Our youth at the European Leaders Camp in the Netherlands

Six young people from our YMCA took part in the European Summer Camp Young Leaders (ESYL) – an international training held in Ommen, the Netherlands, organized by YMCA Nederland.

This unique event, which has become a beautiful tradition uniting young leaders from all over Europe, gathered participants this year from the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Portugal, the Czech Republic, N.Macedonia, and other countries. Together, they learned, shared ideas, and built friendships that will shape the camps of tomorrow.

Through a four-day program filled with interactive workshops, teamwork, and practical sessions, participants learned about summer camp organization, leadership, communication, teamwork, safety, ethical behavior, and camp traditions. Of course, there were also plenty of games, campfires, and moments full of true camp spirit.

Our YMCA has been a long-standing partner of YMCA Netherlands for nearly a decade and has actively participated in this program since 2015, preparing new generations of young people who will lead the summer camps of the future across Europe.

Below are reflections from our six participants — their impressions, experiences, and inspirations from ESYL 2025.

Nikola Gelov

Arriving in Ommen — the little town that will stay engraved in my heart — was simply wonderful! Since our journey was the longest, our group was the last to arrive. We settled into our rooms, and from that moment, what I would call a total connection began! Meeting new people, exchanging thoughts, lots of laughter, games, and friendships, fun, singing, and above all, spreading positive energy! Throughout all five days, I truly felt at home. Each day carried on a new story. As the leader of my group, I was beyond proud of everyone who was part of our team! The fun and connection never ended. But as with all the good things, it had to come to an end.

Stefanija Dimitrijovska

The experience was spontaneous, filled with laughter, new friendships, and long conversations on all kinds of topics. There were around 40 volunteers and leaders who wanted to deepen their leadership skills and personal approach. That’s exactly what I was learning about there – leadership. More specifically, I learned how to apply different leadership approaches in different situations, and how one type of approach can sometimes work better than another.

Jovana Kirjakovska

I was thrilled and so grateful for the opportunity. All the activities were amazing, especially on the last day when we had an exercise about communication and communication styles. Everyone chose a color that represented him/her, so we discovered how different and unique we all are. I made new friends and gained new knowledge and experiences that are very applicable in everyday life. I would recommend this experience to all young people, because it is something that will truly help them in their future.

Vladimir Gelov

What I liked the most was the team spirit and the interactive workshops. The sessions on group dynamics and social safety were great and helped me open up more in a team environment. I learned a lot about the importance of active listening, empathy, and safe communication within a group. I realized how small gestures have a big influence on the sense of belonging and trust in the team. This camp helped me become more aware of my strengths and how I can positively influence others. I gained more confidence in public speaking and collaborating with people of different personalities. I would definitely recommend this program to every young person who wants to grow as an individual and a leader — especially to those interested in teamwork, leading projects, or building positive community relationships.

Emilija Ilievska

I wanted to gain new skills in leadership, teamwork, and activity organization, but also to connect with people from different countries and cultures. What I liked the most was the practical part – team tasks, simulations, and interactive exercises. The atmosphere was positive, and the exchange of experiences with other participants was truly inspiring. I learned many things, like how to communicate effectively, feel more confident speaking a foreign language, handle conflicts, and stay flexible in different situations. The training helped me become more self-confident in my role as a leader and develop various skills that I can apply both in other projects and in everyday life. Some of the workshops I plan to use in my school’s youth organization. This experience is especially valuable for young people who want to grow as leaders, particularly those who wish to work with youth or in non-formal education.

Manuela Spasevska

When I heard about this event, I was excited because my previous experience was unforgettable, spontaneous, and wonderful. I had high expectations since the last camp I attended in Denmark was incredibly good. However, this one was great in its own way. I knew that every camp is different and that some experiences happen only once, in a specific place. The beauty of the event lies in that feeling – the daily sessions were full of interaction, communication, and personal growth. Through games and team workshops, we created a six-day family. Besides learning about friendship, empathy and creating a warm atmosphere where everyone feels safe and brave, I also learned about teamwork, creating safe environments, organizing camps for different age groups, communication types and working with children. All these professional and personal skills are things we will carry back and apply in our YMCA work.

Photos from this unforgettable experience of our young leaders.