This year's theme was 'Shape the Future – It Depends on You(th)'. We explored issues such as democracy, climate change, and discrimination, and learnt how our exchange years can influence us and the future. We learned how a small action can have a big impact, whether in our school, online, in our local communities or elsewhere.

Every exchange student could choose from five different tracks: Speak Up: Media and Participation; From Ideas to Reality: The Art of Debating; Everyday Changemakers: Local Action, Social Impact Sprint: From Puzzles to Purpose' and 'Values into Action: Building Your Personal Path. After breakfast, we all attended our track sessions until lunchtime.

In the afternoon, all students had the opportunity to talk with other exchange students from their home country. We discussed our expectations, fears and hopes regarding our return home. As there were also a few students who had returned home a few weeks before YES, we heard their perspective on what it was like to arrive home, what had changed, what had come as a surprise, and how they had coped.

Thanks to the hot weather, we were able to do lots of things outside and enjoy swimming at the beach. There was also a very interesting football match where volunteers played against exchange students. Those who did not want to play could watch the Germany vs. Ecuador game in the evening.

After dinner, we could do whatever we wanted. We could rest at the beach, stay in our room, dance and sing, and so on. Thanks to the volunteers, we could participate in activities in our free time, such as a pub quiz, karaoke, game night and much more.

The whole YES was an amazing experience, and I am happy that I went, as I was thinking a lot about not going. I met amazing new people, or people I had known before my exchange. It was fun to see how much they all changed. After 5 days, we all went back home by the shuttle-bus. Although some students, including me, got picked up by their family.

Hanka from Germany – inbound student 25/26, and Lucka Bohdanecká – Volunteer Coordinator