The Erasmus+ youth exchange in Italy of the project “Ladder” proves how creativity and inclusive learning foster self-expression, inclusion, and intercultural connection among young Europeans.
From March 10th to 17th, 2025, the small town of Galbiate, in northern Italy, hosted the Erasmus+ youth exchange “Find your voice through creativity”. The programme gathered 15 young people from Italy, Latvia, Hungary, and Spain, supported by 4 group leaders and a team of 4 experienced facilitators. The goal was clear: discover the power of creativity. It served as a tool to explore identity, express oneself, overcome language barriers, and promote social inclusion.
The power of creativity in Erasmus+ projects
This exchange was part of the Erasmus+ partnership project “Ladder to Inclusion in Youth Mobility”. It offered a rich programme of non-formal education: creative workshops, group dynamics, nature-based experiences, and intercultural exchanges. Each activity helped participants explore their identity. It also encouraged genuine connections, helping them overcome cultural and language barriers.
Linda, a participant from Latvia, shared her experience:
“I think this programme was full of emotions, new connections and language improvement. Despite language barriers we all can communicate and understand each other. During the programme I understood myself better, had safe space to speak up and got new connections.“
A transformative experience for all
The value of cultural exchange was also highlighted by Abdel, a participant from the Spanish group:
“It was very interesting to share and learn about other people’s cultures. […] Thanks to this experience, I was able to broaden my perspective and enjoy a very enriching cultural exchange.”
David, a Spanish group leader experiencing his first Erasmus+ project, particularly appreciated the educational approach:
“All the activities and workshops helped the participants to reflect on their identity and life experiences through art.“
Finally, Imad and Marouan reflected on the importance of play, fun, and human connection:
“Every activity was an opportunity to share, learn, and create unforgettable memories.”
“For me, it was a fantastic experience because I really enjoy doing activities together with people from other cultural backgrounds.”
The experience in Galbiate demonstrated how an international youth exchange can become a concrete opportunity for personal growth, social inclusion, and active citizenship. Through creativity, dialogue, and collaboration, young participants built bridges across cultures and left a lasting mark on the community that welcomed them.
The Ladder project: youth inclusion and international mobility
The exchange is part of the Ladder to Inclusion in Youth Mobility project, which aims to engage highly vulnerable young people in non-formal education and European mobility programmes. Funded by Erasmus+, Ladder helps youth organizations build inclusive pathways in mobility projects. It bridges the gap between inclusion policies and real educational practices. The project shares good practices and strategies for building safer, more inclusive learning spaces. It promotes a more equitable, accessible, and diversity-friendly education model.
This youth exchange also gave the team the opportunity to test inclusion strategies and find innovative solutions to challenges that arose during the mobility.
Follow the next steps of the project on Facebook and Instagram.
