ROUTE TO YOU(TH) - INTERCAMBIO JUVENIL

Movilidad Europea

Durante la última semana de Septiembre 2025, Cantabria Oriental recibió un grupo internacional decidido a superar sus límites, salir de su zona de confort y construir hábitos saludables dentro de un programa cargado de experiencias, retos, y sobretodo, autoconocimiento.

Route To You(th) se consagra como el primer intercambio juvenil bajo el abanico de los proyectos Erasmus + implementado a través de la organización juvenil El Cencerro Joven, y su estreno, no dejó indiferente a nadie. Este proyecto reunió jóvenes entre 18 y 30 años con unos objetivos claros:

Redescubrir la alegría en el deporte, explorar sus técnicas de meditación y crear hábitos duraderos y beneficiosos.

El proyecto reconoce los retos a los que se enfrentan los jóvenes, como los sentimientos de aislamiento, el descuido de la salud física y la dificultad para adaptarse al cambiante panorama mundial. Al combinar los beneficios del deporte, la naturaleza y la atención plena, nuestro objetivo es empoderar a los participantes para que desarrollen resiliencia, adquieran hábitos saludables y fomenten un enfoque consciente y saludable de su bienestar general. A través de esfuerzos colaborativos, aspiramos a contribuir positivamente a la vida de los jóvenes y promover una comprensión holística de la salud y la conciencia de uno mismo.

El camino hacia uno mismo comenzó de la forma más inspiradora posible para estos 30 jóvenes. Prueba de ello, dejamos algunos testimonios que ayudan a reflejar que ocurrió entre el 22 y 30 de Septiembre de 2025 en algún lugar remoto de Cantabria Oriental.

The “Route to You(th)” project felt like hitting pause on the rush of everyday life. For the first time in a while, I had the space to breathe, to slow down, and to understand what was really going on inside me. Living with people from all over Europe wasn’t just interesting—it changed the way I saw myself. We cooked together, messed up together, laughed at silly things, and supported each other when someone had a rough day. It genuinely felt like being part of a small temporary family.

The activities we did pushed me more than I expected. Some days I felt strong and motivated, other days I was out of my comfort zone. But that mix of emotions taught me a lot. Surfing, trekking, training, meditating… each experience forced me to listen to my body and to the thoughts I usually ignore when I’m busy scrolling or rushing around. I realised how much I needed to slow down and how good it feels to be present.

Being surrounded by different languages and cultures also changed me. I stopped worrying about making mistakes when speaking, and I started enjoying real conversations—honest ones, where you learn about someone’s story and they learn about yours. It made me more open, more patient, and more curious.

In the end, this project gave me something deeper than new skills: it helped me reconnect with myself. I came home feeling lighter, more aware, and more determined to take care of my well-being. It wasn’t just a project—it was a reminder of the kind of person I want to become.

-Gennaro

Being part of the “Route to You(th)” project was a refreshing break from my usual rhythm. It gave me the space to slow down, reset, and pay attention to myself in a way I hadn’t done in a long time. I didn’t realise how much I needed that until I was actually there.

Living together and trying different sports was what really made the experience special. Everyone was included, no matter their level, and that created a sense of belonging that made even challenging activities feel approachable and fun. Whether we were outside exploring, doing mindfulness exercises, or working on creative tasks, each moment brought something valuable.

A big part of the project’s impact came from Álvaro and Isa. They didn’t just organise activitie, they brought in friends they trust, people who immediately created a welcoming and positive atmosphere. Having those people around made a huge difference; it was cozy, supportive, and simingly effortless. It reminded me that the magic of a project doesn’t come from fancy activities or big plans, but from the right people with the right attitude, those who make you feel included, seen, and motivated. That, for me, was the real added value.

Thank you guys, may we meet again ❤️

-Guilia

Route to Youth was not just a project, it was a moment in my life where something shifted gently but profoundly. I arrived without expectations and yet I found a space that allowed me to breathe, reconnect and see myself with new clarity. In that setting, between nature and people who became unexpectedly important, I rediscovered a side of me that had been silent for too long: independent, courageous and eager to embrace the unknown.

Surfing for the first time felt like a metaphor for the entire experience. Standing in front of the waves, unsure but excited, I realised how alive I felt when I stopped overthinking and simply trusted myself. That moment awakened a courage I hadn’t felt in years.. the courage to try, to fail, to laugh and to try again. It touched something deep inside me, something I didn’t know I was missing.

Living together was another journey on its own. Sharing spaces, meals, mornings, routines and responsibilities created an intimacy I didn’t expect. Even simple daily tasks (cleaning, organising, supporting others) became acts of connection. They made us feel part of something bigger than ourselves, a small community where everyone mattered. Step by step, we turned into a family, united not by similarity but by presence, kindness and shared experience.

What stays with me most are the quiet moments of sincerity: a conversation that opened a new perspective, a gesture of support when someone needed it, the warmth of feeling completely accepted. There was a beauty in the way we held space for each other, in the natural way trust appeared among people who had met only days earlier.

This experience changed me in ways I am still discovering. It gave me space to breathe, to feel, to grow. It reminded me that I am capable of more than I allow myself to believe and that connection has the power to shape us deeply.

Route to Youth will stay with me not as a memory, but as a turning point. A reminder of who I am becoming, and of the parts of me that I now refuse to lose again.

-Daniela