REPORT:
Youth Exchange Creative Bridges: Folklore Fusion

11 – 18 August 2025

Vlasotince | Serbia

From August 11 to 18, 2025, the town of Vlasotince, Serbia hosted the first international youth exchange within the Erasmus+ project Creative Bridges called Folklore Fusion. The activity was coordinated by the hosting organization IMPULS (RS) and brought together 28 young people from the Czech Republic, Ireland, Serbia and Italy.

Creative Bridges is an Erasmus+ project designed to support young people with fewer opportunities, helps them successfully transition from education to employment and seeks to improve their employability, self-confidence, teamwork, communication, and mental well-being. The project consists of two youth exchanges focused on cultural heritage and personal development. By using non-formal education, arts, and cultural activities, it aims to foster creativity, social cohesion, independence, and active community participation.

The youth exchange Folklore Fusion was the first activity of the project. Hosted by the youth organization IMPULS in Vlasotince, Serbia, is used folklore (dance, music, and traditions) as a tool for inclusion, identity building, and intercultural dialogue. The youth exchange combined workshops, performances, and community engagement to show how folklore strengthens social cohesion and belonging, while also empowering young people.

The youth exchange was designed to support the project’s main objectives:

Develop self-awareness, confidence, and independence in young people to increase employability and community participation
Improve communication (native and foreign languages), social skills, and teamwork
Promote mental well-being and prevent mental health issues
Foster European values, citizenship, and identity
Emphasize the role of folklore and cultural heritage in identity and belonging
Highlight positive impact of folklore on inclusion, health, and cohesion
Empower Serbian youth by engaging them in local folklore groups
Offer meaningful leisure activities to prevent unhealthy behavior
Help youth recognize strengths and make better career/life choices
Use art to raise awareness of inclusion, diversity, and cohesion
Develop practical movie-making and digital skills

What did we do?

DAY 1

The program began with name games, icebreakers and creative team-building activities, for the participants to feel comfortable and connected from the very start. Together we introduced the project and its goals, Erasmus+ opportunities and the European Youth Goals. Through expectation-setting session, everyone shared their hopes and possible fears, creating a common learning space. Later, the “Sustainable Ambassadors” activity introduced daily eco-friendly practices, facilitated by the participants. Rules and sustainable practices for the youth exchange were established. Afterwards, all national teams researched local barriers faced by young people and brainstormed creative solutions to dress them. The results were presented in the group through a gallery walk, after which discussion in group followed. The afternoon was closed with reflections, and in the evening, several participants organized couple more fun activities, such as Human Bingo and another playful name game.

DAY 2

The day started with The Tribe team-building challenge, where participants had to work together in a fun and symbolic activity that emphasised unity and trust and also cultural differences and intercultural communitacion. This was followed by a session on folklore and tradition, where each national team presented the group with specific traditions, music, dances, tales from their regions and much more. The activity encouraged participants to be proud of their traditions and opened space for intercultural learning.

In the afternoon, the group met with Marko Stojlković from local folklore group KUD Crnolović, the project partner. Marko introduced the group with their work in cultural preservation. Afterwards, he led the introductory workshop of folklore dance, where everyone learned traditional Serbian steps and enjoyed moving together as one group. Reflections at the end of the day helped participants to connect cultural learning with personal insights. In the evening, Serbian and Italian teams hosted the first Cultural Night, presenting traditional food, music and fun cultural quizzes.

“This Erasmus+ project was an amazing experience for me. I really enjoyed every part of it, from the activities and workshops to meeting wonderful people from different countries. It gave me new knowledge, unforgettable memories, and inspiration for the future. I am very grateful for this opportunity.”

– Lana, Serbia

DAY 3

Our third morning, we focused on Public Speech and Presentation workshops. Through practical exercises and examples, participants learned how to structure a speech, use body language effectively, and manage stage fright. The all practiced in pairs and small groups and gained confidence and useful communication skills.

In the afternoon, participants themselves became facilitators by running short team-building games they had prepared in advance. This gave them practical experience in leadership and non-formal education methods. Later, the group engaged in a Folklore Improvisation Workshop, where music and dance elements from different cultures were combined –> a fun and creative exercise that showed how traditions can merge into something new. During this session, participants also had the chance to try on traditional Serbian folklore costumes from various regions, which made the experience even more authentic. The evening included reflection groups and informal free time activities prepared by the participants, and they encouraged networking and building intercultural friendships.

“This project has allowed me to carry with me every single person I met. Each one, in their own way, has left something inside me: a secret, a curiosity, a new perspective. This is the beauty of the Erasmus project: meeting new people, different from you, who in some way change you and make you a more open-minded person. Being part of a group teaches you to listen to others, to collaborate, and to find common ground. If you learn to adapt and to enjoy little things, you’ll create many magical moments..”

– Agnese, Italy

DAY 4

We began the daywith the session Changing the Self-Image, where participants explored how they see themselves and how others perceive them. Through guided reflection and group discussion, they gained insights into self-confidence and personal growth. This was followed by Speed Job Interviews, a dynamic exercise where they practiced introducing themselves, emphasizing their skills ans strengths and receiving feedback – this activity was very relevant for increasing employability.

In the afternoon, participants had another session of folklore dances, practicing their choreography and songs for the final performance. Evening reflections allowed participants to assess what they had learned. In the evening, Irish and Czech groups presented their countries in Cultural Night, with traditional performances, games and tastings that brought a lot of fun and learning.

“My best memory from the project was definitely the dancing. Taking part in a traditional folk dance at the end of the exchange was such a unique experience and something I’ll always remember.

To any young people who are unsure about going abroad on a similar project, I’d say: have an open mind and give it a try. It’s a chance to try something new, meet amazing people, and learn so much about yourself and the world. I’d highly recommend it!”

– Liam, Ireland

DAY 5

After several intense programme days, the group spent time outdoors to recharge and discover the local cultural and historical context of Vlasotince town. Guided hikes by the locals and exploration activities allowed participants to connect with nature, learn about the area’s traditions, and experience community life. The slower rhythm gave space for informal discussions and deeper bonds within the group.

The afternoon was lighter, with free time for rest, sports and networking. We encouraged participants to organize their own free-time activities, which promoted initiative and creativity. Some of them used the opportunity to chill on the Vlasina river bank. In the evening, more intercultural sharing continued through informal exchanges and leisure, such as international karaoke, bonding group over music and favourite songs.

“My time in Serbia was an unforgettable experience that taught me so much about myself and others. One of the most important things I am taking away from this youth exchange is the confidence I gained. I pushed myself to take part in activities I never thought I would enjoy, and it showed me how much I am capable of when I step outside my comfort zone.”

– Bailey, Ireland

DAY 6

The morning started with a Short Movie-Making Workshop: participants drew cards to pick genres, themes and roles and in international teams created movie scripts, practicing creativity, planning and teamwork. For the next couple hours, and also by the end of the exchange, they worked on finalizing short movies on specific topics such as mental health, sustainability and more. These were another nice outcomes of their team work and creativity which they were buidling over the course of the week. In the afternoon, they spent time rehearsing the final performance and playing sports in local cultural and sports centre SRC Vlasina, together with the local youth. In mixed groups they rehearsed steps, spacing and transitions, timing and cooperation for the perfomance. The day closed with a light birthday celebration for one of the participants and afterwards fun games and music activities prepared by some of the participants.

“I had the chance to take part in this Erasmus+ project in my hometown, Vlasotince, where we welcomed participants from different countries. The program lasted 10 days and included energizers, workshops, and lectures about folklore and culture, as well as many joint activities and social events. As hosts, we shared our traditions while also learning a lot about other cultures. For me, this was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life – I improved my teamwork skills, made new friendships, and practiced my English in the best possible way.”

– Katarina, Serbia

DAY 7

We started with a session about folklore and mental health in a World Café format, where participants tried to link cultural practices to emotional wellbeing, resilience and inclusion. This session helped them recap and reflect the contribution and significance of folklore anc cultural traditions in communities and their positive impact on invididuals. In another session, national teams designed ideas to address real community needs, turning traditions into concrete youth initiatives (these were supposed to be used as concept for the dissemination and follow-up local events). After a short break, the exchange culminated in the Final Performance, series od dance and music pieces performed by the participants in front of the local community. Within the official event of KUD Crnilović for around 400 locals from Vlasotince, particicipants were given the opportunity to perform Serbian folklore dances they were rehearsing during the exchange, and sing typical songs from their regions (Irish team ‚Traveling soldier‘, Czech team ‚Mezi horami‘ and Italian team ‚Bella ciao‘). The event was a great opportunity for everyone to build confidence, step out of their comfort zone and share common achievements in the group.

“Every day is like the best memory. Every person I saw every day is something that will be in my head for a long time. The best memory is the constant cooperation with someone. I was always heard. There was always someone around and I never felt left out. Our joint dance that we learned in a short period of time will never be forgotten.”

– Daryna, Czech Republic

“The most beautiful memory I will always cherish from this incredible experience in Serbia was the moment we all danced the traditional Serbian folk dance together in front of a big crowd. We were all so nervous before getting on stage, but afterward we came down shouting with joy, saying how amazing it was to do it all together.

I was one of those people who were scared to take part in an Erasmus+ project like this, alone and so far from home. But I would recommend doing it precisely for that reason: I was afraid, but this project helped me overcome so many of my fears. So I encourage everyone to give it a try: it’s totally worth it, and it’s all much easier than it seems.”

– Gabriella, Italy

DAY 8

The final day of the Folklore Fusion youth exchange was dedicated to exploring more about different EU Actions for Youth, European programs that offer valuable opportunities to young people who wish to further pursue personal and career development. Afterwards, we carried out final evaluation and learning assessment, where participants reflected on their learning journey using non-formal tools and group discussions. They reviewed new competences gained -> from intercultural awareness and teamwork to creativity, presentation and project design, and shared feedback for future projects. The Youthpass ceremony followed, with each participant receiving their certificate and presenting personal highlights of the week. After closing remarks and goodbyes, the group celebrated the friendships and skills developed, taking home beautiful memories but also new motivation to stay active in European youth opportunities.

“If you’re hesitating on trying to participate in an Erasmus+ project, what I would advise you to do is – don’t! It’s an open, safe place where you can learn a lot not just about the topic or other cultures, but mainly about yourself, gain self-confidence and independence through the traveling process.”

– Barbora, Czech Republic

See you all soon at the next event of the project -> the youth exchange Audiovisual Synergy this October in the Czech Republic, where participants will this time focus on their individual growth, exploring their talents and create a professional movie, reflecting their whole journey through the project.

The project Creative Bridges is co-funded by the European Union.