33
youth participants from five countries
The mobility brought together 33 young people from Germany, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, and Türkiye, with group leaders and facilitators supporting delivery.
Completed · June 2024
Celebrating Differences
About this exchange
Celebrating Differences brought young people together for an Erasmus+ youth exchange in Gran Canaria, Spain, focused on diversity, inclusion, and intercultural dialogue. Hosted in June 2024 around Maspalomas, the programme combined non-formal workshops, creative media work, shared daily life, and contact with the local community.
Participants explored discrimination, prejudice, and belonging through facilitated sessions, teamwork, and a Talent and Community Night that replaced a traditional intercultural evening. Daily reflection helped the group process learning, while treasure hunts and community-facing activities connected project themes with people and places on the island. A collaborative video and other digital outputs supported wider dissemination after the mobility.
The project was coordinated by Highlights e.V. with partner organisations in Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, and Türkiye. Participants came from Germany, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, and Türkiye. All participants received Youthpass recognition, and many continued with local workshops, volunteering, or new community initiatives after returning home.
OBJECTIVES
What we set out to achieve
- Enable intercultural learning and a deeper appreciation of different cultures and perspectives
- Promote social inclusion, active citizenship, and diversity among young people
- Create a safe, inclusive space for dialogue and exchange without fear of discrimination
- Equip participants to address diversity and inclusion issues in their communities
ACTIVITIES
What we did
Team-building and group dynamics
Ice-breaking games, outdoor energizers, daily sports, and teamwork exercises built connections across the international group.
Talent and Community Night
Instead of a traditional intercultural night, participants shared backgrounds through performances, storytelling, and short theatrical sketches.
Workshops on discrimination and inclusion
Facilitated non-formal sessions used group work, role-play, peer learning, and problem-solving to explore prejudice, bias, and belonging.
Creative media and Goose Chase
Participants created and edited a collaborative video clip and live photo collages as part of experiential learning on inclusion themes.
Daily reflection and evaluation
Evening reflection in country groups, mid-programme check-ins, and final evaluation workshops gathered feedback and supported learning.
Local exploration in Gran Canaria
Treasure hunts, cultural visits, and community-facing moments connected programme themes with people and places on the island.
Youthpass recognition
All participants received formal recognition for learning documented during the exchange.
Follow-up and local action
Participants planned and were encouraged to run workshops and small community initiatives on diversity and inclusion after returning home.
KEY RESULTS
What we achieved
- 20
participants with fewer opportunities
Twenty participants faced barriers linked to discrimination, culture, geography, education, or economic circumstances.
- 38
people in the mobility group
Including participants, group leaders, and facilitators, 38 people took part in the Gran Canaria exchange.
Collaborative inclusion video
Participants co-created a dissemination video shared on social media, alongside other digital content produced during the project.
Local follow-up and new initiatives
After the exchange, participants organised local workshops and awareness work; some went on to join existing organisations or start their own initiatives.
Photo gallery
Delivered with
- Sonrie a Europa — Spain
- Associação Fortes Sempre — Portugal
- EU Pura Vida — Bulgaria
- Kultur Koprusu Egitim ve Genclik Dernegi — Türkiye
LEARNING
Competencies developed
- Intercultural communication
- Active citizenship
- Social inclusion awareness
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Leadership and confidence
- Learning to learn
- Cultural awareness and empathy
- Creative and digital expression
Voices from the project
What participants said
It was my very first time participating in a Youth Exchange facilitated by Highlights e.V. Throughout the 10 days I got to experience warm interaction with a very diverse youth within Europe. I could see each one of us making effort to communicate with care and respect. The host paid great attention to ensure we have enough time to reconnect with ourselves in the presence of the beautiful ocean.
Yupita Atuna · Youth Exchange Participant · Germany
MORE PAST PROJECTS
