The Six ‘Activity in the Spotlight’ Winners Shine Brightly in this May Edition of Social Impact Days 2025
When "Social Impact Days" comes around, it’s always an exciting time for renewed inclusivity and collaboration between people of all ages and backgrounds within each Erasmus community.
This year, between the 8th and 15th of May, international students, members of local communities, and ESN Sections from across 40 countries came together to take part in unique Erasmus-led events promoting a wide range of causes, including Education and Youth, Environment and Sustainability, and Health and Well-Being, among others. More than just a celebration, the event also offered students the opportunity to meaningfully acknowledge their host communities and give something back in return.
Six ESN Sections from Italy, Türkiye and Portugal have been crowned champions of "Activity in the Spotlight" for their outstanding contributions to the first Social Impact Days 2025. Each month, the ESN Section that creates the most impactful event is recognised as the "Activity in the Spotlight". However, for this Spring Edition and the first Social Impact Days event of the year, six ESN sections (out of over 400) that made outstanding contributions were selected as official winners.
To celebrate their achievements, we are excited to formally introduce you to them and highlight all of their incredible work with the hope of inspiring continued creativity and engagement across local communities for the upcoming Social Impact Days this winter!
Here are the stories behind the six official winners:
ESN AURE Camerino, Italy
On 9th of May, volunteers and students from ESN AURE Camerino came together with institutional representatives and members of the local community to attend the annual Festa dell’Europa (Europe Day). With support from EUROPE DIRECT and Unione Montana Marca di Camerino, the 2025 edition featured interactive discussions, Erasmus+ testimonials, and a strong call to action from the Vice-President of ESN AURE Camerino, urging young people to embrace their roles as active European citizens.
The event also benefited from the enthusiastic participation of ESN Ancona, the organisers of the recent Erasmus Generation Meeting, who emphasised the power of grassroots initiatives in shaping a united, youth-driven Europe.
A particularly moving contribution that encapsulated the essence of the event came from representatives of the European Commission, whose speech underlined the importance of a shared European vision for the future, one that respects and preserves the unique identity of each nation.
ESN AURE Camerino in this year’s Festa dell’Europa, raising awareness about EU opportunities in education, mobility, and citizenship.
ESN Selçuk, Türkiye
As part of Green Week 2025, ESN Selçuk delivered a two-day educational programme highlighting the importance of environmental sustainability and the circular economy. The event featured a range of interactive activities, including the Green Quiz Challenge, Zero Waste Practices talk, and Compost Production session, to name just a few.
The event inspired creativity on topics such as recycling, efficient resource use, and circular design. During the Compost Production session, participants learned how to transform organic waste into compost, while the Zero Waste Practices talk offered practical tips on reducing waste and making sustainable lifestyle changes. In the Paint It Green activity, attendees decorated eco-friendly tote bags combining creativity with environmental awareness in a fun, hands-on way.
The Erasmus Institutional Coordination Office praised the initiative, stating: “This meaningful experience raised our awareness and motivated us to take further steps towards a greener future, reminding us that creating a sustainable society begins with each of us.”
ESN Selçuk, at Green Week, fostering collaboration between community members to create environmentally friendly solutions.
ESN Trento, Italy
For this spring’s Social Impact Days, ESN Trento hosted an Inequalities and Labour Market discussion round, inviting international students to share their views on the current state of the European labour market. Contemporary digital tools such as Mentimeter were used to create an inclusive environment where participants could easily exchange ideas.
Key issues related to labour market structure, power dynamics, international mobility, job opportunities, and soft skills were explored in depth. The session helped participants gain a broader understanding of employability and skills at the European level.
Participants discussing the importance of International Mobility at the ‘Inequalities and Labour Market discussion round’, held by ESN Trento.
ESN Lisboa, Portugal
The Mouraria Tour by Migrants was a guided tour of Mouraria, a historically marginalised neighbourhood in Lisbon often subject to prejudice, led by a migrant tour guide. Organised in partnership with the associations Renovar a Mouraria and Cozinha Popular da Mouraria, the event showcased the richness, history, and challenges of the immigrant experience in Portugal.
Participants saw Mouraria through the eyes of someone who arrived in Portugal only a few years ago. Organiser Laura Martins reflected on the event's impact: “It was dynamic, surprising, and a unique experience to visit Lisbon as it is. After the tour, we enjoyed a delicious community lunch organised by a collective of migrants sharing their culture through food. The whole event was remarkable and eye-opening for everyone involved.”
ESN TEDU, Türkiye
To promote student health and wellbeing, ESN TEDU held a Mental Health Awareness Event, creating an interactive safe space where participants could reflect on their wellbeing practices. A communal Wellbeing Wall invited students to write one thing they do to care for their mental health and share it with others.
This activity encouraged reflection and normalised conversations about mental health, showing that it is a shared concern we all address in different ways. It also helped foster a sense of community, offering peer support in a casual, non-intrusive way.
At a time when many students face stress and isolation, even small-scale events like this help build more inclusive, understanding, and emotionally supportive university environments.
The outcome of the participants’ reflection on what keeps them well in life.
ESN Messina, Italy
On 7th May, ESN Messina members hosted an inclusive discussion event with Italian TV personality and social advocate Luca Abete, titled #NonCiFermaNessuno (“Nobody is Alone”). The event encouraged participants to share personal experiences with issues such as anxiety, self-doubt, motivation, and finding purpose.
Eight interactive segments allowed university students to take the floor, openly sharing challenges from their academic or personal lives, helping to dismantle the stigma surrounding vulnerability and failure. The 2025 event’s central message, that loneliness often stems from a lack of genuine connection, rather than the absence of people, resonated strongly in today’s digital world, where deeper human bonds can be overshadowed by virtual interactions.
Marianne, a French Erasmus student who spoke at the event, described its impact: “The meeting with Luca Abete was a burst of energy and inspiration, a true invitation to believe in yourself and never give up. A powerful message that goes straight to the heart and leaves a lasting impact.”
ESN Messina with Luca Abete, promoting social inclusion at the open dialogue event ‘#NonCiFermaNessuno’.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all the ESN sections, organisers, and participants who made this edition of Social Impact Days so impactful and memorable. Once again, it demonstrates the positive impact international students can have in strengthening the bond between their host communities and wider society. Bring on Social Impact Days – Autumn 2025!