Hello, my name is Yousef, I am one of the people who had the pleasure to participate in the EYE (European Youth Event) event in Strasbourg in June 2023 as part of the Ascend project. The event was no more and no less than a blast. I had been part of a group which was really nice, full of really energic and nice people with a lot of life experiences to talk about and share, which made every single day unique because you always had something new to learn about the people.
Blog post written by Yousef Ayyash – Student at the National University of Political and Administrative Studies, Romania.
A continuous sharing of knowledge
As for the event I had some interesting experiences, to say the least. I had the occasion to learn about Mental Health post-Covid-19, which was really important since I am shaping up to be a psychologist. The mentors were really nice and entertaining to watch, so it did not feel like a seminar, but it felt more like a continuous sharing of knowledge between them and the participants, with really creative activities which gave everyone the opportunity to shine.
“Minister for a Day”
I even had the opportunity to be a minister for a short while and be part of a grand council making quick and prompt decisions on topics of major importance. Don’t worry I was not a real ruler; that was just the “Minister for a Day” workshop, and I am glad that it was only a workshop because I am barely able to adjust to my own life as it is.
I had the opportunity to see the opportunities and barriers of others with disabilities when it came to employment and finding a job, I even had the pleasure of talking to M. Dragoș Pîslaru (Member of the European Parliament and of the Disability Intergroup) about the integration of people with disabilities on the labour market.
As a send of note, I would like to personally thank Phillipa Tucker at the European Disability Forum (EDF) for all the insane support and a really well-structured plan of action that she had to put together for me to even be able to board the plane to Strasbourg. Thank you and I look forward to the next occasion to participate!
Do you have a question for Yousef?
You can contact him:
- by email at yousef.ayyash20@gmail.com
- by phone (upon request)
About the Ascend project
The Ascend project is funded by Citi Foundation and coordinated by the European Disability Forum. This one-year programme is focussed on strengthening the capacity of the disability movement in Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.