Nearly 20 years have passed since the biggest enlargement of the European Union. In 2004, all the V4 countries joined the EU on 1st of May 2004. This means that a generation has grown up without any memories outside of the EU. In all V4 countries, the EU membership was positively perceived and welcomed. But what is the situation now, in these instable, unpredictable days? How nowadays youth think about the EU and V4?
With this project we offer a state-of-the-art curriculum on new media awareness, an innovative learning mobility activity with significant local impacts, and an extensive online campaign. With the products and activities we provide, young people in V4 countries can better understand and accept each other and become free from influencing attempts in the online spaces.
On 30. June – 12. July, we organised a unique mobility roadshow across all V4 countries with two-day stops in each, bringing together 16 young people from Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary and Poland.
What were the mobilities about?
Starting with the first mobility in Budapest, Hungary, participants had a chance to get to know each other by playing interactive games, energisers, visiting the city and learning about Hungary during intercultural evening. The hosts introduced the Our EU 2024 project and what does it mean to be part of V4. Activities were designed to teach youngsters about community building and help them understand how they can get involved in their local initiatives. First part of the mobility was concluded with a public mini conference, inviting more people from the local community to join the group and discover the project.
Moving on to Nitra, Slovakia, the second part of the mobility was focus on outdoor activism and how can young people get involved. Many activities were organised outdoors on fresh air, allowing youngsters to feel more refreshed and connect with nature. Participants learned about trail marking, joined community hikes discovered how to maintain cultural and natural heritage sites such as the ruins of Gymes Castle. By involving youth in these activities, they gained valuable skills in outdoor navigation and trail maintenance while fostering a deep connection to their local environment. At the of the their stay in Nitra, the group organised another mini conference joined by OTI members and local youngsters.
The third stop was at Brno, Czechia, with topic being active participation. While discovering this beautiful city, youngsters attended workshops learning by means of Live Action Roleplaying. The evenings were enriched with Czech intercultural night and the third mini conference. Afterwards, the group travelled to their last planned stop.
The last stop of the mobility roadshow took place in Łódź, Poland, where the group learned more about sustainability and cooperations between NGOs and municipalities as active citizens. They also gained knowledge on how sustainable cities are built and attended the last mini conference of the whole mobility. Over the course of the roadshow, youngsters participated in a social media challenge, capturing their experience in pictures and videos and creating a unique gallery which they presented in Poland.
After 11 days full of workshops, games and new discoveries, it was time for the group to depart home and share their new knowledge and skills in their local communities.
What did the participants learn?
- Digital skills
- Content creation and social media management
- Teamwork
- Green skills
- Outdoor navigation
- Organisational and management skills
- English skill
Additionally, youngsters had an opportunity to experience international environment and understand the importance of their European citizenship and the value of our cultures, cooperation, and responsibility for future generations. It was a chance to participate in transnational mobility, allowing also those with fewer opportunities to experience what it means to be European.
Gallery from the roadshow
Our partners:
