Last month, the medieval city of Sighișoara, Romania, became the heart of an inspiring international gathering. Voices of the Next Generation, a dynamic Erasmus+ Youth Exchange, brought together young people from Germany, Spain, Romania, Italy, Estonia, and Czechia to reflect, connect, and take action on some of the most pressing issues facing their generation.
Hosted by Asociatia AUM, a youth organization dedicated to non-formal education and community development, the project was designed to explore key themes such as solidarity, volunteering, communication, social inclusion, and active participation. Through a carefully crafted week-long program, participants dove into daily reflections, team challenges, cultural sharing, and creative workshops—all aimed at empowering youth to raise their voices and drive positive change in their communities.
Each day focused on a central theme:
- Solidarity: Exploring its meaning at both personal and global levels
- Volunteering: Understanding its power in shaping active citizenship
- Communication & Expression: Finding and using your voice in society
- Inclusive Society: Promoting respect, acceptance, and diversity
- Reflection & Evaluation: Celebrating growth and recognizing individual journeys
Activities ranged from energizers and team-building games to thought-provoking roleplays, storytelling sessions like the Arch of Solidarity, and hands-on creative tasks. Participants shared their personal experiences, engaged in debates, collaborated in workshops, and explored the beautiful surroundings of Sighișoara during guided visits and intercultural evenings. The evenings included cultural nights hosted by each country, karaoke sessions, and group games—fostering not just learning, but genuine connection and fun.
Throughout the project, our videographer Francesca also created short documentaries capturing their insights and voices—powerful outcomes that you can watch on our partner’s (Cesta Rozvoje) YouTube Channel.
The exchange concluded with a celebration and the awarding of Youthpass certificates, recognizing each participant’s personal learning and development throughout the week. Voices of the Next Generation proved that when youth come together across borders to share, learn, and collaborate, powerful things happen. This project didn’t just amplify voices—it created a space where they could truly be heard!
ꜰᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴜʀᴏᴘᴇᴀɴ ᴜɴɪᴏɴ. ᴠɪᴇᴡꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴꜱ ᴇxᴘʀᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴇ ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ(ꜱ) ᴏɴʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ɴᴇᴄᴇꜱꜱᴀʀɪʟʏ ʀᴇꜰʟᴇᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴜʀᴏᴘᴇᴀɴ ᴜɴɪᴏɴ ᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴜʀᴏᴘᴇᴀɴ ᴇᴅᴜᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴇxᴇᴄᴜᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀɢᴇɴᴄʏ (ᴇᴀᴄᴇᴀ). ɴᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴜʀᴏᴘᴇᴀɴ ᴜɴɪᴏɴ ɴᴏʀ ᴇᴀᴄᴇᴀ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ʜᴇʟᴅ ʀᴇꜱᴘᴏɴꜱɪʙʟᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍ.
