From Ideas to Action: One Week with the TDFF Community in Spain
Learning, creating and connecting in Coma-ruga
At the end of August, 31 participants from Slovenia, Germany, Spain and Portugal came together in Coma-ruga for the 6th International Travel Different for Future Summer Seminar. For many of them, it was their first TDFF seminar, while others were returning to a community they already knew well. What followed was a week full of ideas, teamwork, new experiences, laughter and plenty of moments by the sea.
Anja Žepič
The week in Coma-ruga showed once again what can happen when people from different countries come together not only to talk about change, but to actually create something together.
A glimpse of the whole week can be seen in our Summer Seminar Reel, which brings together some of the learning, creativity, travel and shared moments that shaped our time in Spain.
But a TDFF Summer Seminar is much more than simply spending a week together. It is a space where young people meet across borders, learn from each other and actively contribute to the further development of the Travel Different for Future programme.
This year, one of the main goals was to move from discussing ideas to actually creating new educational tools that can become part of TDFF activities in the future.
Green travel as part of the experience
The journey to Coma-ruga was already part of the experience. Following the green travel approach encouraged by Erasmus+, our volunteers travelled to Spain by train or bus instead of flying. For TDFF, this was an opportunity to put into practice what we often talk about in our workshops and activities: choosing more sustainable ways to travel.
But green travel brought much more than a smaller environmental impact. Long journeys by train and bus gave volunteers time to get to know each other, share experiences and connect before the seminar had even begun. This was especially valuable for the national teams, bringing together both new and experienced volunteers who come from different parts of their countries and do not often have the opportunity to meet during the year. By the time they arrived in Coma-ruga, many had already spent hours travelling, talking and experiencing the journey together – and that connection could be felt throughout the seminar.
The journeys themselves were also very different. Some volunteers travelled on their own and experienced solo travel for the first time. Others turned the journey into a small European adventure, spending a day in Barcelona before or after the seminar or stopping in different cities along the way. Instead of simply getting from home to Coma-ruga as quickly as possible, the journey became part of the travel experience itself.
And who knows what can happen along the way? New places, unexpected moments, shared adventures, new friendships – perhaps even friendships that last a lifetime. Sometimes travelling differently is not only about how we reach our destination, but about everything that happens on the way.
Learning by doing with Simulation Games
One of the central topics of the seminar was the Simulation Games method. Instead of only talking about how simulation games work, participants first experienced the method themselves through a game focused on tourism development in the imaginary town of Bonomare. Different roles, interests and perspectives quickly turned the exercise into lively discussions, negotiations and unexpected situations.
It was a good example of what learning by doing can look like: rather than simply hearing about different viewpoints, participants had to step into them. You can catch some of these lively moments in our Simulation Games in Action Reel.
After experiencing the method themselves, participants began developing their own ideas. Working in smaller groups, they created settings, scenarios and roles for three new simulation games. By the end of the seminar, the draft versions were ready to be tested by the other participants.
These first versions are not final yet. The teams will continue refining them after the seminar so that they can eventually become new educational resources within the TDFF programme. The group also explored the educational value of simulation games and collected practical advice for facilitating them, which will form the basis of an additional guide.
Building a new TDFF Toolbox
At the same time, another group was working on the TDFF Toolbox. The idea behind the Toolbox is simple: to create practical, engaging activities that can introduce TDFF topics in settings where a full workshop is not possible – for example at festivals, events or information stands.
The process started with a large brainstorming session. From the many ideas that emerged, participants selected three topics and began turning them into concrete activities. The original aim was to create methods lasting around 10 to 15 minutes, although some ideas naturally developed into slightly longer activities. You can also see our Toolbox Team at work on Instagram, where we shared some moments from the development process.
Just like the Simulation Games, these tools will now continue to develop after the seminar. The next steps include finalising the content, preparing the design and translating the materials so that they can eventually be used by TDFF teams in different countries.
This process also reflects an important part of the programme: TDFF volunteers are not only participating in activities that already exist. They are helping to create what comes next.
Beyond the seminar room
Of course, not every important moment happened around a table. A summer seminar is also about the moments in between – conversations during breaks, shared meals, beach time, volleyball, evening swims, and simply having time to enjoy being together. Our TDFF Beyond the Seminar Room Reel captures some of these more relaxed moments and shows another side of the seminar experience.
These informal moments are an important part of an international seminar. They create space for friendships to develop naturally and help turn a group of participants from different countries into a community.
One day also brought a change of scenery when the group travelled by train from Coma-ruga to Tarragona. The day included exploring the city, a guided tour, time together and some free time to discover Tarragona individually. Some of the highlights from the day can be seen in our Exploring Tarragona Together Reel.
Travel is naturally part of Travel Different for Future. But within TDFF, travelling is not only about reaching a destination. It is also about discovering places together, exchanging perspectives and becoming more aware of how we experience travel.
The seminar ends, the journey continues
After one intensive week in Spain, everyone returned home, but the work and the ideas created in Coma-ruga continue. An important part of TDFF is finding new ways to involve young people more actively in the programme – not only as participants, but also in developing ideas, contributing to decisions and helping shape future activities.
The Summer Seminar was another opportunity to strengthen this approach. The Simulation Games will now be refined, while the Toolbox activities will be completed, designed and translated. Volunteers will continue contributing to TDFF through national activities, workshops and regular international online meetings.
And there is already something new to look forward to: preparations are beginning for the next International TDFF Summer Seminar, which will take place in Slovenia in 2027.
The week in Coma-ruga showed once again what can happen when people from different countries come together not only to talk about change, but to actually create something together.
From ideas to action – this is Travel Different for Future.