STAGE4EYG III

The youth exchange “Stage 4 EYG III (2026)” officially began in São Pedro do Estoril, Portugal, gathering participants from France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain. The first day focused primarily on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where participants could begin building trust, cooperation, and interpersonal connections. Through a variety of dynamic team-building exercises and outdoor activities, participants had the opportunity to get to know one another, strengthen group cohesion, and explore the local surroundings. These activities laid the foundation for effective collaboration throughout the project. In the afternoon, participants were introduced to the thematic framework of the exchange by engaging in a creative activity centered around designing their own European Youth Goals country. This exercise encouraged reflection on European values, active citizenship, and collective vision-building. The day concluded with an intercultural evening, providing participants with the opportunity to celebrate and share their national traditions, customs, and cultures, further enriching intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding.

On the third day, participants deepened their engagement with both social reflection and theatrical practice. The morning was dedicated to the World Café methodology, an interactive discussion process that allowed participants to exchange perspectives, ideas, and experiences in a collaborative setting. This structured dialogue encouraged critical thinking, active participation, and intercultural exchange, while allowing participants to reflect on project themes and societal issues from diverse viewpoints. In the afternoon, participants explored image theatre techniques, focusing on how to visually represent climax situations and social dynamics through physical expression and body language. This method fostered creativity, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of non-verbal communication. Overall, the day combined intellectual dialogue with artistic practice, strengthening both personal reflection and theatrical competence.

The fifth day combined theatrical development with reflection and cultural exploration. Participants took part in improvisation theatre workshops designed to enhance spontaneity, creativity, adaptability, and stage confidence. These activities challenged participants to think quickly, collaborate effectively, and express themselves freely in unpredictable scenarios, reinforcing both artistic and personal development. A midterm evaluation session also took place, allowing participants to assess their experiences so far, share constructive feedback, and reflect on their individual learning journeys. In addition, participants explored São Pedro do Estoril and its surrounding areas, experiencing local culture while strengthening group bonds in an informal setting. This balance of creativity, evaluation, and exploration contributed to a holistic educational experience.

OThe seventh day of the youth exchange combined theatrical reflection with cultural learning experiences. During the morning sessions, participants engaged in activities such as “Inner Monologue” and “Hot Seat,” both designed to deepen emotional awareness, character exploration, and personal expression through theatre. The “Inner Monologue” exercise encouraged participants to explore internal thoughts and emotions, helping them better understand how feelings and personal experiences can be represented on stage. Through the “Hot Seat” activity, participants practiced improvisation, active listening, and spontaneous interaction while responding to questions in character. These methods contributed to the development of empathy, communication skills, creativity, and self-confidence. In the afternoon, participants took part in a cultural visit to Cascais, one of Portugal’s most well-known coastal towns. The visit included a walking tour through the historic center and a guided exploration of the Sea Museum, where participants learned more about the maritime history and cultural heritage of the region. This combination of artistic practice and cultural discovery provided participants with a broader educational experience, strengthening both intercultural understanding and group cohesion while creating meaningful shared memories.

The final day of the youth exchange was dedicated to evaluation, reflection, and the celebration of the learning journey experienced throughout the project. Participants took part in both online and offline evaluation activities aimed at assessing the overall impact of the exchange and reflecting on their personal and group development. The evaluation process included digital feedback forms as well as interactive group activities and games designed to encourage open discussion and collective reflection. Through these methods, participants were able to identify the challenges they had overcome, the competences they had developed, and the most meaningful experiences they shared during the project. Special attention was given to the personal growth achieved through theatre methodologies, intercultural dialogue, teamwork, and non-formal education. Participants reflected on the skills acquired throughout the exchange, including communication, creativity, self-confidence, empathy, collaboration, and adaptability. The final sessions also created space for emotional sharing, informal conversations, and moments of appreciation among participants and facilitators. These exchanges strengthened the sense of connection built during the project and highlighted the positive impact of living and learning together in an international environment. The closing of the project was marked by gratitude, reflection, and celebration, bringing to an end an inspiring experience centered on youth participation, intercultural learning, artistic expression, and personal development.