Youth exchanges often leave traces that are hard to describe in words – people, places, and emotions that change you and remain part of you forever. This is exactly how three Bulgarian participants describe their experiences from the youth exchange “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” which took place from September 18-29 in Orvieto, Italy. Besides the Italian hosts and the Bulgarian group sent by CVS – Bulgaria, the exchange included youth groups from Greece, Spain, and Serbia.

Below, Presi, Moni, and Geri share some unforgettable moments from their time in Orvieto along with some of their favorite photos.

Preslava, 20: “My experience at the youth exchange was unique. The atmosphere in the house was warm and welcoming, and I very quickly felt close to the others. The surrounding nature also contributed to a feeling of calm and separation from our rushed daily lives, giving me the opportunity to truly immerse myself in the experience, to meet and share time with amazing young people from many different places, and to better understand our different cultures and opportunities in society. The project really opened my eyes to our different challenges and the ways we can be more tolerant toward people who face more of them. The more serious parts of the project were beautifully intertwined with fun ones. I learned a lot, but I also laughed enough to add at least five years to my life!”

Simona, 21: “The youth exchange in Orvieto, Italy, was an experience I can hardly describe in words. We were surrounded by incredible nature, people, and art. We visited the ancient town of Orvieto, walked along the river, sang, danced, and had genuine fun. We also had a national evening where we prepared banica and mish-mash over a fire – everyone tried them, and it was super fun. Our hosts welcomed us with so much warmth that we quickly felt like family. We created a group song, participated in art workshops, and spoke openly about important topics like discrimination and equality. This was an experience that filled me with inspiration, love, and a sense of community – a place I would always return to.”

Gergana, 23: “The photo contains emotion, sharing, experience. It represents community, not just a group of people. It’s not just an activity, but a way to connect with others in a beautiful place that makes you want to return again. Only those who have been part of Cercusino [the local Italian organization] know what it means when they look at it. The youth exchange I had the opportunity to participate in was of enormous significance for my development. There I learned not only to create things with my hands but also to expand the possibilities of my consciousness. From showing even greater empathy toward everyone who is different from others to building on my creativity with every exercise. Cercusino and the people in it were filled with deep emotion and new hope for a better society. What is shown in the photo is not just one of the many interesting exercises we did there, but an entire experience that only people who were there know what it is. Cercusino and the people there are a metaphor, a place that stays with you and is worth returning to.”

Georgi 17: “During one of the workshops they were teaching us how to make pasta. Even if we spilled the eggs they helped us make the dough despite the mistake, showing that it was not fatal. This is an example of teamwork, patience and that there is no such thing as a real failure, just a step back.”

All three stories end the same way – with a desire to return. Because youth exchanges are not just projects. They are spaces where young people grow, connect, and discover new horizons.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The theme of the project is social inclusion, the analysis of the situation of people with any kind of
disability and fewer opportunities, and fight against discrimination. We are going to analyse from
many different point of view the situations, the rights of people with disabilities and fewer
opportunities in every different Country. we will experience what it feels like to be in other
people’s shoes, and how the society faces their needs.
The objective we intend to provide new tools and new methodologies to the social workers and
volunteers, working on the integration of people with disabilities and fewer opportunities, to
effectively implement their competences in the help relationship and refine strategies for
inclusion of people with disabilities and fewer opportunities. Relating to disability presupposes the
orientation to experimentation, and the willingness to manage processes and changes of
perspective in a flexible way.
The goal is to experiment the encounter with dis-ability, contact and the search for commonalities
and the abatement of stereotypes and fears towards the “different from us”. The concept of
inclusion leads to the recognition of a right as a form of contrast to its opposite: exclusion
The training therefore aims to:
• Explore the cultural differences and explore how different Countries have addressed issues of
disabilities and fewer opportunities.
• Examine the issues from different perspectives with regard to disabilities, marginality and the
concept integration: stereotypes and prejudice
• Analyse how gender, male and female, can affect group dynamics and how it can contribute to
exclusion, with particular attention to the double discrimination of disabled women and LGBTQ
communities
• The dynamics of power, as people exercise power over others: how it is used consciously and
unconsciously in the groups and everyday life;
• Share and develop new tools in order to provide new methodologies to the social workers
working about integration with people with disabilities and with fewer opportunities, in their
social contest, to effectively implement competences in the help relation, civil rights and strategies
about inclusion of people with disabilities and fewer opportunities.
• Develop different communication styles, aiming to facilitate discussions and decisional
procedures.
• Develop personal knowledge’s about discrimination, stereotypes and prejudices: this work will
help a better understanding of dynamics that are behind discriminator behaviours

Expected skills: a better understanding of the dynamics behind discriminating behaviours, develop
listening and an attitude open to diversity, share the different working methods adopted in each
country to facilitate the balance between disabled people and not disabled once, value oneself,
face reality, know one’s limits, sense of responsibility, confront one another, understand the
fertility of error, learn from experience, do not be afraid to change, do not be afraid to try.
Particular attention will be paid to the issues of different abilities and fewer opportunities to the
processes of creation of prejudices and stereotypes and possible activities that contribute to their
deconstruction level both individually and collectively. We will go and explore the differences and
similarities between countries and through the direct testimony of the social workers, will deepen
the theme of being “in-between” between different social and cultural contexts and the
possibilities social inclusion.

METHODOLOGIES

We propose an interactive methodology using the tools promoted by non-formal education. The
workshops and the activities will be based on the active methodologies proposed by theatre,
storytelling and songwriting, photo/video linked to the tales that everyone will share… We believe
that all these tools are powerful to promote dialogue, to exchange experiences and good
practices, to analyse conflicts and address them in a non-violent way. In fact, contact with space,
with natural elements and with each other can be achieved through theatre, and the other tools
are ways to deal with human feelings and to reflect on different topics and are particularly suitable
for developing the themes of the project.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES / WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

During this 1 st step, the Training for trainer we will taste different kind of activities/tools: as we
mentioned before: theatre, songwriting, photo/video, non-formal game-exercises.
At the end of the first step, we will decide which tool we would like to explore more in the 2 nd
step.

More information about the next steps of the project can be found here: Project infosheet

HOW TO APPLY for this TRAINING

Please download and fill in the Application form and send it asap and not later than 14 October 2025 to cvs.katerina@gmail.com

We will be happy to answer all your additional questions, please feel free to write to cvs.katerina@gmail.com

Additional information:

Technical Information about the training: accommodation

KEY ACTION KA151 /Project 2025-1-IT03-KA151-YOU-000298873 – A1 

YOUTH EXCHANGE

“It always seems impossible until it’s done”  
(Nelson Mandela)

18 – 29 September 2025 – Orvieto – Italy

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS

DATES: Arrival day: 18^th September – Departure day: 29^th September  2025
PLACE: House laboratory Cerquosino, locality San Faustino 22 Morrano 05018, Orvieto (TR), Italy,
WORKING LANGUAGE: English 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Project n. 2024-1-IT03-KA151-YOU-000218670  – ACTIVITY 8

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

The topics are social inclusion, active citizenship, solidarity and ability to collaborate with and beyond the differences.

By managing and sharing the path, laboratory activities, games of knowledge focused on the methodology of non formal education, the exchange is a  simulation of active citizenship in order to provide participants with new tools useful to cope with certain aspects of their discomfort. The simulation is a real “active laboratory of needs”; it’s bases on the concept-metaphor of a “new born Village”, how is it organized, growing, working, sharing rules, needs, goals and paths.

The goal is to experiment the encounter with different abilities and fewer opportunities, contact and the search for commonalities and the abatement of stereotypes and fears towards the “different from us”. The concept of inclusion leads to the recognition of a right as a form of contrast to its opposite: exclusion.

Face reality, know one’s limits, sense of responsibility, confront one another, understand the fertility of error, learn from experience, do not be afraid to change, not be afraid to try.

Particular attention will be paid to the issues of differences, to the processes of creation of prejudices and stereotypes and possible activities that contribute to their deconstruction level both individually and collectively. We will go to explore the differences and similarities between countries and through the direct testimony of the social workers, will deepen the theme of being “in-between” between different social and cultural contexts and the possibilities social inclusion.

METHODOLOGIES: The activities will be based on the active methodologies using an innovative approach, combining non formal education, theatre, manual workshops about the identification of personal resources, the song writing, photo/video.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES / WORKSHOP PROGRAMME:

Team building activities, role playing, simulations, debates, theatre workshops, song writing,  and manual and video workshops.  All these activities are interactive tools that stimulate the active involvement of participants. In the course of the project the exchange of knowledge and technical tools will be constantly monitored through specific sessions on rating systems before and after: • meeting between leaders group and the trainers: mutual discovery • processing of non-violent methods of conflict management and sharing of work methods usually used in their local context • workshops of general introduction to theatrical techniques • workshops of song writing • cooking workshops • image workshops • the realisation of a final performance as a last tool • develop personal knowledge’s about discrimination, stereotypes and prejudices: this work will help a better understanding of dynamics that are behind discriminator behaviours.

PARTICIPANTS
Total of 30 (1 group leader + 5 participants from each country).  It is possible to involve for this youth exchange some young people with disability, in this case the group should be set with 1 group leader, 1 accompanying person and 4 young people.
AGE 17  – 30 (only the group leader can be over 30)

PARTNER ASSOCIATIONS:
Italy – Coop. L’arcobaleno – Torino / COORDINATING ASSOCIATION: Artemide Association
Serbia – Udruzenje gradana za multikulturalnu saradnju centar Zil Vern
Spain – Youth BCN
Greece – ArtiMental -Art & Psychoeducation NPO
Bulgaria – CVS-Bulgaria

PLACE: The area where the project takes place is called Elmo Melonta’s Natural Park, which is situated on the mountains around the city of Orvieto, in Umbria region, in the centre of Italy. Orvieto is 130 km far from Rome, but it’s easily reachable by train. The accommodation of the exchange is part of a social eco-village, the house laboratory “Il Cerquosino”, is managed by Artemide Association.

FINANCIAL CONDITIONS 
Food and lodgement are 100% covered by the project
Travel expenses are prepaid by the participants and will be refunded at the end of the project upon receipt of the travel documents. In case the participants needs support, please mention in the application.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS to be read/signed by approved participants
Social contract
Photo Video Consent
Parental consent (for participants under 18 years old)
Declaration of Participation
Infosheet

HOW to APPLY

Please apply here by 8th September 2025: APPLICATION FORM

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write to Katerina at trainings@cvs-bg.org or call +359886737989

ASSOCIAZIONE ARTEMIDE – CASA LABORATORIO “IL CERQUOSINO”

Artemide and its Casa Laboratorio Il Cerquosino are spaces of research and experimentation for the creation of an educating community that promotes intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and respect for nature. For over 25 years, at national and international level, we offer non-formal education trajectories, aimed above all at those who live in situations of exclusion and economic, social and cultural disadvantage.

The House Laboratory “Il Cerquosino” has been restructured following bio building construction techniques focusing the attention on energy critical consumption: waters’ herbal purification system, wood storage heater as well as to the principles of recovery and recycle materials; construction with local stone.

Why?

We are witnessing a massive resurgence in militarism. The normalization of brutal genocides, the ongoing global arms race, defence budgets at record highs, the resurgence of conscription in several countries, and conflicts causing devastating humanitarian crises are clear signs of this. This needs to change.
We also see militarism as inseparable from other forms of injustice that are happening. There are strong connections between militarism and violent border regimes, the patriarchy, the rise of far-right in the West, the climate crisis, pinkwashing, and others – and sometimes, it feels like we don’t know how to tackle all these at the same time.
Young people are at the forefront of antimilitarist movements but often experience burnout, isolation, and hopelessness. Many work mainly online, and don’t have a physical community where they live. And many feel the need to meet more fellow activists and are interested in building global solidarity.
No More War is an already established global collective connecting antimilitarist activists and educators, and we are organizing a physical event to open our doors to more people!

We are inviting anyone working or wanting to work against militarism from diverse localities and backgrounds to come and connect, exchange, expand their network and skills, learn from others, and be a part of the community we are building!

What, where, when?

The project comports two phases:

• No More War Open Forum in Bankya, Sofia (28th April – 5th May)  and No More War Festival open to the public, Sofia (30 April – 1st May)
  In this 5-day Forum, we will focus on empowering activists to enhance their antimilitarist actions through skill-building, networking, and collaborative action in real-life situations, fostering an international network united against war, genocide, and militarism.
  The Open Event in Sofia will be exploring the various intersections of militarism with border violence, pinkwashing, surveillance systems, extractivism, and the climate apartheid of the Global South, and organize together film screenings, workshops, panel discussions, and anything else each of us wants to bring in. The detailed program of the festival will be announced soon!
  Our working methods are: experiential learning, community building, critical pedagogy, collaborative action and art.

• Follow-up Phase, taking place offline and online with an active strategy to engage people in antimilitarism. You will be able to also apply for a microgrant to support your action’s practical costs.

Who can apply?

The Open assembly and the public event aim to bring together 30 people with diverse profiles, so this is for you if you are:

• Over 18 years old – we will focus on having 75% of participants aged 18-30, but it’s open for everyone! Able to express yourself in (basic) English – if you need interpretation this is also available, let us know your application

• Living in a Council of Europe Member State, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Palestine, or Tunisia;
  Ready to learn or already know about antimilitarism; Ready to engage in conversations, learning, and actions about antimilitarism, and embark on a journey to campaign against war and military oppression
• Bonus if you are already part of an antimilitarist or similarly aligned group/organisation!

The selection will take into consideration inclusiveness principles such as gender balance (including + groups), accessibility for people with disabilities and ensuring geographical, ethnic and socio-cultural diversity. The selection procedure will also follow the internal CVS-Bulgaria procedure for selection of participants in Erasmus+ Programme.

Please check the detailed Call for participants where you can find more information about the application procedure, program, accommodation and travel reimbursement. We encourage you too apply as soon as possible by filling the Application form and no later than 30th March 2025!

This International Activity is a part of the Erasmus+ Accreditation plan of CVS-Bulgaria for 2024 and co- funded by the European Union (Actions for Peace // 2024-1-BG01-KA151-YOU-000237317).