+(374) 237 23034 | [email protected]
Armavir Development Center · 22 September 2026
On 22 September, young people from our community gathered at the Armavir Development Center office for a dissemination meeting of Spreading Spores, an Erasmus+ youth exchange project organised by Estazion Esperanza and held in Italy. The exchange brought together participants from Armenia, Bulgaria, Romania and Lithuania. Young people from different places in Armenia joined us, along with two volunteers from our NGO, from Germany and France, who added an international perspective to the conversation.
The session was about bringing the exchange home. We talked about what the project was, who we met, and what we did in the woods in Italy. Then we shared what we learned from mycologists Nicolo Oppicelli and Dario Gisotti, who walked with the group and answered questions throughout. We covered what a mushroom actually is (only the fruit of a much larger network under the soil) and how to tell mushrooms apart by looking closely at gills, pores, stems and habitat. We also covered the colour-code system the project used to sort species by safety, and why that system matters more than the name of any single mushroom.
Observe first, never eat on a guess
One message came up again and again: this is about learning to observe, not about learning to eat. A mushroom should never be eaten on the strength of a photo, an app or a booklet. Anyone who wants to forage should have their finds checked by an experienced mycologist first.
The participants asked many questions, shared their own forest experiences, and showed how much curiosity there already is about the nature around Armavir. The meeting gave the group a chance to hear first-hand from those who took part in the exchange, and to see that the learning doesn’t stop when a project ends.
What the participants said
We asked the young people who took part in the Spreading Spores exchange what the experience meant to them. Here are some of their words:
“This project was a great way to reconnect with nature and explore the world of mushrooms. I especially enjoyed mushroom picking with Dario, who explained the features of different mushrooms in a very interesting and engaging way. I also really appreciated that Nicolo showed us videos about how toxic mushrooms affect animals and how mushrooms grow and change. Through this project, I gained a lot of knowledge about mushrooms and the Wood Wide Web. Thank you for this amazing experience!”
— Elen
“The Spreading Spores programme was a really interesting and enjoyable experience. We learned about different types of mushrooms, how they grow and spread, and their role in nature. I especially enjoyed going to the forest and seeing mushrooms in their natural environment. It was a great way to learn something new while spending time in nature and meeting new people.”
— Samvel
“The Spreading Spores Erasmus+ project was an experience I will always be grateful for. It was not only about learning more about mushrooms, hiking, and connecting with nature, but also about the people I met, the friendships I made, and the experiences we shared together. Being surrounded by people from different countries and backgrounds gave me the chance to exchange ideas, learn about different cultures, and see things from new perspectives. Every activity, conversation, and shared moment made the experience special and helped me grow personally. I learned to be more open, responsible, curious, and connected — not only with nature, but also with the people around me. I am truly thankful for this opportunity, the memories I created, and everyone who made this experience so meaningful.”
— Lusine
“Everything was very well organised. I won’t forget the friends I made for a long time. I won’t forget our hike. The programme went very well. I got to know the cultures of other countries. I understood which mushrooms are edible and which are poisonous. And I want to say thank you to all the organisers.”
— Vahe
“My Erasmus+ experience in Italy was very interesting and unforgettable. The project lasted 10 days. During these 10 days I met many new people and made new friends. We worked together, shared our cultures, played games and took part in different activities.”
— Vazgen
The Armenian team’s toolkit
Each national team turned what they learned into an educational toolkit for future use. The toolkits are practical guides that youth workers, teachers and young people can use to run mycology activities in their own communities.
The Armenian team created a toolkit featuring a three-dot identification method, field activities and a photo catalogue of species found during the exchange, built from the group’s own photographs. It is free to copy, print, translate and adapt for non-commercial youth work.
Explore the toolkit here: Spreading Spores Youth Toolkit
Spreading Spores is an Erasmus+ youth exchange project organised by Estazion Esperanza.