Let us cook!

Cooking together, learning together, growing together.

“Let us Cook!” was a Youth Exchange held in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, between 12–20 January 2026, bringing together young people from Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, and Greece for an inspiring intercultural journey based on cuisine, non-formal education, and cultural exploration. From the very beginning, the project created a strong foundation through icebreakers, name games, team-building activities, and trust-building exercises, helping participants connect and prepare for the days ahead. As the exchange progressed, young people worked in mixed international teams, planned workshops together, prepared recipes and shopping lists, and discovered how food reflects identity, traditions, and shared European values. Each national group led its own cooking workshop, allowing participants to prepare and taste a wide variety of traditional dishes such as Greek moussaka and tzatziki, Polish pierogi and zapiekanki, Bulgarian banitsa and Shopska salad, and Romanian mamaliga, mici, and papanasi. The use of rotating cooking stations ensured that everyone could actively participate, learn new techniques, and contribute to every part of the process. In addition to the culinary activities, the project also included a Debate Club focused on topics such as globalization versus tradition, the role of food in preserving culture, and the way cuisine shapes identity in a changing world. Participants also took part in a creative political simulation and legislative theatre workshop related to restaurants, where they explored decision-making, responsibility, and different perspectives through role play. A special highlight of the exchange was the exploration day in Plovdiv, where participants discovered the city’s rich history and multicultural influences while reflecting on the connection between history, coexistence, and culinary diversity. The evenings were filled with cultural presentations, traditional games, music, dances, and shared dinners, creating meaningful spaces for exchange, friendship, and celebration. On the final day, participants reflected on their learning journey through formal and non-formal evaluation activities, including a creative “making pizza” evaluation, and contributed to the development of the project’s Cook Book, a publication designed as both a recipe collection and a guide for using cooking as a tool in intercultural learning and youth work. The project ended with emotional farewell moments, including the Youthpass ceremony, an Oscars ceremony, farewell games, and a heartfelt closing evening.

Throughout the exchange, participants developed important competences and skills such as teamwork, communication, intercultural awareness, creativity, adaptability, and critical thinking. By cooking together, debating cultural topics, taking part in simulations, and reflecting on their shared experiences, young people learned how to work effectively in diverse international teams, express their opinions with confidence, and better understand the value of cultural diversity and cooperation. The project also helped them discover how food can be a powerful educational tool that connects people, encourages dialogue, and builds lasting understanding between cultures.