Voices from Marrakesh: Participant Reflections from Hacktive Youth

Following our recent training course in Marrakesh as part of the Hacktive Youth project, we’re excited to share deeper, personal insights from three of our participants, Shahed, Jonas, and Victoria, each offering a unique perspective on what it means to experience non-formal learning in action.

While our previous blog post captured the overall journey of co-creating active citizenship, these individual reflections bring the experience to life in a more intimate and human way.

Their Stories

Shahed’s reflection highlights the “aliveness” of the training, rather than just structured sessions and methodologies. As he describes, this was not just a course but an experience that “draws something out of you” rather than just filling you with knowledge.  His account emphasizes the power of co-creation, the presence of local youth, and the role of Marrakesh itself as a learning environment that shaped conversations, perspectives, and trust.

Jonas focuses on the journey from challenges to tangible outcomes, reflecting on how the Hacktive Youth methodology supports participants in transforming ideas into prototypes. His experience underlines the practical dimension of the training: where creativity meets structure, as well as the importance of collaboration in navigating complexity and building meaningful solutions.

Victoria’s reflection brings a deeply personal and emotional lens, exploring the intercultural connections, self-reflection, and growth that emerged throughout the training. Her recollection goes into the more invisible layers of the experience: the moments of vulnerability, inspiration, and shared understanding that define impactful youth work.

What we can take from this

Together, these three voices paint a picture of what our project represents, which is truly focused on lived experience over pure methodology. One that blends learning with real connection, theory with practice, and individual growth with collective impact.

Through their stories, we see how our training in Marrakech was a space where ideas were tested, perspectives expanded, and a community of youth workers came together to reimagine how active citizenship can be fostered across cultures.

We invite you to explore their full reflections and discover the experience through their eyes.