Impressions of a youth worker: Two weeks in Brussels
Author: Nur Ecem Uslu, Türkiye (Participant on behalf of Education and Future Technologies Association - EFTA)
Hello everyone,
I’d like to share a few reflections from my time in Brussels, Belgium, hosted by CERA Europe, where I recently joined the ECHOES project, which is co-funded bythe Erasmus+ Program as a youth worker through EFTA.
I’m a Turkish student doing my Master’s in Development and International Cooperation Sciences in Rome, Italy. So, when I got accepted to take part in this project, I was genuinely happy. First of all, Brussels is a bit of a dream city for me — as someone who’s into politics and EU affairs, it’s always been high on my list. Secondly, contributing to climate action advocacy felt like a meaningful way to put my interests and values into practice.
Getting There the Low-Carbon Way
Since we’re talking about sustainability, I chose to travel by bus and train instead of flying. It felt like a small but conscious choice to lower my carbon footprint — and to be honest, it was also more affordable. I took a 12-hour bus from Rome to Munich (going through the Alps), spent two rainy days in Munich, and then a 6-hour train to Brussels. A bit long, but worth it.
Learning, Sharing, Reflecting
On the first day of the program, we learned more about CERA Europe and its work. Hearing how much time and energy people are dedicating to environmental issues was encouraging, especially at a time when politics in many places feels uncertain or discouraging.
We had conversations around climate change and policy in our respective countries, including Portugal, Turkey, Belgium, and Italy. I shared my experiences about sea pollution in the Marmara (check) and the increasingly intense wildfires in the Mediterranean region. These issues hit close to home, and our discussions reminded me how important it is to keep talking about them and spreading awareness, even on a small scale.
A Creative Fundraising Model
One of the most interesting visits was to YOUCA, a youth-led NGO. Their approach to fundraising really caught my attention. Each year, they organize a YOUCA Action Day (more) where high school students take a day off from school to work — and they donate their earnings (€60) to a climate-related project. This year’s focus was on the Amazon rainforest.
We talked about how this model might work in our own countries, and we also had a useful conversation about what it’s like to manage youth-led spaces. I asked a few questions about working in environments where decision-making can be tricky — especially when everyone’s young and passionate. The team was honest and open in their responses, which I appreciated.
Research, Canva, and Policy
We also had a small research task, where we looked into youth involvement in climate policymaking — identifying what’s lacking and what could be improved. After writing some state of play and policy recommendations, I created a short infographic, which was a nice excuse to return to Canva and use a few of my communication skills again.
Visiting the European Parliament
One of the other memorable parts of the week was visiting the European Parliament with our team. As someone who studies EU politics and development, seeing the inner workings of the Parliament up close was genuinely exciting. It helped put a lot of what I’ve learned in class into context — and reminded me that policymaking isn’t just theory; it’s institutions, people, procedures, and sometimes even small moments of dialogue that slowly shape decisions.
A Bit of Free Time
It was my third time in Brussels, so I had the chance to reconnect with the city — its streets, languages, and of course, its waffles (and beers :P). I also visited a few old friends, and even took a short trip to Maastricht, where I did my Erasmus. It's also the place where the Maastricht Treaty was signed — the one that laid the foundation for the European Union as we know it today.
The EU Green Week
One of the highlights of the week was joining the EU Green Week, thanks to CERA Europe. I got to attend a two-day policy conference hosted by the European Commission’s DG Environment. This year’s theme was:
"Circular Economy as a Competitive Strategy"
As someone who thinks the linear economic model is outdated and harmful, I found it valuable to see how the EU is trying to steer policies in a more sustainable direction. There were plenty of discussions, different perspectives from NGOs, think tanks, and institutions, and I walked away with the clear sense that policy work is complex and slow, but still essential. Moreover, seeing some good practices inspired me for the applicability of them in Turkey or in İzmirr (with EFTA Turkey).
Final Thoughts
During the project, I also contributed to ECHOES' social media and blog content, which helped me reconnect with storytelling and communication, something I hadn’t done in a while.
Overall, I learned a lot, not just about climate policy and youth engagement, but also about how ideas are turned into real-world actions, even if imperfectly. I’m thankful to the trainers, organisers, and participants for the conversations, and I hope future youth workers find the experience just as meaningful. Grateful to have been part of this.