I arrived in Puck thinking I had nothing interesting to tell, and I had never edited a video in my life. A few days later, I was watching my own short film, built around a small object I'd brought from home and a few old family photos. What moved me most was the group process: being truly heard, and learning to listen to others. I left with a film I'm proud of and a real belief that everyone has a story to tell.

Era

As a youth worker, I was looking for a creative method that really reaches young people with fewer opportunities, and digital storytelling turned out to be exactly that. Making my own film first, from script to editing, showed me how vulnerable, and how empowering, it feels to share something personal. The facilitator sessions and the theatre workshop on dealing with challenges gave me tools I can use straight away. I came home with a concrete plan to try the method with my own youth group.

Zita

Spending nine days in Puck, just a few steps from the Baltic Sea, with youth workers from all over Europe was an experience in itself. Sharing rooms, working in small groups and talking late into the evening, we went from strangers to a real team surprisingly fast. That trust is what let us open up and share our stories – huge thanks to the Autokreacja team for creating such a safe space. On top of the new skills, I gained real friendships and a few future project partners.

Csongor