Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “Threads of Change” October 2025

The Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “Threads of Change” took place in the charming rural village of Morigerati from the 15th to the 25th of October 2025. The project was a continuation of the previous Youth Exchange V.O.G.U.E – Versatile Options for Urban Exchange, which took place in Serbia in April 2025. It brought together young participants from Romania, Turkey, Greece, France, and Italy, creating a multicultural learning environment where participants could explore and critically reflect on the topic of fast fashion and its impact on society and the environment. Through various non-formal education methods such as interactive workshops, group discussions, creative activities, and reflection sessions, the participants gained a deeper understanding of the environmental and social consequences of the fashion industry while sharing perspectives from their own countries and communities.

The project was coordinated by ACARBIO, the main organizing association responsible for the implementation of the Youth Exchange and the coordination of the international partners. The activities were hosted in Morigerati, a tiny rural village which welcomed the participants and helped facilitate the project in the rural environment. Partner organizations included SOSYALFONGIRISIM from Turkey, Euphoria Youth Lab from Greece, the University Association from Romania, and Association Décou’Verte from France.Participants also interacted with local actors such as a traditional olive farm and cultural institutions in the village, which allowed them to better understand the rural context in which the project took place.

During the first days of the exchange, the participants took part in various name games, energizers, and team-building activities designed to help them get to know each other and create a positive and cooperative group atmosphere. These initial activities were important for building trust among participants coming from different cultural backgrounds and for creating a safe environment where everyone felt comfortable sharing their ideas and experiences. As the participants became more familiar with one another, the following days focused on deeper learning activities connected to the theme of sustainable fashion and responsible consumption.

A central element of the project consisted of practical workshops that allowed participants to explore alternatives to fast fashion through traditional textile techniques. They took part in crocheting and felting workshops led by Stephanie and Antonella, from a local group of activist women called “Le Medichesse”, where they reused old clothes and wool collected from local shepherds, materials that would otherwise have become waste. By transforming discarded fabrics and natural wool into new handmade items, participants experienced how clothing and textiles can be given a second life instead of being thrown away. These workshops encouraged creativity while promoting sustainable and circular practices. By working directly with the materials and creating something with their own hands, participants were able to experience how much time, patience, and effort are required to produce clothing. This helped them better understand the value of slow and careful production processes and reflect on how different they are from the rapid and mass-produced systems typical of the fast fashion industry.

Participants also engaged in activities focused on media literacy and communication. In one workshop, they analysed well-known fashion advertisements and discussed the messages they communicate, reflecting on how marketing strategies influence consumer behaviour and promote overconsumption. Through group discussions and critical thinking exercises, the participants explored how fashion brands shape trends and encourage people to buy more clothes than they actually need. Following this activity, the participants created their own social media campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the negative impacts of fast fashion while promoting more sustainable alternatives such as second-hand clothing, recycling, and slow fashion. Through this process they developed not only critical thinking skills but also practical abilities related to digital communication, teamwork, and creative content creation.

Another creative activity during the project was a workshop dedicated to serigraphy, a traditional stencil-based printing technique. Under the guidance of Alba Fagnano, President of DEEP, and artist, the participants learned how to print T-shirts featuring the official logo of the project. Serigraphy is a technique in which ink is pushed through a fine screen onto a surface such as fabric or paper. Participants were involved in each step of the process, from preparing the stencil and positioning the fabric to applying the ink and completing the print. The final printed T-shirts became a symbolic souvenir of the project and a representation of the ideas and values the group had explored together.

Throughout the ten days, participants also had the opportunity to explore and learn about the local context of Morigerati. The village has around 200 inhabitants and represents a lifestyle that is very different from life in larger cities. Located in a protected natural area that is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a National Park, Morigerati offers a peaceful environment and a slower rhythm of life that is closely connected to nature and traditional practices. Experiencing this rural setting allowed participants to reflect more deeply on sustainability, consumption habits, and the relationship between communities and the natural environment.

During their stay, the group visited the WWF Oasis of Bussento, where they were guided by Angelika, who introduced them to the natural environment of the area and explained the importance of biodiversity and environmental protection. Through this visit, participants learned about the Bussento river and visited the cave formations, as well as the old water mill that was used in the past by the locals. Furthermore they learned about the local ecosystem and the efforts made to preserve the natural landscape of the region. They also visited the “Museo etnografico” of Morigerati (Ethno-graphic Museum), which presents the traditional lifestyle and culture of the region. One particularly interesting section of the museum focused on textile production in the past. Participants learned how fabrics were traditionally produced using manual techniques and local materials, which provided an interesting comparison with modern industrial fashion production. This experience helped them understand that clothing production used to be slower, more sustainable, and closely connected to local craftsmanship and community traditions.

Another educational visit included a trip to a local olive farm, where participants learned from Pina, a local from Morigerati, about traditional olive oil production and rural agricultural practices. This activity allowed them to better understand how small rural communities maintain local food production and sustainable farming traditions, while also experiencing an important aspect of the region’s culture and economy.

The learning process was also enriched through audiovisual materials and reflection activities. During the project, participants watched a documentary about the social consequences of fast fashion, focusing on child labour in Bangladesh and the difficult working conditions faced by many workers involved in the global garment industry. After watching the documentary, the group took part in a reflection session where they shared their thoughts and discussed the ethical implications of fast fashion. This activity encouraged participants to think more critically about the hidden human cost behind cheap clothing and to reflect on how their own consumption habits can influence global systems.

MADE IN BANGLADESH – la storia dei bambini operai nel Fast Fashion🇧🇩

In the evenings, participants had the opportunity to represent their countries during intercultural nights. Each national group prepared presentations, videos, traditional food, dances, and games to share elements of their culture with the rest of the participants. These evenings were an important part of the exchange because they helped strengthen intercultural understanding, encourage curiosity about other cultures, and build friendships among the participants.

This project also allowed participants to experience community life by helping with meal preparations, cleaning shared spaces, and organizing daily routines. They learned to create teams, share responsibilities, and follow rules of conduct while practicing sustainability, such as reducing waste and conserving resources. Living and working together in a small community helped them develop empathy, cooperation, and respect, complementing the formal workshops and reinforcing the values of conscious and sustainable living.

At the end of the project, participants completed their Youthpass certificates through a process of individual and group reflection. They identified the skills and competences they had developed during the exchange, including teamwork, communication, creativity, intercultural understanding, critical thinking, and increased awareness of sustainability issues. By the end of the Youth Exchange, all participants left Morigerati with new knowledge about fast fashion and sustainability, a deeper understanding of the environmental and social impact of the fashion industry, and practical ideas they can use in their daily lives to promote more responsible and sustainable consumption and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Project’s Results