Student Journal: “ChallengeEU did more than connect universities”
“Being part of this journey changed the way I see Europe” – writes Gajur Memeti from South East European University in North Macedonia, a member of the Student Ambassadors Team. Representing South East European University as a Student Ambassador for ChallengeEU honestly started as something that simply made me proud. I remember when I first got the role. It felt big. Not just because it was connected to Europe, but because I knew I was carrying the name of my university with me. That realization alone made it feel important. At the beginning, everything was online. We met through screens, squares with names and faces from different countries. Even though it was virtual, there was still this shared excitement. I would sit at my desk listening to students from different parts of Europe speaking about their ideas, their universities, and their expectations. It was strange in a good way, realizing how different we all were, but also how similar our goals sounded. Still, online meetings can only go so far. You connect, but it stays limited. Then December 2025 came, and we finally met in person in Offenburg. That is when everything felt real. Traveling there was not just about attending a meeting. It felt like stepping into something bigger. We had workshops on content creation, photography, and intercultural communication, and those sessions were genuinely useful. I learned practical things. How to communicate better. How to represent something visually. How to think more carefully about the way I share stories. But if I am being honest, the most important part was not inside the workshop rooms. It was the conversations in between. The small talks that slowly turned into deeper discussions. Sharing meals, laughing about cultural differences, explaining traditions, talking about our studies and our ambitions. In just a few days, the dynamic completely changed. We stopped feeling like representatives of nine separate universities and started feeling like one team. What surprised me the most was how fast the connections felt real. We arrived as ambassadors with a title. We left feeling like we had built something personal. Looking back now, I realize that ChallengeEU did more than connect universities. It connected perspectives. It challenged the way I think about borders, collaboration, and leadership. It showed me that real impact does not begin with institutions. It begins with people who are willing to listen, to share, and to grow together. Being part of this journey changed the way I see Europe. It is no longer just a map or a concept discussed in classrooms. It is people, conversations, shared goals, and mutual respect. What started as an honor became something deeper. A responsibility I carry with pride. A reminder that when young people come together with openness and purpose, the future does not feel uncertain. It feels ours to shape. Gajur Memeti
Student Journal: “One journey can change the way you see the world”
“Every journey begins with a step outside the comfort zone,” says Ieva, a ChallengeEU Ambassador from LBTU. In her video, she looks back on the memories from the meeting in Offenburg. Wyświetl ten post na Instagramie Post udostępniony przez @challengeeu.alliance
Student Journal: “It opened a new world for me”
“Going to Offenburg and meeting the other ambassadors was definitely amazing as it opened a new world for me” – writes Georden Shaw from University of Warmia and Mazury, who took part in the ambassadors’ meeting at the HSO in Germany. Myself and two other ChallengeEU Ambassadors from UWM had the opportunity to participate in 1st Student Ambassadors Meeting that was held at Hochschule Offenburg, Germany from December 4-5, 2025. We embarked on our journey on December 3rd, from Warsaw to Frankfurt after which we took a train to Offenburg. We made our to our accommodation where were warmly greeted and welcomed by Zina Qabbani – Communications Officer WP6. She then took us to dinner at Brassiere Engel where we met with all the ambassadors. It was such a special evening filled with many introductions, laughter and many pictures/videos. Over the next 2 days, we had roughly 6-8 sessions which covered a formal introduction to ChallengeEU, a content creation and social media training, sharing of cultural experiences, intercultural communication and inclusive language workshop, creating content and lastly reflection exercises. Through these sessions, I learnt different skills in photography, way to create and post engaging content, what language is and is not inclusive among a myriad of things. These sessions were not only interactive but very insightful as we were able to explore and discuss various topics, concerns and ultimately create solutions which would aid in us ultimately achieving our goals as ChallengeEU ambassadors. Going to Offenburg and meeting the other ambassadors was definitely amazing as it open a new world for me. I love experiencing new cultures and getting the opportunity to network and connect with them was not only exciting but insightful as we shared how we were all honouring our responsibilities as ambassadors differently and this allowed us to learn from each other as well. Two of the most memorable moments from the trip were: Overall, the trip to Offenburg not only gave me intercultural connections but equipped myself and the other ambassadors with skills that will be extremely beneficial in us achieving our aim to “Challenge the Now. In Unity.” Georden Shaw, ChallenegeEU student ambassadors
