THE STORY OF KASIA

In January 2024 I started Erasmus for Young Entrepreneur program in Ingalicia in A Coruna, Spain. Reflecting on my experience with the Erasmus Young Entrepreneurs program, I have to say that I feel grateful and satisfied for the opportunity to participate in this program with Ingalicia.

My first and main objective of EYE was to finally feel that I am ready to have my own organization. I need to add that from a theoretical point of view (knowledge, skills), I had already been almost ready before. But (there is always but) I was afraid of it and was struggling with how to change it. That’s why when I noticed the EYE program, I thought – it’s something for me! Working with EU projects, dealing with international partners, trying to adapt my ideas and connecting theatre with existing projects… It was something I had been working on for a few years, but the idea of managing (especially more complex projects and activities) on my own simply scared me.

I chose to do the programme in Ingalicia NGO, because it was the association who lead my final training during ESC programme. And from this moment I realised that it is great place- their way of working was professional, level of commitment was high and basically the vibe and fun when they have while working caught my attention strongly.

Thanks to these 5.5 months in Ingalicia, cooperating with my Host Enterpreuner and creating and working together, I finally felt like I am ready to do it on my own. During the time I spent cooperating with Ingalicia I had an opportunity to participate in a lot of initiatives connected to entrepreneurship in my hosting entity. That was like culmination point for me. As a trainer I was helping Spanish teenagers to creating their entities(business simulation), what’s more I have been participating in kick-off meeting of LOPPO Land of Opportunities ES01-KA220-ADU-000164911 project. The topic of this projects is about entrepreneurship in rural area. I had a possibility to get to know a lot of rural entrepreneurs and it was so inspiring! I was helping in filling application of HE projects and I wrote one project on my own.

By observing and participating actively in life of hosting entity during this 5.5 months I saw how my dreamed, “own” job looks in reality, I realized that with a little help (which I had during EYE) and with the resources I already have, I am ready and not afraid anymore of starting my own business. Thanks to networking and participating in different events and projects, I have many more contacts with entrepreneurs abroad! So I have the contacts and cooperation I was searching for.

In March 2025 I finally decided it’s this moment and I opened my own organization – Flow and Connection – Fundacja Edukacji i Kultury. I was a big step for me and EYE programme in Ingalicia had helped me in my decision! The main goal of EYE programme- being ready to open my own organization was fulfilled!

I am very thankful for participating in the EYE program. It helped me more than I thought it could. Not only do I finally felt ready to work on my own, but also I expanded the network of international cooperation, which is very important to me. I had a great time in Spain with a lot of amazing memories that will stay with me forever.