Last summer, our participants Nela, Jaroslav, Semen, Petra, Tomáš and Unni went on a youth exchange Swamp Savers, which took place in Cottobus, Germany from 31 August to 8 September 2025. This international project brought together young people from 7 European countries to take action for the environment while fostering intercultural understanding and cooperation.
Hosted in Brandenburg, Germany, known for its extensive peatlands, the program combined practical conservation activities with educational workshops on biodiversity, climate protection, and political engagement. Participants worked towards a shared goal – to renature a former petland, build and install nesting boxes for birds and bats, and explore methods of sustainable land use, such as composting and to raise awareness about their role in climate and biodiversity protection.
Unlike a typical youth exchange, Swamp Savers offered participants the chance to directly make an impact while learning from one another and developing new ideas for sustainability and community action. Read further to see what the participants had to say about their experience.🙂
Earlier this year, we joined an international project in Cottbus, Germany, where 44 young people from 7 different countries came together with one mission: to restore a local swamp. It was an unusual experience – far from classrooms and conference halls, our “workshop” was nature itself.
We joined forces to protect local wildlife, take concrete action for the climate, and experience how teamwork and sustainability can go hand in hand.
Main activities included physical work in the forest as we were working for four days on restoration of the wetland. It is important to maintain wetlands as they are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and combating climate change. With great dedication, we dug ditches, erected walls made of wooden posts (black locust from the forest) and then sealed them with clay, sand and stones. This resulted in a total of five new seals made of natural materials that retain water and enable the formation of new moorland areas. The improvement was visible within a few days.
The work was often physically demanding. But what really shaped the project for us was not the challenges, but the people. As the program was not as strict, creativity and teamwork became our strongest resources. The group quickly became a community. We learned to organize our own activities, from dancing and singing evenings to museum visits.
Accommodation was simple yet comfortable and encouraged a sense of community among all of us. Sharing facilities with others became a valuable lesson in patience, adaptability, and teamwork. Even when things weren’t perfect, the group approached every situation with creativity and good spirit – from organizing small cooking sessions to enjoying local food together, every moment became part of the learning experience.
Cottbus itself turned out to be a quiet and charming little city, offering us peaceful walks and a feeling of small-town coziness.
The project itself, though challenging in some parts, gave me something much more valuable than comfort: it gave us friendships, unforgettable evenings, and the realization that even when things don’t go as planned, a group of motivated people can still create meaningful experiences together. If you want to challenge yourself, meet amazing people, and see how international teamwork can work in practice, we would definitely recommend joining such projects.
„This project in Cottbus wasn’t always easy. But what I gained was priceless: new friendships, evenings filled with music and laughter, and the experience of creating our own fun as a group. It reminded me that the best memories often come from people. For anyone looking to connect with others and challenge themselves in a completely new environment, I’d recommend trying such a project at least once.”
– Semen
„As a first-time participant in an Erasmus+ project, I didn’t have many expectations. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised by what a wonderful group of people came together for the „Swamp Savers“ project. The focus on sustainability and environmentalism was what drew me to the project, and I truly enjoyed the work in the forest. Even though the organizational part wasn’t always perfect, I would still recommend this kind of program to anyone who is aware of the impact humans have on the environment and wants to be part of the solution, even if just a little bit. The group of people, all interested in the same topic and eager to learn from one another, was simply the cherry on top.”
– Petra
„One of those Erasmus + projects where you actually spend decent time doing the work you were promised to do. So I recommend it to those who actually want to help create swamps to combat climate change and restore biodiversity to Germany.”
– Tomáš
The Erasmus+ project Swamp Savers is co-funded by the European Union.
