We are happy to share that the Erasmus+ youth exchange project “Breaking Stereotypes – Building Friendships” has been officially approved.
The project will bring together young people from Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Türkiye, and Romania for an international mobility focused on some of the most important challenges facing young people in Europe today — stereotypes, Islamophobia, discrimination, hate speech, and intercultural dialogue.
The main aim of the project is to create a safe and inspiring space where participants can learn from one another, reflect on sensitive social issues, and build friendships beyond cultural and religious differences. Through non-formal education methods, the youth exchange will encourage young people to develop empathy, critical thinking, media literacy, and the confidence to take active roles in their communities.
The programme will include a rich variety of activities such as interactive workshops, role plays, simulations, creative sessions, intercultural evenings, discussions, and reflection moments. Participants will also explore how art and creativity can be used as tools to challenge hate speech and promote inclusion, respect, and solidarity.
The project was inspired by a real personal story connected to discrimination and social exclusion, which gave even stronger meaning to its development. This makes the project not only educational, but also deeply human and relevant to the realities many young people still face today.
Through this experience, participants will have the opportunity to gain new knowledge, strengthen their social and intercultural competences, and become active ambassadors of tolerance and understanding in their local communities. The project also aims to support the creation of long-term connections between young people and partner organisations, laying the groundwork for future cooperation and joint initiatives.
We are excited to start this journey and to see how “Breaking Stereotypes – Building Friendships” will empower young people to turn dialogue into action, diversity into strength, and friendship into a force for positive change.