Articles
Beyond Borders: How Erasmus+ is Reshaping Lives in the Western Balkans
What happens when young people from the Western Balkans step beyond their borders — not just to study, but to grow? Through Erasmus+, students and professors from Kosovo, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have found more than academic opportunities; they’ve found transformation. Vanesa left Tetovo during the pandemic and found a second home in Italy, where the Arbëreshë told her, “Our blood is one and the same.” Luka, from Bosnia, arrived in Bologna with a background in sports and construction but returned with a deeper understanding of culture and self. For Professor Bardhok Bashota of Kosovo, Erasmus+ wasn’t just a professional milestone — it was a mission. Teaching across Europe, he introduced others to his homeland, the youngest country in Europe, calling Erasmus+ “the only way to ‘touch’ international developments with your own hands.” In a region where international experience is often out of reach, Erasmus+ has become more than a program. It’s a lifeline — to knowledge, identity, and a shared European future.
