My name is Leonie and I am from Germany. I have a background in social pedagogy and a passion for ceramics. This passion led me to develop my business idea, ClayBridge Studio, which combines ceramics with an inclusive, child-centered educational approach. A friend told me about the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program and I immediately felt it was the perfect opportunity to deepen my practical ceramic skills and gain real insight into building a business. I wanted to learn through experience, gain an international perspective, and grow both professionally and personally. The last 6 months I worked in the ceramic studio Brâmica with Teresa Branco.
The relationship with my Host Entrepreneur was excellent, both on a personal and professional level. We worked very well together, and I was able to learn a a lot of things from my Host, for which I am very grateful. During my EYE stay, we carried out many different activities together. These included producing ceramics using different techniques, developing artistic ceramic pieces, meeting costumers, leading workshops and organizing exhibitions. We also regularly exchanged ideas about business development, created new entrepreneurial concepts and discussed possible improvements for the studio.
The EYE programme helped me develop enormously, both professionally and personally. I significantly improved my skills and knowledge in ceramics and gained valuable practical, artistic and technical experience. At the same time, I learned so much about entrepreneurship, which made me feel much better prepared to start my own business in the future. I am incredibly grateful for everything I was able to learn, and it is difficult to summarize the full impact in just a few sentences. Another major benefit is the lasting connection with Theresa and the studio. I know that I can turn to her in the future for exchange, advice and inspiration, both on business topics and on artistic or technical questions. I also see great potential for future collaborations and joint projects.
At the end of my exchange, I feel incredibly grateful. I could never have imagined how inspiring, enriching and valuable these six months would be. The lasts months helped me grow personally and entrepreneurially, motivated me for the future, and I am excited for what comes next.