From 8 to 17 October 2026, a group of 15 people representing AKS took part in the Erasmus+ youth exchange “Less Display, More Milky Way” in Poland. The project explored digital well-being, our relationship with technology, and the importance of looking up from our screens to reconnect with the world around us. For our group, however, it also became a very practical lesson in communication, independence, personal boundaries, and international community life.
Interest in the project was enormous: we received 132 applications! Selecting participants was particularly challenging. We wanted to make this opportunity accessible to young people with limited international experience, those facing barriers to participation, and those who were not yet confident communicating in English. For most of our group, Erasmus+ was a completely new experience. Even the preparation process required responsibility, and a few selected applicants were unfortunately unable to join because they did not complete the necessary documentation in time.
We travelled to Poland with Greet Travel, spending approximately eight hours on a bus with regular stops to stretch our legs. Having several experienced AKS participants in the group made a significant difference. They helped newcomers feel welcome, supported the activities, and contributed greatly to maintaining a positive group atmosphere.
In Poland, we met our incredibly welcoming Polish hosts and a wonderfully energetic Portuguese group. International friendships developed almost immediately. In fact, sometimes a little too enthusiastically: newly inseparable friends began visiting one another's rooms at practically any hour, bringing plenty of noise with them. Eventually, we had to have a proper conversation about personal space, privacy, and the fact that friendship does not automatically grant unlimited access to somebody else's room. An excellent non-formal learning experience that nobody even needed to schedule!
Throughout the exchange, we explored FOMO (fear of missing out), the effects of excessive phone use, attention management, and healthier digital habits. Discussions, practical activities, and international teamwork encouraged participants to question their everyday routines. For some, working collaboratively was an entirely new challenge. They had to learn that being part of a group means listening, sharing responsibilities, compromising, and recognising that other people's needs matter just as much as their own.
There were plenty of memorable moments beyond the workshops. Cloudy skies prevented our planned stargazing, but we watched an incredibly dramatic women's handball match, managed to go fishing, and enjoyed an Intergalactic Alien Gala. Sometimes the most memorable parts of an international project are the ones nobody could have predicted.
As a sending organisation, AKS considers it particularly important that Erasmus+ opportunities reach young people beyond the usual confident, experienced, English-speaking applicants. This exchange reminded us that meaningful inclusion requires patience, practical support, clear boundaries, and space for people to learn at different speeds. Real growth often begins with the decision to participate, even when everything feels unfamiliar.
We thank the coordinating Polish organisation My Future, our Portuguese friends, and every member of the Lithuanian group for contributing to this experience!
“Less Display, More Milky Way” was funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme. VšĮ Anglų kalbos studija (AKS) participated as the Lithuanian partner and sending organisation.
More about the project: https://www.anglustudija.lt/less-display