Call for Professional Development Activity Links in Italy
27 October- 4th November, 2025 (including travel days)
Palermo | Italy
About the project
ExCHANGE 2025 “Links” is a professionall development activity taking place in Italy, Palermo and gathering together 24 youth workers from Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia and Portugal, with the aim of exploring new tools for inclusive communication, empathy, and conflict resolution.
The main theme of Links is microaggressions – subtle, often unconscious comments or behaviours that can negatively affect people from marginalized groups. While they may appear minor or unintentional, such actions can gradually erode dignity, undermine well-being, and create barriers to building healthy and respectful relationships.
The project aims to provide participants with knowledge, skills, and tools to promote non-violent social relationships and to develop emotional intelligence among groups of activists and youth workers, supporting the creation of positive and communicative relationships within activist circles. Participants will learn tools to recognize, prevent, and resolve conflicts, as well as to address how microaggressions within groups can hinder the development of healthier and more inclusive social relationships.
The week-long activity will use interactive and creative tools such as visual mapping, storytelling, collage-making, role play, and forum theatre. Group discussions, empathy circles and privilege-based exercises will foster critical reflection and mutual understanding, while digital tools will ensure participation from all voices. Peer support systems, check-ins and group agreements will create a safe environment for learning.
Participants will also be encouraged to design small awareness-raising actions to apply what they have learned.
Involved countries
Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia and Portugal.
The venue & accomodation
Accommodation
In Palermo, accommodation will be in “Hostel Via Zara“, located in via Zara, 5. It’s in the city center, very close to stations, bus stops, shops, monuments, theaters, historical markets and other points of interest. Hostel’s Website HERE.
Participants will be hosted in double/triple/quadruple (up to 6 beds) bedrooms (single beds) with a shared bathroom. Blankets and sheets will be provided, altogether towels and hairdryers, but please remember to bring your own soap/shampoo. Breakfast will be consumed at the hostel, lunch and dinner in a restaurant or in the hostel in case of take away food.
Facilities for Activities
Activities will be held inside the workshop spaces of the BOOQ, a cooperative space managed by an association who works in the historical center of the city. Depending on weather, activities will also take place in outdoor green spaces in the center of Palermo.
Weather
In October Palermo has an average temperature between 6 and 20 degrees with chances of rain, but we recommend you bring a raincoat in case.
The eligible participants
There will be 4 participants per country
The participants:
- are youth workers, teachers, educators, facilitators, community workers and leaders
- are Czech citizens or residents
- are able to demonstrate their motivation and interest in the project
Financial conditions
Accommodation, food and all materials at the project will be covered by the Erasmus+ programme. The travel costs for the Czech participants will be covered within the limit of 309 EUR.
Plase note that in case you are selected for the project, you will be asked to pay a membership fee of 900 CZK (or 35 EUR for payments from abroad) – we will use this contribution to cover the compensation for the trip coordinator, the costs of materials and preparation, and the complete support of the participants before, during and after the trip. Instructions for paying the membership fee will be sent to you by e-mail, along with instructions to confirm participation and other steps.
The membership fee also ensures your membership in the Youth Progress organization, free entry to all local activities and is paid annually – if you decide to go on another project with us this calendar year, you will not have to pay it again.
Your participation in the project is fully financed by the ERASMUS+ program. However, the program does not reimburse us, the sending organization, so thank you for helping us continue to provide these great opportunities to young people. 
* In case of cancellation of participation by the participant, the contribution is non-refundable.
** In case of cancellation of the project by the organizers or due to force majeure, the contribution will be refunded to the participant’s account.
*** The membership fee may be waived in exceptional cases, e.g. if the participant faces a financial disadvantage, which will be evaluated individually by the sending organization.