KA152 – Wear the Change: The daily report.

Day 1: 15/07/ 2025

Today started very early — by 4 a.m., we were all at the airport, sleepy but excited for what was to come. Our flight was scheduled for 6:15 a.m., heading to Munich.

The flight went smoothly. We were all exhausted, so we took the opportunity to sleep a bit. They offered us chocolate and water on board, which was a nice touch.

When we arrived in Munich, the sun was shining, and the weather was mild. We had to wait about an hour at the airport for our next flight to Zagreb.

On the plane to Zagreb, some of us slept again while others watched a movie. We met Portuguese actor Paulo Pires and his family on our flight.

The flight lasted only an hour, and before we knew it, we were landing.

Once in Zagreb, we looked for information about bus and trains. We took bus 209, which took about 35 minutes to reach Kvaternikov trg. From there, we took a tram and got off at Glavni Kolodvor.

By then, we were starving, so we decided to have lunch at McDonald’s. It hit the spot — we were all satisfied and took the chance to catch up and chat.

Since there was still time before meeting the other participants, we went to a nearby park. We lay down on the grass and took another quick nap — well deserved.

When we woke up, we went to meet the rest of the participants. We introduced ourselves and got on the bus, which drove for about two hours to our final destination.

Upon arrival, we settled into our rooms with roommates from other countries. We had some time to get organised before dinner — spaghetti bolognese, which tasted amazing.

During dinner, we chatted with some new people, took care of some paperwork regarding project responsibilities, and stayed around a bit longer talking.

Later on, we went back to our rooms and sat by the window, looking at the stars. The sky was absolutely full of them — truly magical. We even went outside to enjoy the view better. Professor Rui joined us and taught us some fascinating things about constellations and astronomy. It was a special moment — peaceful and filled with wonder.

It was already quite late, so we headed back to our rooms, got ready for bed, and went to sleep. Tomorrow, a new day full of discoveries awaits.

 

 

Day 2: 16/07/ 2025

The day began with a delicious breakfast that gave us the energy we needed for everything ahead. Right after, we jumped into a hilarious icebreaker involving a banana, we had to peel it, cut it, eat it, and… well, let our imagination take it from there. It was light-hearted and definitely helped break the ice, getting everyone to laugh and feel more comfortable around each other.

Following that, we moved into a group activity focused on generating ideas for sustainability. Each group brainstormed creative solutions for a more sustainable future. It was amazing to hear different perspectives, and the discussions we had were both inspiring and thought-provoking.

After lunch, we had a bit of free time to relax, socialize, and enjoy the good weather. In the afternoon, we took a deeper dive into environmental topics. We explored the environmental impact caused by different human activities, and each country shared how these issues play out locally, from the causes of pollution to current efforts being made to prevent it. It was a powerful reminder of how connected our actions are, even across borders.

Later on, group leaders came together to plan the next steps of the project, while the rest of us took the chance to rest, reflect, or chat with new friends.

We closed the day with dinner and the Croatian Intercultural Evening. It was a beautiful celebration full of music, dancing, traditional food, and warm energy. We got to learn more about Croatian culture in the most engaging way, by experiencing it together. It was the perfect way to end a meaningful and vibrant day.

 

 

Day 3: 17/07/2025

We started the day with breakfast, then had our Morning Gathering, where we spoke a bit and began to connect as a group.

After that, we moved on to a “Getting to Know Each Other” session, basically a lot of talking and sharing, but in a relaxed and open way.

Later, we went through the Guidelines and Security part, where we discussed the rules, safety measures, and how we can create a respectful and safe environment during the whole exchange.

We had lunch, which was also a nice moment to chat a bit more with people and settle into the space.

In the afternoon, we worked on Concerns and Expectations. We talked about how we’re feeling, what we expect from this experience, and what we might be worried about. We wrote everything down on post-its and shared them with the group.

Then came one of my favorite activities so far: Trust Building. In pairs, one person was blindfolded while the other guided them. It was really interesting, it made me reflect on how much we rely on trust and communication, even with people we’ve just met.

At the end of the day, we had a short Reflection Session, where we talked about what stood out to us today and how we were feeling.

Later, there was a Group Leaders Meeting, and then we all had dinner together.

We finished the day around a campfire, sharing our intentions for the project. It was such a cozy moment, I felt a sense of unity and curiosity for what’s coming next.

 

Day 4: 18/07/ 2025

After breakfast, we moved on to the day’s activities. We went into great depth on the subject of fast fashion, with various group dynamics, always focusing on exchange and collective learning. Before lunch, we had an online meeting with activist Perica Štefan, who brought important and inspiring reflections.

In the afternoon, we continued with more challenges and discussions about fast fashion, its social impacts and other relevant topics. We debated in groups, which allowed us to get to know different points of view and learn even more. Then we had a moment of reflection guided by three questions, something simple, but which made us stop, think and talk about deep issues. Doing this as a group also brought us closer together.
After dinner came the reading of the gossip box tickets, which guaranteed a good laugh and broke the ice of the busy day. We then took part in the intercultural evening, with presentations about Romania, Portugal and Brazil (represented by the Brazilian women from the Portuguese group). It was an incredible moment to learn more about the cultures, dances, music and typical foods.

We ended the evening with a lot of interaction, laughing, dancing, playing and really connecting with the other participants.

Today was a day full of activities, exchanges, learning and joy. I learnt a lot, had a lot of fun and felt even more connected to everyone around me. Every moment spent here has been a unique opportunity to grow, discover myself a little more and find out even more about the world around me.

 

 

Day 5: 19/07/2025

In the morning, we had Open Space, where participants from the exchange hosted their own workshops. It was really cool to see everyone sharing their skills and passions.

I joined different sessions, and there were options like: Origami – super calming and creative / Cindy Hop dance – lots of laughs and energy / Yoga – a peaceful moment to stretch and relax.

It was amazing to see how each workshop brought something different to the group and allowed us to connect in new ways.

After lunch, we had our little fashion moment!

We got to be models for the upcycled clothes we created yesterday. It was so fun seeing everyone’s creativity come to life, some outfits were hilarious, others actually looked really cool and wearable. It felt like our own mini runway show.

Then we had a Clothes Swap, where everyone brought clothes they no longer use and we all exchanged. I found a few pieces I really liked and it felt good knowing this way of “shopping” is more sustainable and community-based.

After dinner, we had a cozy Movie Night. We watched an episode of Black Mirror, which really made sense with the theme of fast fashion and how technology impacts our lives. It left us with a lot to think about.

Today reminded me that learning doesn’t always have to be through lectures or serious talks. Sometimes we learn the most through creativity, movement, and just being open to new experiences. I’m excited to see what tomorrow brings!

 

 

Day 6: 20/07/ 2025

The day began with breakfast at 8:30, followed by our first activity: a 3-hour game called “Textile Untangled.” This interactive session explored the fashion industry’s production chain within the framework of the Zero Waste Program. We reflected on the amount of waste, pollution, and environmental impacts caused by the fashion sector.

Afterward, we had lunch and continued with our next activity: “Forum Theatre – Working Factory Conditions.”During this session, we discussed labor conditions in the fashion industry. Later, we split into small groups to create short performances highlighting different impacts of fashion, such as biodiversity loss, water overuse, and overproduction. We also proposed possible solutions to these issues.

To wrap up the educational part of the day, we engaged in a drama exercise called “Statues,” visually representing the negative impacts discussed earlier.

Following a quick national delegation meeting and a team leader meeting, we had dinner together.

In the evening, it was time for Intercultural Night, featuring Germany and Spain. It was fascinating to learn more about their cultures, and we ended the night full of energy and excitement!

 

Day 7: 21/07/2025

The last day of the project – The Return Journey

The day had not yet dawned, but the end was already in sight. Before seven o’clock, the wooden house on top of the hill, the Planinarski Dom in Omanovac, awoke to the final act of a play written by many hands and in many languages. The rush to the showers was silent, almost ceremonial, as if each gesture contained the nostalgia of what had not yet been lost but already hurt. The urgency of breakfast competed for space with the clock, that old tyrant that respects neither hugs nor promises. The bus, merciless in its mission, waited at 8:15. We left.

From above, Omanovac watched us leave, with the same serene expression of mountains that know everything and say nothing. The trip to Zagreb was made in a dense silence, filled with thoughts. Each of us, in our seats, was already feeling a sense of longing. Upon arrival, the bus, which had been an accomplice to laughter and songs days before, now became the scene of farewells. Each country had its own time, its own route, its own destination. Some talked about Zadar, others about Barcelona. There were those who ventured to hitchhike to Vienna or Graz. But while time allowed, we gathered one last time in front of the train station, on a terrace that welcomed whispered promises, lingering glances, and knowing silences.

It was midday when the Portuguese group got up to continue their journey. The tram took us to the central bus station and, with it, more hugs, more tears, more of those words that are never enough to say everything. We spent the afternoon in a mixture of exhaustion and emotional digestion, between flights that were announced slowly, stomachs that marked the hours more accurately than any clock, and airport prices that reminded us that reality is always just around the corner.

At 10:30 p.m., we returned to Portugal. But a part of us stayed there, in every tree in Omanovac, in every glance exchanged, in every laugh shared. Because there are encounters that, even if brief, remain etched in our minds like beacons. And there are goodbyes that are not the end, but only a comma before the reunion.