EYG RISE

We welcomed participants from Italy, France and Spain to the beautiful coastal village of Vila Nova de Milfontes, where our project took place. The day began with an introduction to the Check-In Team and a brief explanation of the objectives of this meeting. Since nobody knew each other, we started with two name games and a speed dating activity, featuring different questions that helped everyone get to know each other better. To promote team spirit, we carried out the “Mission Impossible” activity, in which participants had to work together to complete a series of tasks within a short period of time. They successfully completed the challenge, demonstrating an excellent spirit of mutual support and teamwork. Next, we created personalised name badges for everyone! Each participant drew a set of lines corresponding to the number of letters in their name and then exchanged their badge with someone else to identify common letters between their respective names. Afterwards, we held a session dedicated to sharing contributions, expectations and fears. Following a coffee break, the Check-In Team organised a guided tour with two main stations: 1) The Youth Exchange Programme and 2) Erasmus+ and Youthpass. Participants were then introduced to the central theme of the project: the European Youth Goals. To explore this topic further, they took part in an interactive quiz, answering questions about the 11 European Youth Goals, divided into three teams. We ended the day with a reflection session, during which participants were divided into four groups to discuss what they had learned and how they had felt throughout the day.

As usual, the day started with an energiser to get participants ready for the upcoming activities. This time, it was an original version of the classic “Rock, Paper, Scissors” game, in which participants evolved from an egg into a chicken, then into a dinosaur and, finally, into a “boss”. The French team was responsible for facilitating the day's activities. The first activity consisted of a theatrical performance involving three participants, who presented a situation related to the European Youth Goals, with a particular focus on the goal “Inclusive Societies”. The initial scenario portrayed an unsafe environment which, through clapping and replacing the “actors”, was gradually transformed by the participants into a safe and inclusive space. Afterwards, participants took part in an activity in which they had to arrange themselves in a line according to specific criteria, such as their month of birth. Then, one of the participants asked a series of questions to discover the reasons behind that particular arrangement. The morning workshop encouraged discussions on several relevant topics. The conversations focused on the gender pay gap, a topic that generated considerable interest, as well as workplace responsibilities, social anxiety and the economy. The discussions provided diverse perspectives and valuable insights into each of these issues. After lunch, the group took part in the game “Activity”, in which participants had to guess topics related to the European Youth Goals through verbal descriptions or by acting them out using gestures and movements. Words such as “depression”, “conversation” and “community”, among others, led to moments of great cooperation and team spirit. Overall, the third day was marked by enriching discussions, creative activities and collaborative learning, leaving participants excited about the activities planned for the following day.

Throughout the weekend, we continued to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the European Youth Goals. Saturday's activities were facilitated by the Italian team, who prepared and led a series of dynamic and engaging workshops. The main theme of the day was sustainability, an issue that is particularly important to everyone. Through fun and interactive activities, participants explored this key goal in greater depth, developing a stronger awareness of its importance in the global context. On Sunday, sustainability remained the central theme. However, participants also had the opportunity to express their individual ideas and creativity. Using magazines, colouring materials and various other resources, they created artworks representing their vision of the 7th European Youth Goal: Quality Employment for All. This creative activity provided a meaningful way to reflect on this essential goal and visually communicate each participant's ideas. In addition to the workshops and creative activities, there was also time to explore and share cultural traditions. Participants presented aspects of their home countries in a relaxed and fun way through activities such as a Kahoot quiz, sharing small snacks and taking part in games. This initiative allowed everyone to learn more about the diverse cultures of France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, promoting greater understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity within the group. The weekend was an excellent combination of learning, creativity and cultural exchange, leaving everyone feeling more inspired and united.