Youth Power in Warsaw: EUSA Youth Exchange
The European Universities Combat Sports Championships wasn’t just about the action on the tatami and in the ring! Behind the scenes, the event was powered by a new generation of leaders. Alongside the fierce competition in Warsaw, the EUSA Youth Exchange 2025 took place, bringing fresh energy and focusing heavily on youth opportunities, mobility, and the true spirit of volunteering.
Co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, youth exchanges are dynamic, non-formal learning experiences. They are designed to bring young people together from different countries to help them become active citizens, connect with the European project, and develop essential life and career skills.
This year’s edition gathered 26 enthusiastic participants from four countries: Albania, Croatia, Poland and Slovenia. The journey kicked off on August 20 with high-energy ice-breakers and wrapped up on August 26 with a powerful reflection session, where participants planned how to bring their new knowledge back to their local communities.
Throughout the week, it was all also about learning by doing. The participants didn’t just sit in workshops; they also attended dedicated sessions and got their feet wet when it came to event organisation, volunteer management and leadership, exploring also ote European pathways like the European Solidarity Corps. For many, it was their first such experience and directly connected to a major international sporting event.
To spark creativity, the youth participants also took on a special "One Photo, One Story" challenge. They captured meaningful moments from the Championships and shared the stories behind them, creating a fantastic collective mosaic of memories from Warsaw.
The verdict? A total success. Participants walked away with sharp new professional skills in sports event management and a massive boost in personal competencies like problem-solving, leadership, and adaptability. They expanded their networks, built international friendships, and stepped into the wider European sports community.
By combining intercultural dialogue with real, hands-on experience, the EUSA Youth Exchange in Warsaw proved once again that the future of sport and society is in great hands!
The EUSA Youth Exchange is an Erasmus+ KA1 mobility in the field of youth, co-funded by the European Union. Find out more about such opportunities: https://erasmus-plus.ec.