The Erasmus+ project “Green City Builders” was a youth exchange that took place from September 15 to 24, 2025, in Agropoli, Italy. Around 35 young people from Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Romania, and Bulgaria took part in the exchange.
The focus of the project was on sustainability, particularly in the context of environmentally friendly urban development and the contribution of young people to shaping “green cities.” We explored sustainability from ecological, social, and economic perspectives. Topics included waste separation, renewable energy, and social inequalities, among others.
I decided to participate in this project mainly to learn more about sustainability topics, get exposed to different cultures, opinions, ways of life and make international friends with different backgrounds.
For me, participating in the project was also a way to learn about Italian culture as part of my preparation for an Erasmus exchange semester in Italy, as well as to study the local perspective on environmental issues in Italy.
We took part in various workshops, group work, discussions, and creative activities such as simulation games and presentations. Unlike everyday student life, during youth exchanges it is fun to participate in the exchange experience itself, rather than in hour-and-a-half-long lectures.
A highlight for many of us was the joint beach clean-up. And last but definitely not least: playing beach volleyball in the evening sun 😉
I was surprised by how open and profound the conversations between us participants were. We talked not only about ecology, but also about personal values, politics, and lifestyles.
I was also surprised by how quickly deep friendships can develop and that we people from different countries share very similar values despite all our differences.
It was nice to see such a diverse yet sociable and friendly group. Sometimes in projects, people feel too different and cannot find common ground. It was also interesting to see a project in which almost none of the participants were younger than 22, which greatly influenced the overall dynamics of the groups.
Italian cuisine made a particular impression on me. Over the nine days of the project, I really got to know the main dishes of Italian cuisine, prepared by Italians themselves in Italy, rather than parodies of Italian cuisine in other countries. It was a completely new experience to see how well and with what pleasure people cook in Italy.
In the future, I will pay more attention to waste separation in my household and make more conscious decisions when shopping. And gradually establish a whole range of other meaningful gestures in my everyday life: consciously enjoying tap water, using less packaging material, taking shorter showers from time to time, and above all, traveling in a more environmentally conscious manner. But all this without forgetting the systemic weaknesses and injustices that make it impossible for individuals to have a decisive influence on the global situation—only together can we succeed!
I think the idea of exchanging clothes on the project is very successful. It involves completely different emotional feelings, because you know people personally. I would like to have a similar experience with my neighbours or friends in my city.
Please note: An Erasmus project rarely comes alone – so could we say it’s sustainable?!
“Green City Builders” youth exchange is financed by the Erasmus+ Programme and organized by our partner organisation Brisa Italia.
If you want to experience something similar, check out our open calls here.
