How the «Farm not Harm» youth exchange shattered stereotypes about farming

The Erasmus+ youth exchange «Farm not Harm” recently took place in Poland. And we’re ready to tell you all about it—without any formalities or “manuals.”

Teams from Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary immersed themselves in a completely new vibe for a few weeks to prove that sustainable development, ecology, and modern agriculture are a powerful trend and a great career opportunity for young people.

It all started from backstage

We believe that thorough preparation is the foundation of any great project. That’s why, from March 12 to 15, our very own Bohdana checked out the Polish village of Welgolas during a preparatory visit (APV). While everyone was planning their workweek, the leaders of the participating countries were putting together the upcoming exchange like a puzzle.

What happened there? About the food and vibe: the first few days were all about casual bonding by the fireplace, walks through the forest, and getting to know the location. On the business side: the team didn’t just hang out; they meticulously mapped out the team leaders’ responsibilities, participant preparation, and even the tedious (but so important for donors and transparency) Excel spreadsheets. That’s where they brainstormed a bunch of workshops to make the exchange an incredible success!

Life on a Real Farm: Breaking Stereotypes

The «Farm not Harm» project was a complete reset for the participants. Just imagine: a total immersion in rural life, since the young people lived on a real family-run organic farm! Through informal education tools, teamwork, and real-world practical tasks, we tackled some very important issues:

Understand: how modern farms operate and what environmental awareness is;
Learn: what are the key aspects of organic food production and waste management;
Explore & Discover: where career opportunities in the agricultural sector lie and how this affects food security and national development.

An added bonus for many was trying out a vegetarian diet (spoiler: it’s incredibly delicious—everyone loved it!) and constantly improving their spoken English through real-life conversations.

A Ukrainian wedding that won over foreigners

At the cultural evening, our team put on not just a presentation, but a full-fledged performance—a traditional Ukrainian wedding! We created some awesome decorations, held a workshop, and got everyone so fired up that our authentic decorations now officially adorn the Polish venue. Now that’s what we call leaving a lasting mark on the project’s history!

What do our participants have to say?

We asked the participants what they valued most. The answer is simple: support, knowledge, and real people by their side.

Serhii:

«This project is a wonderful opportunity for young people to learn about the cultures of other countries and practice speaking English in real-life situations. Most importantly, this project helped us understand the role of agriculture in our lives».

Mykyta:

«I really enjoyed the project, the facilitators, the participants, and the sessions overall. The atmosphere was great and the location was wonderful; I’d love to see more projects like this».

Tamara:

«It felt like a warm and pleasant project. It was interesting to learn how farms and agriculture work in other countries, about waste processing, etc. I really enjoyed the vegetarian food; I’d always wanted to try it. Our team also organized a beautiful Ukrainian wedding for a cultural evening and a workshop, after which the farm was left with lovely decorations».

What’s the result?

For us as an organization, this project is a prime example of how to empower young people, demonstrate professional management to our international partners, and bring about real change. The participants returned home with enhanced soft and hard skills, an eco-conscious mindset, and a readiness to take action in their communities.

Partners of the project: initiative group NOVA UA(Ukraine), Youth Verse LT (Lithuania), yellow xyz (Slovakia), Mladoevropani z.s. (Czech Republic), Kontroll V (Hungary), Global Connect (Poland).
The «Farm not Harm» youth exchange was carried out with the support of the Erasmus+ program.