Mobility specification

Country:Greece

Institution:Youthmaker Hub

City:Athens

Program:Erasmus+ traineeship

Activity type:Traineeship

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies / Department of International Relations and European Studies

Study level abroad:Bachelor

✅Check the boxes

How would you categorize your internship?Social sciences

💼How-to: Interning abroad

How did you discover this internship opportunity?MU website

Can you describe the role you held during your internship?I was an EU project manager assistant at Youthmakers Hub.

What specific responsibilities and tasks did you do during your internship?Supporting Team Members: Collaborate with experienced professionals to assist in various project-related smooth execution
Event Support: Support both online and offline events, from planning to execution, ensuring seamless coo positive participant experience.
Opportunity Identification: Identify suitable channels for sharing events and opportunities, contributing to project reach and impact.

Did your tasks align with the pre-defined conditions?yes

Did the internship meet your expectations?yes

Did you apply any theory you learned at university during the internship?no

How well did you manage to communicate in a foreign language?perfectly

Did the institution have any special requirements?Technical knowledge (e.g., specific software skills)

Do you have tips on how to make a great impression on the institution?Youthmakers Hub is an ever evolving Non-profit, they’re open to opportunities and even more open to newcomers. Be open and be curious about everything, they’re very accommodating and understanding.

How competitive was the selection process? Did you have to go through an application procedure?I did have to go through an application process. I wrote a motivational letter and emailed that along with my CV. Once they deemed I got the criteria, an interview was held with HR and the co-founder present.

Why would you recommend students do an internship?I had no prior expectations because I never had the privilege to work in the field before, but the team made the transition as smooth as possible.

Wallflower or extrovert, I think this is one of the best places to start, and even stay if you connect with the work on a deeper level.

💰And how to fund it?

What were your average monthly expenses during the internship?8000 CZK/month

Did the institution provide accommodation?no

If not, how did you find it?There are housing/accommodation websites for short to long term stays in Athens. I will caution the use of these websites, both for potential scams and high commission fees. So please do research before hand or contact a local for advise if possible.

Did you have any unexpected expenses during the internship?no

Do you have any tips on how to save money during the internship?As a student you get a lot of discounts at various stores, but some places will require you to have Greek student IDs as ISIC isn’t widely accepted, like in public transportation. So be on the look out for the specifics!

Have a monthly budget planned and don’t be so strict with it either! Design it with some leeway for fun spending on a guilty pleasure without the guilt attached.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How difficult was it for you to adjust to life abroad?no problem at all

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

How does public transport work in the city?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?The public information available for getting an Athens metro public transport card are either in Greek or hard to understand. I would advise going to major stations like Syntagma or Monastiraki where you can ask for guidance with the receptionists there. They will most likely speak English too, so communication will be easy enough. There are ticket vending machines available right before the metro gates where you can purchase a ticket with card or cash.

I mainly relied on the metro because buses were usually (extremely) late or no-shows. But if there isn’t a metro available, connect with the trolley-busses instead, or prepare to walk long distances for another bus stop.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Athens was a must see at every corner. There are the famous stops like the Acropolis and Ancient Agora, for the history lovers. The city centre had a bustling nightlife, with tourists from everywhere. Personally, I loved to visit the piers at sunset. They also have a vibrant cafe scene, lots of cat cafe (although cats are everywhere already), but Exarchia was my favourite neighbourhood to find a new cafe in.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?I went to Aegina, a neighbouring island, and it was calming. If you’re planning island trips, it requires a lot of driving or biking if possible, the public transport on smaller islands are few and far in between.

Share your best experience:I went to Athens in the later half of the year and enjoyed going to historical places for a reduced fee or for free because of European heritage days, which was amazing as a student. But as a person, my team organised a birthday/farewell event for me and my fellow intern, which was incredibly thoughtful.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Greece is a Mediterranean country so it’s warm even well into winter, but it does get colder, just not as cold as Central Europe.
A must have for wherever you go is a power bank, no power may mean you’re lost in a foreign country with no direction.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?I was blessed with the opportunity to see my dream destination — best decision ever.