Experience stories

From Ukraine to Finland: Mariia’s Journey of Resilience and Hope | Stories from the North

From Ukraine to Finland: Mariia’s Journey of Resilience and Hope | Stories from the North

Hear Mariia Kashych’s powerful story of resilience and hope in the latest Stories from the North episode. Host Linda Paulauska explores Mariia’s journey from fleeing war-torn Ukraine to rebuilding her life through studies in Germany and Finland. An inspiring testament to courage and determination—don’t miss it!
Alopecia Doesn’t Kill the Person: Ieva Putnina’s Journey of Self-Discovery and Empowerment

Alopecia Doesn’t Kill the Person: Ieva Putnina’s Journey of Self-Discovery and Empowerment

Meet Ieva Putnina — diagnosed with Alopecia Areata at 12 years old. For years, she hid behind wigs and fear. But everything changed when she chose to embrace her true self.
Somshubhra Ray: Erasmus Mundus Journey to Study Service Design - From India to Latvia

Somshubhra Ray: Erasmus Mundus Journey to Study Service Design - From India to Latvia

Somshubhra Ray is from India. He shares his life from childhood until now, as a student in the Erasmus Mundus master’s degree program “⁠Service Design Strategies and Innovations⁠.”
"Alopecia Doesn’t Kill the Person, but It Kills the Self-Confidence". A Hair-Loss Story by Ieva Putnina.

"Alopecia Doesn’t Kill the Person, but It Kills the Self-Confidence". A Hair-Loss Story by Ieva Putnina.

Ieva faced alopecia and lost her hair at the age of 13. Hiding under wigs, she feared judgment. It took her 15 years of self-exploration to open up in public, and now she is an inspiration to many.
Timea Izsak's Erasmus Mundus Journey to Study Service Design - From Romania to Latvia

Timea Izsak's Erasmus Mundus Journey to Study Service Design - From Romania to Latvia

Timea Izsak⁠ is from Rumania. In this podcast series, she takes us through the story of her life, from her early years to where she is now. As a participant in the Erasmus Mundus master’s degree program “⁠Service Design Strategies and Innovations⁠”.
Surrogacy experience: The surrogate mother's perspective. Nicole Eddy

Surrogacy experience: The surrogate mother's perspective. Nicole Eddy

Nicole added a new chapter to her life story as a surrogate mother by fulfilling another family’s dream of having a baby.
Five-Time Egg Donor: Helping Families During Infertility Treatment. Aleksandra Chernova

Five-Time Egg Donor: Helping Families During Infertility Treatment. Aleksandra Chernova

Aleksandra donated eggs bringing hope to anonymous infertility-struggling families. She navigated medical tests, hormone therapy, and oocyte punctures five times.
Amena Mohamed: Erasmus Mundus Journey to Study Service Design - From Egypt to Latvia

Amena Mohamed: Erasmus Mundus Journey to Study Service Design - From Egypt to Latvia

Amena Mohamed⁠ is from Egypt. She shares her amazing and sometimes challenging life journey from childhood to the present as a student in the Erasmus Mundus master’s degree program “Service Design Strategies and Innovations.”
Completing Family: The Strader Family's International Adoption Journey

Completing Family: The Strader Family's International Adoption Journey

A family opened their home to an orphan hosting program during Christmas holidays, welcoming two sisters from a Latvian orphanage, which led to international adoption.
A family of show performers traveling around Europe and beyond: The Winter Family

A family of show performers traveling around Europe and beyond: The Winter Family

Patrick is a 6th-generation show organizer from Germany. Yuliya is a professional show performer from Ukraine. Their daughter, Nika, is part of every show across multiple countries. They share an inspiring life, but deep inside, their hearts and plans for a home in Ukraine have been broken.