Follow-Up Activity Report – Lithuania Team (JLC)
"Empowerment through Creative Arts and Participation for European Teens" (ECAPT)
Erasmus+ KA152YOU Youth Exchange
Agreement Number: 2025-1-AT01-KA152-YOU-000297832
The Erasmus+ Youth Exchange "Empowerment through Creative Arts and Participation for European Teens" (ECAPT) was implemented from 10 to 18 February 2026 in Vienna, Austria, bringing together young people from Austria, Cyprus, Lithuania, Poland, and Portugal. The project focused on inclusion, anti-discrimination, creative expression, active participation, and intercultural understanding through non-formal education methods such as art, dance, theatre, teamwork, and visual storytelling.
As part of the dissemination and follow-up phase of the project, the Lithuanian team from NGO Jaunimo laisvalaikio centras (JLC) organized a local follow-up activity in Ukmergė, Lithuania. The activity aimed to transfer the knowledge, experiences, and methodologies gained during the Youth Exchange in Vienna to the local youth community and encourage young people to become more active in discussions related to discrimination, stereotypes, empathy, and inclusion.
Follow-Up Activity Implemented by JLC Lithuania
The dissemination activity was organized as an interactive educational event involving local young people and community members. Participants of the ECAPT Youth Exchange introduced the project's objectives, methodology, and experiences through presentations, discussions, energizers, and practical workshops.
During the first part of the activity, the Lithuanian participants presented the ECAPT project and shared their personal experiences from Vienna. Through a visual presentation, they explained the main themes explored during the Youth Exchange, including discrimination based on race, gender, disability, social background, and stereotypes. Participants highlighted the importance of non-formal education methods and creative expression in understanding human rights and inclusion topics.
Special attention was given to the practical lessons learned during the mobility, including teamwork, communication, independence, organizational skills, intercultural dialogue, and confidence-building. The young people explained how artistic methods such as theatre, visual storytelling, movement, and creative workshops helped participants better understand the emotional and social dimensions of discrimination and inclusion.
The second part of the event focused on creating a positive and energetic atmosphere through an energizer activity inspired by the activities implemented during the Youth Exchange in Vienna. A group dance that had become symbolic during the mobility was recreated with the local participants, encouraging openness, participation, trust, and community spirit.
The third and main part of the activity was implemented as a practical workshop. Participants were divided into smaller working groups led by the Lithuanian youngsters who had participated in the ECAPT Youth Exchange. During the workshop, each group selected a form of discrimination and explored it creatively through poster-making, discussions, teamwork, and presentations. Young leaders transferred the knowledge and methodologies gained during the Youth Exchange to local participants, helping them better understand stereotypes, exclusion, empathy, and everyday behaviours connected to discrimination.
An important conclusion emerging from the workshop discussions was that empathy, community-building, creative arts, and active participation are among the most effective ways to address discrimination and social exclusion among young people. The participants demonstrated strong engagement, openness, and willingness to discuss social issues affecting their communities.
At the end of the activity, the Erasmus+ programme and international mobility opportunities were presented to the local youth. Participants were encouraged to actively seek opportunities for learning mobility, intercultural exchanges, and personal development through Erasmus+ projects. Feedback from the participants was highly positive, with many expressing interest in future projects and acknowledging that peer-to-peer learning made the themes of discrimination prevention and inclusion more understandable and relatable.
Evaluation Paragraphs from Participants
Luknė
"In February of 2026 I participated in Erasmus + youth exchange in Vienna. The project was smoothly organised by the team in Vienna, with a clear plan and great coordination that made everyone feel welcome. The Youth Exchange was full of interactive workshops, fun teamwork, and cultural activities that helped us learn from each other. I improved my communication, teamwork, and confidence, and the experience had a strong positive impact on me personally. The best parts were the friendly atmosphere and new international friendships, while small challenges like time pressure and different working styles taught us patience. I really value this experience!"
Matas
"In February 2026, I participated in the Erasmus+ youth exchange project ECAPT (Empowerment through Creative Arts and Participation for European Teens Timetable), which took place in Vienna, Austria, together with young people from Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, Portugal, and Austria. The project was very well organized and coordinated – we took part in creative and group activities, discussions, and explored the city. These activities helped me better understand the issue of discrimination in Europe and around the world, and communicating with young people from different cultures broadened my perspective and allowed me to make new friendships. I really value the friendly and supportive atmosphere among all participants as well as the meaningful and engaging activities that encouraged creativity, cooperation, and active participation. This experience had a strong personal and social impact – I became more open, more confident, and more aware of social topics. Overall, the project was very valuable and inspiring, and in my opinion, nothing was lacking."
Paulina
"In February 2026, I participated in the ECAPT Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Vienna, where young people from different countries came together to discuss discrimination and inclusion. The project was well organized and included creative workshops, group activities, and intercultural evenings. Through this experience, I improved my communication and teamwork skills, became more open-minded, and gained a better understanding of different cultures. Overall, it was a valuable and inspiring experience for my personal growth."
Aurika
"In February 2026, I joined the ECAPT Erasmus+ project in Vienna. During one week, participants from different countries worked together on creative activities that raised awareness about discrimination and stereotypes. It was a great opportunity to meet new people, learn about other cultures, and develop teamwork and communication skills. The project was very engaging and left me with many new perspectives."
Milesa Emilija
"In February 2026, I participated in an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Vienna together with young people from different European countries. The project was well organized and the coordinators made sure everything ran smoothly. Throughout the week we took part in many different activities, including creative workshops, discussions, and group tasks. During the exchange we worked on creative projects like theatre, art, and photography to talk about important topics such as discrimination and inclusion. These activities helped us understand the topic better and also learn about each other's cultures and experiences. Working with people from different countries helped me improve my communication skills and made me more confident when sharing my ideas. One of the best parts of the project was meeting new people and making friends from different cultures. The atmosphere was very friendly and supportive, which made it easy to connect with others. Sometimes the schedule was quite full and a bit tiring, but it also meant we could experience many interesting activities in a short time. Overall, the youth exchange was a very positive experience for me. I learned a lot, both about important social issues and about working with people from different backgrounds. In the future it might be nice to have a little more free time to relax and talk with other participants, but the project was still very meaningful and inspiring."
Vilma
"The organisation and coordination of the project were executed with professional precision, ensuring a seamless logistical flow that allowed participants to focus entirely on the educational content. The implementation of the Youth Exchange stood out due to its dynamic use of non-formal learning; the transition from theoretical discussions to immersive creative workshops was both logical and engaging. Regarding learning outcomes and personal impact, the project significantly sharpened my ability to identify systemic biases and enhanced my competence in using arts-based interventions for social inclusion.
The most positive aspect was the psychological safety established within the diverse group, which facilitated genuine vulnerability. However, the primary challenge was the high emotional intensity of the topics, which at times led to cognitive fatigue. As a suggestion for improvement, incorporating more structured "decompression" sessions or silent reflection periods after the most taxing creative activities would help participants better process the complex emotional data before moving to the next task."
Dissemination and Social Media Links
Participants' Personal Dissemination
Matas:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DU6fS-mjeTb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=949019570795512&id=100070624330321&rdid=vMKKBfLOf7O3i9or#
Paulina:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DU6g1fXiJ3-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
https://www.facebook.com/100058489089284/posts/1371432878149669/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=ynda2Omv0mYniN5F
Luknė:
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1760155185416680&id=100042666453937&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=WDHCL4WAoV1XH9ax
https://www.instagram.com/p/DVYBQAWjcrK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Aurika:
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1872126416999412&id=100026062145299&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=ntnCwjKzt7EqyLKh#
https://www.instagram.com/p/DVYKxZvjFQNQaaw5wB995ZPMBVhUqqk-JRn0sg0/?igsh=M2pjdjl0bmhmOHZw
Vilma:
https://www.facebook.com/va1.vilma/posts/pfbid029AVnEkryUxG7hHf8Wvdwbw31o1jpkTqtkFMD6otosd86CAb7xBhtCQskL3Jb4Tg9l
https://www.facebook.com/va1.vilma/posts/pfbid02hVk6NmR6WufW97QfNu6AJCgRT9baCKyzCTVyidkGwpkDjkfBYoYtRGLxLeG7eXWFl
General Dissemination Links
Conclusion
The follow-up activity implemented by the Lithuanian team of NGO JLC successfully transferred the experiences, knowledge, and methodologies gained during the ECAPT Youth Exchange in Vienna to the local community in Lithuania. Through presentations, creative workshops, teamwork, discussions, and peer-led activities, local young people had the opportunity to explore topics related to discrimination, stereotypes, empathy, inclusion, and active citizenship in an engaging and practical way.
The activity demonstrated the strong impact of non-formal education and creative arts as tools for social awareness and youth empowerment. Participants actively engaged in discussions, developed new perspectives, strengthened their communication and teamwork skills, and expressed strong interest in future Erasmus+ opportunities. The Lithuanian follow-up activity contributed significantly to the dissemination, sustainability, and long-term impact of the ECAPT project at local and international levels.
