As an EVS for 10 months at ECAS I had the chance to be at the centre of the policy-making scene and learn a lot about how policies are born. I also learnt how much citizens matter for the future of the EU and how little they know about it. Six years later, I work both as a consultant in institutional communication and supervise the Europe Direct Contact Centre, where a team of communication officers answers daily questions from citizens from across the EU. In my current position I still share the values I have been taught at ECAS: empowering citizens to exercise their rights and promoting a more inclusive participation in the decision-making process.