In my case, it led an insecure girl with little travel experience to become a confident organiser and team manager. A girl with friends all across Europe and the wider world, part of a community.

Back in 2013, I worked with incoming EVS volunteers arriving in Russia, and my boss asked me to consider becoming a SALTO multiplier. I remember vividly how curious and anxious I was travelling on my way to my first SALTO event in Georgia.

Upon my arrival at Tbilisi airport, I was met by a very friendly and outgoing local host, who welcomed me by saying how Georgians are fond of Russians; that we should forget about political differences between us, and that I should feel welcome in Georgia. The story concluded just when our taxi turned from the airport highway onto a smaller street; I realised this was George W. Bush Avenue, passing to Lech Kaczynski Street. I already felt that this trip was going to be a great adventure.

Once we arrived at the hotel, I knew I was going to meet my soon-to-be-colleague Ruzanna, who’d been involved in Youth in Action and EVS work in Russia for quite some time, and was a top authority on European mobility programmes. I had never met her, and found the prospect quite intimidating, feeling as a total newcomer to the world of SALTO. I decided to approach Ruzanna during one of our coffee breaks and as I was getting my pitch together – and Ruzanna was getting her coffee – someone put on some music and Ruzanna casually broke into a samba. I then understood that SALTO was no ordinary community.