped me better understand local music.

In conclusion, I am grateful for this opportunity. The project was a valuable experience both personally and culturally, and I am glad I participated.

DAIVA: Music is the most powerful tool for social inclusion. When a young person picks up an instrument or joins a collective rhythm, their nationality, social status, or language barriers vanish, leaving only the shared creative process. Integrating the arts into social work is a vital standard that helps reach even the "hardest-to-reach" youth. "Harmony in Diversity" was intended to be more than just a theoretical reflection on tolerance; it was meant to be a practical laboratory. We arrived with the intent of bringing home concrete methods to apply in our daily work at our youth center.

However, we must regretfully admit that, for reasons unknown to us, these expectations were only partially met. Although the project featured significantly more music than typical training courses, its added value in an educational sense remained thin. We faced a considerable challenge: many participants were not music professionals, which made certain rhythmic and intonational tasks simply too difficult to execute.

Instead of evolving into deep, methodologically grounded training, the sessions more closely resembled a general jam session without a clear educational objective. The methods that were supposed to become new tools in our professional toolkit often lacked pedagogical substance. While the Lithuanian group filled the program's gaps with its own competence and preparation, we return with the conclusion that, in the international arena, high-quality arts-based education within social work is still searching for its true resonance.

TOMAS: Participating in the Erasmus+ youth worker training "Harmony in Diversity" provided me with valuable experience that enriched both my professional skills and my approach to working with young people. During the training, we explored creative methods such as body percussion and multi-voice singing, which help strengthen group dynamics and actively engage participants. We also focused on "learning how to teach" principles, enabling more effective knowledge transfer and facilitation of learning processes. It was valuable to become familiar with educational approaches from different countries and to exchange experiences with youth workers from international backgrounds.

VILMA: The project "Harmony in Diversity" in Cyprus left a mixed impression – the theme itself is very meaningful and truly worth further development, but in practice the activities unexpectedly shifted toward professional singing. As a result, participants who do not sing found it difficult to engage, while those with strong singing skills did not have the opportunity to fully express their talent due to an uneven and distracting environment. The most valuable and memorable parts were the activities related to elements of music therapy – the opportunity to reflect, recall meaningful experiences through music, and build connection. Meanwhile, the organizational aspect was very pleasant – everything was comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and thoughtfully arranged for participants' well-being.

INDRĖ: My participation in this project was a very positive experience. I felt comfortable throughout the activities and appreciated that I didn't have to step too far outside my comfort zone.

As a young youth worker who has only recently started working in this field, it was very valuable for me to meet and communicate with teachers and youth workers from different countries. I also appreciated the opportunity to practice my English in an international environment.

Overall, this project contributed to my professional development and left me with a very positive impression.