Summary

The “Cultures in Harmony” activity aims to help young people understand and appreciate cultural diversity while fostering an environment of respect, inclusion, and collaboration. The goal is to encourage youth to explore the richness of different cultures and recognize the value of learning from one another.

In summary, “Cultures in Harmony” for youth is about building bridges of understanding across cultures, fostering friendships, and creating a sense of belonging for all participants, no matter their background.

What to Expect

Networking

You will meet a lot of participants from different countries.

Non-formal Education

All our methods are non-formal: That means you will learn by playing and trying.

No boring lectures.

Intercultural Dialogue

You will learn about different cultures from partner countries. And taste their food!

Participant Profile

  • Residents or citizens from any of these countries: Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia, Romania, Portugal, Lithuania.

  • Optimal age range: 16+

  • Available to attend the whole duration of the program and participate in all the sessions.

  • Motivated to dive into the world of cultural diversity inclusion and colaboration.

  • Open-minded and willing to help.

  • Expresses a willingness to disseminate the youth exchange and its results to other groups of young people.

  • Currently not receiving any funds from the European Union (e.g.: participating in an Erasmus exchange program within University).

Location and Venue

Babeckynė is a warm and welcoming getaway in the heart of Bartninkai, where you can relax or stay active while enjoying the open spaces and sports fields for basketball and volleyball, all surrounded by the scenic beauty of Lithuania’s countryside.

Participants will be accommodated in shared rooms, housing 4-6 individuals, with room assignments based on international diversity and separated by gender.

Each participant will be served three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Participants’ dietary preferences should be provided during the application process to ensure meals are prepared accordingly.

Activity Schedule

  • Day 1-2: Welcome and team building

    The first two days are all about getting to know each other and laying the foundation for a strong, collaborative group. You’ll participate in ice-breaking activities, team-building exercises, and cultural exchanges that will help create a positive and inclusive atmosphere. We’ll also introduce you to the project’s goals and the non-formal learning approach we’ll be using throughout.

  • Day 3-7: Exploring cultural diversity and building connections

    During these five days, we will explore different traditions, languages, and customs from around the world through interactive activities and group discussions. Participants will share cultural elements, such as music, dance, or cuisine, and work on projects that highlight diversity.

    We will also address common misconceptions and stereotypes, discussing how cultural differences can enrich our communities. Through teamwork and open conversations, we’ll focus on building understanding, breaking down barriers, and fostering a more inclusive environment where everyone feels valued.

  • Day 8: Reflection

    On the final day, we’ll reflect on everything we’ve accomplished together. You’ll have the opportunity to share your thoughts, provide feedback, and celebrate your achievements. We’ll conclude the day by discussing future dissemination activities, reflecting on our experiences, and assessing the program’s impact. Youthpasses will be distributed, followed by a fun and festive celebration to mark the end of our journey.

Travel

The official travel dates for this activity are March 10th and March 19th. However, participants from certain, further locations, may need to begin their journey a day earlier or return a day later due to travel logistics. If you foresee any scheduling conflicts between March 9th and March 20th, please let us know in your application.

Each country will have up to two main designated sending cities, where participants will gather to begin their journey. Participants can arrange their own travel to the meeting points in these cities. If anyone faces difficulties to reach the meeting points on their own means, please don’t hesitate to reach out, and we will work together to find a solution.

Please note that tickets for local transportation within a city (e.g., metro or shuttle bus tickets to the airport or train station) will need to be arranged by participants.

On the 10th of March in the evening, a private bus will drive us from MarijampolÄ— to our accommodation in Bartninkai. This same private bus will return us to MarijampolÄ— on the 19th of March in the morning.

Once all participants are selected and confirm their participation, the project coordinators will work with the national group leaders to develop a final travel itinerary for each group. These itineraries will be shared via Discord, and the travel tickets will be distributed via email and Discord.

Participants will return home on the 19th or 20th of March. All groups, except for the Lithuanian and Portuguese teams, will travel by FlixBus. The Portuguese team will travel by plane and will arrive in Lisbon late in the evening on 19th of March. The Romanian team will reach Budapest on 20th of March and will take the train to Bucharest on 21st of March.

  • Participants from Lithuania will travel from Vilnius and Kaunas to MarijampolÄ—. Participants from other cities will need to travel independently to one of the mentioned cities.

  • For the Czech national team, there will be two groups: one from Prague and one from Brno. The group from Prague will travel by train to Brno, meet the other group, and then take a FlixBus to MarijampolÄ—.

  • The Slovak group will first travel to Vienna, change FlixBus there, and then continue to Warsaw, where they will meet the Czech group and travel to MarijampolÄ— together on the same FlixBus.

  • The Hungarian group will travel from Budapest to MarijampolÄ— by FlixBus.

  • The Romanian group will leave Bucharest by train and travel to Budapest. In Budapest, they will transfer, and continue their journey to MarijampolÄ— by FlixBus.

  • The Portuguese team will travel from Lisbon by plane to Kaunas and then travel by car from Kaunas to the accommodation.

Useful information

  • Participation costs: There are no participation costs. Travel, accommodation, and food are co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union. However, to avoid last-minute cancelations, participants who are selected will need to pay a 50€ deposit to confirm their participation. This is to avoid last-minute cancelations and to cover possible damages caused by the participants on the accommodation. The money is sent back after the activity.

  • Health & Insurance: We provide insurance for our participants. We still ask all participants to bring their European Health Insurance Cards, which can be used if they need hospital care.

  • What to bring: Identification card or passport, towel, Euros as pocket money to buy personal items (we recommend to bring cash since there might not be an ATM near the venue), laptop (if possible), national food or a typical vest for the gastro and cultural nights, speaker, board games, comfortable, warm and enough clothes for the days of the activity and for outdoor activities as well.

  • Terms & Conditions: Refer to www.e29.eu/terms-and-conditions for detailed terms and conditions.

  • Q&A: Have doubts? Feel free to reach us through our social media channels.

  • Note: We made some changes to our application portal. Even if you already created an account, you might need to click “Sign up now”, validate your email, and create a password. All your previous data will be synchronized through your email address.

How to Take Part?

Sign in to your account or if you don’t have one sign up now and apply.

Deadline to apply: 10.02.2025

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.