Keep Talking!

Young Voices United in Dialogue: “Keep Talking!” Youth Exchange in Bulgaria

Between 8–14 January 2025, the Youtopia Center near Stara Zagora welcomed young people from Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Bulgaria for the Erasmus+ youth exchange “Keep Talking!”. This impactful project centered on non-violent communication, emotional awareness, and intercultural understanding through non-formal education methods. Participants began the experience with dynamic team-building activities like “Human Bingo,” the “Elevator Speech Coffee Break,” and small group discovery games, setting a positive and inclusive atmosphere. From the first day, the focus was on developing trust, building group cohesion, and celebrating shared experiences while appreciating individual uniqueness.
Over the next several days, participants engaged in creative workshops using tools from improvisational theater and Theater of the Oppressed, exploring the concepts of Giraffe and Jackal communication. These sessions encouraged empathy, active listening, and peaceful conflict resolution, helping young people recognize and express their feelings and needs in constructive ways. Evening programs featured cultural nights where each country’s team presented their traditions, music, dances, games, and national foods—from Greek gyros and dances to Bulgarian banitsa, Slovakian wafers, and Romanian chocolates and quizzes. The project concluded with a joyful Youthpass ceremony, an Oscars-style awards celebration, and a cozy secret snack party to reflect on the week’s journey and the friendships formed.

• Explored non-violent communication techniques through theater-based and game-based learning
• Strengthened intercultural appreciation via cultural evenings hosted by participants from four countries
• Promoted empathy, self-awareness, and peaceful dialogue across diverse cultural backgrounds

“Keep Talking!” empowered participants with practical communication tools and a deeper sense of empathy that they can carry into their communities. The project showed how dialogue, creativity, and cultural exchange can build lasting connections and strengthen our shared European values.