That is why we were glad to join the welcome activities for Erasmus+ exchange students coming to Linz. Members of the Student Network of Linz took part in the buddy programme, explored the city and the JKU campus with new arrivals, and went on a hike to Pöstlingberg. Walking together gave us time to get to know one another, talk about life in Linz, and offer support as students found their feet.
The city tour and campus visit helped make practical places more familiar. The hike offered something just as valuable: time to connect without rushing from one stop to the next. A question that feels too small to ask in a formal setting can be easier to bring up while walking alongside someone.
A welcome does not end when the tour is over. The first weeks in a new country can bring questions about reliable housing information, administrative steps, language, everyday routines and meeting people. Each person arrives with different experiences and needs. Listening first helps us offer useful peer support and point someone toward the right source of information when a question needs specialist help.
More than showing someone around
For us, the buddy programme is about more than showing someone around. It is a chance to make a first connection and help new arrivals feel that they have people they can turn to.
It also gives local young people a chance to learn from the perspectives of those who have just arrived.
