Name & Surname: Mariana Silva
Country: Portugal 🇵🇹
Age: 24
Status: Founder of NewWhere
Main sector: Youth Work / Erasmus+ Project Development
Host Entrepreneur (HE)
Name Surname: Christian Walker
Country: Netherlands 🇳🇱
Age: 38
Years of experience as entrepreneur: 8+
Main sector: Youth Development / Erasmus+ Implementation / Non-formal Education
Website: WAKE Foundation
Exchange Information
Dates of exchange: 5/6/25 – 30/11/25
Duration of exchange: 6 months
Mariana Silva, founder of NewWhere, joined Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs after meeting Christian Walker, Director of WAKE Foundation, at a Youth Exchange in the Netherlands. Inspired by their shared dedication to youth work, Christian encouraged her to participate in the programme to gain practical experience while building her own organisation. Motivated to become an independent project creator, she entered the exchange aiming to learn how to establish a legal foundation, design educational programmes, and develop competent Erasmus+ projects from concept to reporting stage.
Activities undertaken
Throughout the exchange, she received hands-on mentoring in the full project cycle, structuring activities, drafting applications to National Agency standards, budget planning, and final reporting. Together with Christian, she co-wrote and implemented WAKE Foundation’s first Erasmus+ Training Course, “Once Upon a Time (OUT).” She participated in workshops, developed training concepts, supported coordination tasks, and learned how to use Erasmus+ digital platforms for project administration. Christian also guided her through registering NewWhere and setting up operational systems.
Benefits achieved
The exchange enabled her to successfully establish her foundation, NewWhere, which was formally registered with guidance from her mentor. She gained confidence, new skills in project management, youth work design, impact planning, and financial management. She expanded her professional network through active involvement in multiple WAKE initiatives, giving her access to future partnerships. Christian and WAKE Foundation benefited from her fresh perspectives and support, specially co-creating and delivering their first ever Erasmus+ Training Course, strengthening their capacity and visibility.
Quotation (HE)
“Working with her brought new perspectives, enthusiasm, and capacity to WAKE Foundation. Collaborating on our first project together strengthened our organisation and was mutually inspiring.”
Results achieved
Number of companies created: 1 (NewWhere)
New jobs created for NE: 2
New jobs created for HE: 0
Expanding markets – number of new countries covered (NE): Netherlands, Greece, Poland, and international partners
Expanding markets – number of new countries covered (HE): Portugal, Greece, international partners
Number of contacts created: 6 new partner organisations to work with
Increased turnover for NE: Yes
Increased turnover for HE: Yes
Number of new cooperation contracts signed: 2