Friendship Blooming at Cross-Border Triangle Zone

Friendship Blooming at Cross-Border Triangle Zone

The "Triangle Zone" - often referred to as the notorious "Golden Triangle" or "Devil's Triangle". Is the point where the borders of three nations meet truly such a place of danger and fear? Having travelled overland through the Golden Triangle in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar) and the northern triangle of Central America (El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala) as a child with my father and twin brother, I must admit I have memories of fear that live up to those daunting reputations.

However, in Europe at least, the Triangle Zone is more than just a meeting point of borders; it is a collective hub where cultures, languages and histories converge - a place where encounters, sharing and diversity coexist. The integration of the European Union and the subsequent removal of border barriers have transformed these regions into fascinating centres of human and cultural exchange.

The dismantling of barriers in border regions that share history, culture, and sometimes even language brings about significant psychological shifts alongside physical ones. When I was a preschooler, I spent four years travelling around the world by bicycle with my father and twin brother. Although I was young, I vividly remember the tension I felt whenever we crossed land borders in Asia, Africa, Central America and North America. European borders, however, were the exception. The EU community, built through relentless cooperation and effort since World War II, is a legacy that we, Gen Z, must maintain and evolve for future generations.

Last winter, from December 3 to 10, 2025, I attended an international youth camp in Klaffer, Austria, where the borders of Austria, Czechia, and Germany intersect. I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Erasmus+ Training Course: 'From Awareness to Action'.  While it wasn't easy to carve out a week during the semester, it was a hard-won opportunity that resulted in lifelong memories with friends from Turkey, Serbia, Romania, Czechia, Spain, Portugal, Poland, and Austria.

The program can be summarised as follows:

Project Description: The training course aimed to help youth workers develop strategies and methods to prevent and counteract radicalisation processes among marginalised youth. Through non-formal and informal education methods, the project sought to create a better understanding of the root causes of radicalisation and extremist behaviour, as well as the various forms it can take.

Objectives:

• To raise awareness about the role of youth work in preventing radical tendencies.

• To facilitate the active exchange of knowledge and experiences between participants.

• To foster the inclusion of marginalised people in a diverse and tolerant society by promoting active citizenship and European values through alternative narratives.

While participating in this programme, I discovered something surprising about myself. Despite the participants being of different ages, nationalities, speaking different languages and coming from different cultures and genders, I felt more comfortable and happier living and eating with these strangers than I often do in my familiar school life. I am originally from Czechia, but I have been studying at a boarding school in Germany for five years as a government scholarship student. Although there are students from various cultures, the environment is predominantly German and Czech.

I had always been satisfied with my school life, so it was very intriguing this time to discover this side of myself in an even more diverse setting. It was wonderful to see that this mountainous border triangle between Austria, Czechia and Germany, located in a tranquil, meditative setting, brought together people not only from the closely related cultures of Central Europe, but also from much more distant places, to celebrate diversity and friendship.

This programme was a pivotal moment for self-discovery and reflection. By continuing to participate in such programmes and activities, I hope to take another step towards clearly visualising and realising my future path, both in familiar environments and in the unknown.

Cross-Border Ambassador 2025/2026, Miruk KIM