From April 24 to May 1, 2026, our young participants took part in Slovenia in the Erasmus+ youth exchange “Escape the Stigma”, an international project that involved participants from Slovenia, Italy, and Romania.
The project was created with the aim of reflecting on stereotypes and social stigma through creative tools and non-formal education activities. During the exchange, participants worked on the creation of real educational escape rooms, used as a method to address topics often considered stigmatizing and to help peers develop greater understanding, empathy, and openness toward others.
Through group activities, intercultural moments, and collaborative workshops, the young people were able to share experiences, step out of their comfort zone, and build new friendships in an international context.
Below are their testimonies:
Gabriele:
“The Erasmus project, Escape the Stigma, I liked mainly for 3 reasons:
- company: we were lucky to find very good company, both Italian and from other countries;
- activities: city trips and escape room activities particularly impressed me;
- expectations: I expected something much more boring and alienating, but it was completely the opposite.
Only negative point: the food…”
Martina:
“Honestly, I never thought I would experience something like this. It went even better than I imagined. I met a lot of nice and funny people (both Italian and non-Italian), and I really hope to see them again one day. The group leaders were also really great and kind.
One of the best moments, besides the activities, was definitely free time, when we talked and had fun with the other participants despite the language differences.
This experience taught me to be more open-minded, to challenge myself, and to step out of my comfort zone. I came back home with many memories, new friendships, and an even stronger desire to travel.”
Lorenzo:
“The exchange was a wonderful experience that I hope to repeat. It was great to meet new people from Sardinia and abroad and to discover new cultures and realities different from ours.”
Diego:
“I am very happy about this first experience in a youth exchange, and also my first time outside Italy. The activities were interesting and engaging, but what made everything even better were the people. During the week I made friends with participants from other countries and learned something about cultures different from mine. It was exactly what I expected, actually even better. A wonderful experience that I hope to repeat. I am very happy to have met other young people with whom I still keep in contact after the exchange.”
Carla:
“I believe this experience enriched both my knowledge and my personality. I am someone who loves new experiences, discovering new places and meeting new people, but I don’t always like pushing my limits. However, sometimes I force myself to do it because I know otherwise I would miss the beauty of the experience.
This Youth Exchange is exactly an example of that: I chose to take a risk and enjoy every single moment of the day. It helped me improve my English, become more confident, share my thoughts and ideas, meet new people, and learn to trust those who are willing to help others in any situation.
I am happy to have come back home changed. These are feelings I cannot fully explain, but inside I truly feel different. I loved everything: the group, the escape rooms, the energizers, the activities, the notes, every smile, every hug…
I felt welcomed, protected, like at home even if I wasn’t. At first I was unsure whether to apply for the project, but if I were offered a similar experience again, I would not think twice: I was so happy that I would leave again tomorrow.
Carla Usai”
Daniel Franco:
“My experience in Slovenia was really great. I had never taken part in a project like this before and at the beginning I was not even sure about leaving, but in the end I understood that going was one of the best decisions I could have made.
I met new people, learned more about different cultures, and for the first time I spoke English with non-Italian speakers.”
Danilo:
“Good morning, I am Danilo Mannu. For me this youth exchange was very useful because before I would never have thought of interacting with a foreigner using English. I really liked it. The activities were also very nice!”
Francesca:
“A week in Slovenia that will stay in my heart. At the beginning I was curious and also excited because everything was new: different people, different languages, but we communicated in English. Even with accents and invented words, we managed to understand each other.
The participants were extremely funny, I got along very well with everyone.
The escape room was one of the most fun experiences because we created it ourselves: from many ideas something super engaging came out. It was really great.
Even outside the activities everything felt amazing, with chats, laughs, and calm moments together. Everything was well organized and there was never a boring moment.
Overall, it was a truly unique experience, different from the usual, full of new people and beautiful memories. I would do it again a thousand times without hesitation.”
Matteo GL:
“The youth exchange in Slovenia was an experience that left a deep impact on me, both as a youth worker and on a personal level. For six days I had the opportunity to accompany, together with another group leader, a group of 8 young people aged 15 to 17, in a process focused on stereotypes and stigma, using non-formal education activities and very interesting tools such as escape rooms.
During the project I did not only take part in the activities, but I also shared experiences, ideas, and practices related to the projects I run in my local area.
Being a group leader made me reflect a lot on my relationship with young people: supporting them in an international context, seeing how they change day by day, how they start opening up, collaborating and getting involved, is one of the reasons why I continue to take part in these projects.
I return from this experience very happy, with new friendships, new practical skills, new ideas, greater awareness, and a lot of motivation. For me, these projects are important because they open the mind, allow personal and professional growth, and provide concrete tools to work better with young people and create new opportunities, especially for those coming from more disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Raffaela GL:
“This experience as a group leader was a surprise in every way and a great opportunity to learn and grow. It was wonderful to accompany the young people on this journey and a very strong group was created. Every time I join these projects, I think I already know what to expect, but they always manage to positively surprise me.”
