The „Ring the Intersectionality” youth exchange has officially started in Șimon (Bran), Romania, bringing together a diverse group of young people from rural areas to explore the intersections of social justice, inclusion, and creativity. The project, running from March 31st to April 13th, 2025, is an Erasmus+ project designed to empower youth through visual arts and activism.

A diverse and motivated Group

The exchange gathers 35 participants from five countries—Estonia, Moldova, Romania, Spain, and Ukraine—all aged between 16 and 26 years old. Each national group consists of six young people and one group leader. They all share a strong passion for social justice, equality, and combating discrimination and they want to explore these topics through a non-formal international experience.

Objectives of the Project

„Ring the Intersectionality” is a learning experience aimed at:

1. Enhancing creativity through visual arts as a tool for activism.
2. Providing tools to combat discrimination, stereotypes, and hate speech.
3. Increasing access to international learning opportunities for rural youth.
4. Developing leadership skills and the ability to initiate small community projects.

We planned the project to make sure that the participants will become more inclusive and proactive in their communities.

The activities: a blend of learning and creativity

The agenda is a mix of interactive workshops, artistic projects, and cultural exchange sessions, making learning engaging and impactful.

Key highlights of the mobility:

• Workshops on human rights and civic activism to provide historical context and inspire action.
• Creative exercises, including painting and storytelling, to promote inclusion.
• Forum theatre techniques, allowing participants to rehearse real-life social issues and explore solutions – we will organize a public event in Brașov where we will play the 2 Forum Theatre plays developed during the mobility and the other results of the mobility.
• Developing an Inclusion and solidarity guidebook, a valuable resource for begginer activists.
• Intercultural nights where each country showcases its traditions.

Expected outcomes: making an impact beyond the exchange

By the end of the exchange, participants will have practical skills in advocacy and activism, be more confident in using art as a tool for social change gain a deeper understanding of intersectionality and how different forms of discrimination overlap, be motivated to engage in community projects, ensuring long-term impact and last but not least, be proder of their identity as a young person from rural areas.

Each participant will be involved in follow-up and dissemination activities at local level, after the mobility. They will organize events, write articles, and share their experiences to spread the project’s message and results.

A promising start

Ring the Intersectionality is our first international Erasmus+ project and it sets the stage for an empowering experience where young people can connect, create, and challenge societal norms. This mobility marks the beginning of a journey that will influence not just the participants, but also their communities back home.

Big thanks to Multisport Estonia MTÜ (Estonia), Valdeorras Vive (Spain), Asociația Obștească Alternativa (Moldova), and Kremenchuk Informative-Elucidative Centre European Club (Ukraine) for their collaboration in making Ring the Intersectionality a reality.

Ring the intersectionality is a Youth Exchange funded by Erasmus+ programme of European Union.