Elysium+ Germany · Beyond Borders 2026 Erasmus+ · DiscoverEU inclusion · KA155-YOU

Democracy on tracks.

Online meeting one — we meet each other, and the journey we are about to take together.

Elysium+ heart mark
Co-funded by the European Union astra
Date Thu 30 July 2026
Time 19:00 CET · 60 min
Where Google Meet
Room dto-vdna-paa
Online meeting #1 30 July 2026 · 19:00 CET

Tonight's agenda

19:00 Welcome and introductions 15 min
19:15 What DOTS is, and what we want from it 8 min
19:23 The route, the cities, the days 12 min
19:35 Practical matters: travel, money, documents 10 min
19:45 Your part: expectations, contact, content plan 8 min
19:53 Questions, anything at all 7 min

Interrupt whenever something is unclear. Nothing here is too small to ask about.

Part one

Introductions

Five participants, one facilitator, one project manager. In ten days we will know each other well — we may as well start now.

Part one · Introductions

The people behind DOTS

Project manager Anton Rubanenko Writes the programme, books the trains and the beds, keeps the paperwork moving.
PROJECT COORDINATOR Jonas Hanke Preparation, logistics and the practical side of the ten days, alongside Anton.
Organisers Elysium+ & Beyond Borders Funded by the European Union through Erasmus+.
Part one · Introductions Five participants, five cities

The group

1 Jasmin Acikgöz Osnabrück
2 Lojain Al Helow Ulm
3 Marcel Holte Düsseldorf
4 Joseph Kassis Memmingen
5 Jasmin Nagnouma Konaté Springe

Part one · Introductions Whoever wants to start, starts

Tell us about yourself

01 Your name, and where you live However you like to be called.
02 What you are doing right now School, university, work, a gap year, a bit of everything.
03 Why you applied to DOTS Whatever made you click send.
04 What you enjoy doing in your free time Music, football, cooking, gaming, long walks — anything.
Part two

The project

What DOTS is funded to do, what we want to achieve together, and where the trains are taking us.

Part two · The project DiscoverEU inclusion action

DOTS in numbers

5 Participants aged 18 to 21, all resident in Germany
4 Cities: Berlin, Brussels, Luxembourg, Strasbourg
10 Days on the move, 9 to 18 August 2026
1 230 Kilometres of rail between the first and last platform
€0 Out of your pocket — travel, beds and daily allowance are funded
€20 Pocket money per day, paid to you for food and everyday costs — €10 on the arrival and departure days
Co-funded by the European Union
Part two · The project Why DOTS

Why this project exists

Europe is not something to read about. It is something to experience.

DOTS is a DiscoverEU Inclusion project, made for young people who would otherwise have fewer chances to travel Europe. The cost is covered, so your circumstances do not decide whether you go.

Ten days, four countries, and the institutions where European decisions are actually made.

01
Apply You did the hardest part already
02
Travel Four countries by train, on one pass
03
Discover Europe Cities, institutions, everyday life
04
Come home inspired And carry it into your own circles
05
Pass it on Share what you saw — posts, photos, your own words
Part two · The project Objectives

What we want to achieve

01 Experience European democracy first-hand Visit European institutions, meet the people behind them, and understand how European decisions are actually made.
02 Learn to communicate what you discover Develop practical skills in storytelling, interviewing, filming and digital communication — using real experiences from the journey.
03 Learn, travel and grow together Travel across four countries as one team, take responsibility, solve challenges together and build confidence along the way.
04 Bring the experience back home Turn what you learn into something that reaches others — sharing your experiences with your university, community, friends and wider network.
Part two · The journey 9 → 18 August 2026 · 1 230 km by rail

The route

Tue 11 Aug
13:27 → 21:36 Thu 13 Aug
14:32 → 17:49 Sat 15 Aug
16:56 → 20:14
Berlin DE · 9–11 Aug Start
Brussels BE · 11–13 Aug
Luxembourg LU · 13–15 Aug
Strasbourg FR · 15–18 Aug End

We meet in Berlin on 9 August, travel on 11, 13 and 15 August, and say goodbye in Strasbourg on 18 August.

Part two · The journey Booked and in the app

The three trains

Tuesday 11 August Berlin Hbf → Bruxelles-Midi
13:27 → 21:36 8 h 09 · 1 change
Thursday 13 August Bruxelles-Midi → Luxembourg
14:32 → 17:49 3 h 17 · direct
Saturday 15 August Luxembourg → Strasbourg
16:56 → 20:14 3 h 18 · 2 changes
All three are booked in your name with seat reservations. The Brussels leg is a full travel day — bring something to read and a charged power bank.
City 01 / 04 · Federal Republic of Germany Day 1–3 · 9–11 August

Berlin

Visit Train Stay Optional
9 Sunday
10 Monday
11 Tuesday
all day
Stay · MEININGER Hotel Berlin Tiergarten
09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00
Check-in from 15:00
Stand-up comedy · optional 19:30 – 21:00
Topography of Terror 17:30 – 18:45
Bundestag visit 11:00 – 12:30
Train to Brussels 13:27 → 21:36
Anything not on this grid is still open — your poll answers decide what goes there.
City 02 / 04 · Kingdom of Belgium Day 3–5 · 11–13 August

Brussels

Visit Train Stay Optional
11 Tuesday
12 Wednesday
13 Thursday
all day
Accommodation booked · all nights
09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00
Train from Berlin 13:27 → 21:36
European Youth Forum 16:00 – 17:00
European Parliament · hemicycle 11:30 – 12:30
Train to Luxembourg 14:32 → 17:49
Bags packed on Thursday morning — we go from the Parliament straight to the train.
City 03 / 04 · Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Day 5–7 · 13–15 August

Luxembourg

Where European law lives
Visit Train Stay Optional
13 Thursday
14 Friday
15 Saturday
all day
Accommodation booked · all nights
Transatlantic Thought
09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00
Train from Brussels 14:32 → 17:49
LGBT workshop 10:00 – 12:00
Train to Strasbourg 16:56 → 20:14
Saturday runs from the day programme straight to the station — we walk there together.
City 04 / 04 · French Republic Day 7–10 · 15–18 August

Strasbourg

Rights, and the last word
Visit Train Stay Optional
15 Saturday
16 Sunday
17 Monday
18 Tuesday
all day
Accommodation booked · all nights
09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00
Train from Luxembourg 16:56 → 20:14
Council of Europe 11:00 – 13:00
Journey home 10:00 – 12:00
Tuesday is the return journey — home on the Interrail pass, arriving by the end of the day.
Part two · The journey Booked and signed

Confirmed visits

Berlin
Mon 10 Aug · 17:30 Topography of Terror The documentation centre on the Gestapo and SS apparatus.
Tue 11 Aug · 11:00 German Bundestag A lecture and a guided visit inside the parliament.
Brussels
Wed 12 Aug · 16:00 European Youth Forum The platform that represents young people to the EU institutions.
Thu 13 Aug · 11:30 European Parliament A booked visit to the hemicycle where the Parliament sits.
Luxembourg
Fri 14 Aug · 10:00 LGBTIQ+ workshop A session on rights, visibility and community organising.
Sat 15 Aug · All day Transatlantic Thought A day programme on Europe and its Atlantic partners.
Strasbourg
Mon 17 Aug · 11:00 Council of Europe Inside the institution behind the European Convention on Human Rights.

Everything here is booked and signed. A few more visits are still in the queue — we will report on them in meeting two.

Part two · Your choice Three minutes, on your phone

You decide what we dig into

The route is set. What we look into along the way is yours to choose — scan the code and answer the survey before we hang up.
Scan to vote QR code linking to the DOTS interests poll
Part two · The journey Steady, but unhurried

The rhythm of a day

Morning Institutional visit Our first activity usually starts at 11:00 or 12:00 — earliest 10:00 in Luxembourg. Take the morning at your own pace.
Midday Explore the city After the visit you have free time to explore, have lunch, visit a museum, or simply enjoy the city.
Afternoon Activities together Workshops, discussions, or creative activities — sometimes a small challenge, like street interviews or a city task.
Late afternoon Free time A chance to relax, keep exploring, or work on your content if you feel like it. This time is yours.
Evening Reflection and free time Some evenings bring another visit or workshop. We close with a short reflection and a look at tomorrow, then dinner or your own evening.
Final day Wrapping up We look back at everything we experienced, share our projects, complete Youthpass, and say goodbye before travelling home.
Part three

Practical matters

Money, tickets, beds, documents.

Part three · Practical matters Tickets and accommodation

Travel and accommodation

How it works We are booking your accommodation for the whole project right now — you do not have to arrange anything. Rooms are gender-separated, and we do our best to make everyone comfortable. Your DiscoverEU Interrail pass is arranged. You should receive an email from DiscoverEU inviting you to activate it — if it has not arrived yet, tell us. Please do not book any tickets or change your pass yourself. If you have a question or something is not working, write to us and we will sort it out.
The three key dates
Sun 9 August · activate your pass Once the DiscoverEU email arrives, activate your pass and set the validity period to 9 – 18 August 2026. Conductors check it in the Rail Planner app, so keep your phone charged.
Sun 9 August · Berlin, we meet We meet at MEININGER Hotel Berlin Tiergarten, Turmstraße 25, 10559 Berlin. Check-in starts from 15:00.
Tue 18 August · Strasbourg The project finishes in Strasbourg and everyone travels home that day.
Part three · Practical matters Examples, not the exact rooms

Roughly how the rooms look

Bunk beds and shared, gender-separated rooms. We are trying to book the bigger rooms wherever they are available.
Example room with double bed and lockers Example room with bunk bed and double bed Example room with bunk beds and desk Example shared room with bunk beds Example room in Berlin Tiergarten
Part three · Practical matters Mandatory, before 8 August

Install the DiscoverEU app

Your Interrail pass lives inside this app. There is no other way to activate it. Scan the code for your phone now, install the app, and log in with the same email you used for the DOTS application. Both links go into the WhatsApp group tonight as well.
For iPhone App Store QR code to download the DiscoverEU app from the App Store iOS 15 or newer
For Android Google Play QR code to download the DiscoverEU app from Google Play Android 8 or newer
Part three · Practical matters We need an answer tonight

A question for you: Deutschlandticket?

Do you plan to have a Deutschlandticket that is valid in August?
What we need from each of you
Yes, valid in August
No, or not sure
Part three · Practical matters Before we travel

Documents, money, access needs

Documents A valid passport or national ID — institutions check identity at the entrance. Your European health card, if you have one. Residence permit or registration document, if that applies to you.
Money The €20 daily allowance is yours to spend; the payout method is confirmed in meeting two. Keep a little of your own for anything personal — souvenirs, a taxi, a second coffee. City transport is not your cost — we buy daily tickets in every city. A little cash still helps.
Access and health Dietary requirements, medical conditions, medication, disability or mobility needs, anything gender-related. Tell us now, in writing, even if you already mentioned it once. The inclusion budget exists for exactly this. It stays confidential within the team.
Part three · Practical matters Full list comes with the travel pack

Packing, first thoughts

01 A backpack, strongly recommended. Four cities in ten days means stairs, platforms and cobbles — a suitcase will fight you the whole way.
02 Shoes you can walk all day in. August in Europe, and a lot of walking.
03 One smarter outfit. Some institutional visits expect a tidier look — nothing formal, just not the beach.
04 Whatever you create with. Phone, camera, microphone, notebook — plus chargers and a power bank.
05 A rain layer. Brussels does not care what the forecast said.
06 Any medication you need, in its original packaging, with enough for ten days.
Pack light You do not need ten days of clothes. We can do laundry along the way — our Berlin hotel has machines, and where a hotel does not, we will find a launderette together.
Part four

Your part

What we expect from each other, how we stay in touch, and the one task waiting for you after tonight.

Part four · Your part Photos and video

Photos, video, and consent

We will take photos and videos throughout the project to capture the journey and share the experience. Consent decides what we publish, not what we keep for ourselves.

Consent Everyone has signed Everyone has completed the media consent form. One participant has chosen not to give consent for public photos and videos — please keep that in mind when we take group pictures.
Group photos Stepping out is normal If someone steps out of a photo or asks not to be included, that is completely okay. Respect the choice — no explanations are needed.
Afterwards Two folders A private folder with all the photos and videos for participants. A public folder with only the material where everyone visible has given consent for publication.

Your comfort comes first — you can change your mind and ask not to be photographed or filmed at any point during the project.

Part four · Your part What we agree on

Expectations and responsibilities

Be there, all ten days The trip is funded as one continuous activity, so partial participation is not possible.
Turn up on time Trains and institutional slots do not wait. Being late affects four other people, not only you.
Take part properly Visits, workshops and reflections are the project, not the optional extras around it.
Look after each other Five people from different backgrounds. Respect, patience, and no one left behind in a strange city.
Document, and share afterwards Create during the journey in your own format, and bring the experience back to your own circles.
Tell us early, not late Illness, a missed train, a difficult moment, a change of plan — one message and we will try to solve it. 
Part four · Your part Channels

How we stay in touch

Day to day The group chat Quick questions, meeting points, changes of plan. Join tonight — the link is in the chat window.
Anything official Email Documents, tickets, consent forms, anything you want in writing — and anything private. rubanenko@elysium.ngo contact@elysium.ngo
Always available hub.elysium.ngo/dots The full project page: route, cities, funding, and the answers to the questions we get most.
Reach me directly Anton Rubanenko · dots@elysium.ngo
Part four · Your part Due before online meeting #2

Your preparation task: a content plan

A personal, one-page plan for what you want to make during the ten days. Half a page is enough. It is a starting point, not a contract — plans change on the road, and that is fine.

01 Your format Video, photo, writing, audio, thread — whatever you actually enjoy doing.
02 Your angle What about Europe, democracy or the journey are you curious about?
03 Two or three pieces Roughly what you want to have finished by Strasbourg, and where it might live.
04 What you need Equipment, access, an interview, a skill you would like help with.
Part four · Your part Two before, one after

Three online meetings

Meeting #1 · tonight Getting to know each other The group, the project, the practicalities, and your content plan task. 30 July · 19:00 CET
Meeting #2 · before we go Final preparation Content plans presented, travel packs walked through, last logistics and a final round of questions. Early August · date by email
Meeting #3 · after Follow-up and outcomes We come back together, share what we made, look at the results, and talk about what comes next. After the journey · September
Open floor Nothing is too small to ask

Questionsof any kind.

Often asked How much free time will we really have? What if I miss a train or arrive late in Berlin? Do I have to publish what I make? Can my family reach me during the trip? What if I have never done anything like this before?
DOTS · Democracy on tracks 9 → 18 August 2026

See you in Berlin.

Thank you for tonight. Join the group chat, check your documents, and start thinking about what you want to make.

Elysium+ Germany · Beyond Borders hub.elysium.ngo/dots
Co-funded by the European Union astra