Sait KOÇARSLAN

Ten Days with Wonderful People in Kilis

Hello, I’m Sait Koçarslan.

I took part in the “No More Walls, Europe Calls” Erasmus+ youth exchange held in Kilis between 28 August and 7 September, through KOZ-DER.

Having previously joined different Erasmus+ projects and done long-term volunteering, I had some idea of what these projects could offer me. But every project has its own atmosphere. For me, the best part of this one was that it was both very productive and gave us the chance to build strong connections with many people in a short time.

Every Day We Created Something Together

Our days were quite busy throughout the project. Almost every day, we produced at least two different outputs. We worked in groups, shared our ideas, prepared presentations and took part in different role-play games.

One of the activities I enjoyed most was the Eurovision role-play. We also did an activity in which we created and represented our own countries. It was great fun to form our countries, communicate with other groups and defend the ideas we came up with.

Sometimes we would be discussing a serious topic, and a few minutes later we would take on a completely different role in a role-play. This meant the days were more than just training sessions. We were learning while having fun.

I think our trainer, Mazlum, played a big part in this. He was very friendly and easy to talk to. That helped create an environment where we felt comfortable sharing our ideas and asking questions.

It was also important to me that the organisers who looked after us throughout the project tried to support us in every way. Being there when we needed them and giving us opportunities to try different activities made the project much more comfortable.

We Explored Kilis Together

One of the lovely things about the project was having plenty of opportunities to explore Kilis.

We visited different cultural and historical places together. When you live in a city, you can sometimes overlook certain places over time. Exploring with friends from different countries also gave us the chance to see our own city and region through their eyes.

We also went to Gaziantep for a day. There, we visited museums and different cultural sites. Being able to tell friends from other countries about the history and culture of our own country was a lovely experience for me.

Cultural Evenings

The cultural evenings were another part of the project that had a special place for me.

We prepared to introduce our country and culture to the other participants as well as we could. Rather than talking only about Türkiye’s food or a few traditional elements, we tried to share as many different aspects of our culture as possible.

Watching the other countries’ cultural evenings was just as enjoyable as presenting our own culture. I had the opportunity to learn about cultures I previously knew little about directly from friends from those countries.

I think the beauty of these activities is that you come to know people beyond their countries. After a while, instead of saying “my friend from Bulgaria” or “my friend from Azerbaijan”, you simply start seeing them as your friends.

The Best Part: The People

Meeting new people was one of the most important things I gained from the project.

I met many people from different countries and listened to them talk about their cultures, daily lives and thoughts about their countries. At the beginning of the project, we did not know one another at all. But after a few days, we began eating together, chatting, exploring and spending time together all the time.

Ten days is not really a very long time. But when you spend so much time together, you can become close to people very quickly.

When I said goodbye to some of my friends, I honestly felt as though we had known one another for years. I think that is one of my favourite things about Erasmus projects. Someone from another country can become truly important in your life in a very short time.

Saying Goodbye Was Hard

When the project ended, the hardest part arrived: saying goodbye.

It was not easy to say goodbye after ten days to the people we had met on the first day. Leaving the people we had been with every day, laughing, working and sharing good times together, left a bittersweet feeling.

When I left Kilis, I was not thinking only about the work we had done during the project. I was also thinking about the little moments we had shared, our conversations and the friendships we had built.

The project is over, but I hope most of these friendships will not end with it.

Thank You

First of all, I would like to thank the KOZ-DER team for allowing me to be part of this wonderful experience. I would also like to thank Halil, who looked after us and supported us throughout the project; our trainer Mazlum, whose energy and warm approach made the project even better; and all my fellow participants with whom I shared these ten days.

“No More Walls, Europe Calls” was a project in which I learned a great deal and had a wonderful time. Meeting people from different countries, sharing our culture, learning about theirs and creating many things together was a truly lovely experience for me.

Most importantly, when I left Kilis, I took with me more than a project experience: I took many wonderful memories and new friendships.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this wonderful project.