During the European Universities Combat Sports Championships in Warsaw, the EUSA Youth Exchange was also held, with a strong emphasis on youth opportunities, mobility, and volunteering in sport.

Co-funded by the European Union, youth exchanges are non-formal learning mobilities designed to bring together young people from different countries, engaging and empowering young people to become active citizens, strengthening their connection to the European project, and helping them acquire and develop competences that are valuable for both life and future careers. 

After previous editions in Val di Zoldo, Italy (2023) and Debrecen & Miskolc, Hungary (2024), this year’s exchange was hosted in Warsaw, Poland, in connection with the European Universities Combat Championships. These exchanges are supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union as one of its core mobility actions.

The 2025 edition gathered 26 participants from four countries – Slovenia, Poland, Croatia, and Albania. The programme officially opened on August 20 with ice-breaking and introduction sessions, and closed on August 26 with a reflection, evaluation, and follow-up workshop, where participants discussed how to transfer the knowledge and experience gained into their local communities and future activities.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in a diverse programme of activities that combined learning, practice, and exchange. They attended workshops on event organisation, volunteer management, and leadership, as well as sessions on youth opportunities and mobility within Europe, with a special focus on Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and other pathways available to young people.

Interactive workshops helped them strengthen their communication, teamwork, and intercultural dialogue skills, while the practical part of the exchange gave them the opportunity to contribute directly to the championships. As volunteers, they supported various organisational areas, including accreditation, logistics, competition management, media, protocol, and athlete services, gaining valuable first-hand experience in international sport event delivery.

To encourage personal reflection and creative expression, participants were also given a special task called “One Photo, One Story.” Each participant was asked to capture a moment from the championships or the exchange that was meaningful to them and to share the story behind it. This activity allowed them to reflect on their experiences in a personal way, showcase their perspective, and create a collective mosaic of memories representing the exchange.

The experience proved to be highly enriching. Participants reported gaining not only new professional skills in sport event organisation and volunteering, but also personal competencies such as adaptability, problem-solving, leadership, and self-confidence. The exchange helped them expand their networks, meet peers from different backgrounds, and feel part of a wider European youth and sport community.

By combining learning, intercultural exchange, and hands-on experience, the EUSA Youth Exchange in Warsaw once again confirmed the importance of investing in young people as the future leaders of sport and society.