Power of Culture

<< Background >>Partners from Poland, Italy, and Lithuania identified a common need to develop youth work through culture, art, and creative activities, as well as the importance of involving young people in the artistic process. Although all organisations had long-standing experience in culture and education, they noticed that, despite their expertise, they often relied on the same proven methods. While previously effective, these approaches no longer fully responded to the needs of young people, who now seek more engaging, modern, and interactive forms of participation.The partners jointly diagnosed a lack of fresh methods and tools in youth work, especially in smaller towns where access to high-quality cultural events is limited. They recognised that their cultural activities often followed established patterns and that limited exposure to other cultures and approaches hindered the development of new ideas. Meanwhile, young people expect spaces where they can not only learn and grow but also actively co-create events and overcome barriers such as communication, language, and stage fright during public performances.<< Objectives >>The main goal of the project was to promote cultural diversity and foster intercultural learning. Participants explored the lifestyle, social background, and challenges of peers from other countries, broadening their perspectives and social awareness. Another key objective was to improve educators’ competencies in working with youth through culture and art. Through workshops, experience exchanges, and learning new methods, such as flipping, design thinking, and Actionbound, educators expanded their teaching tools and adapted their activities to the needs of young people, especially those preferring modern and interactive learning formats.The project also aimed to activate youth participation – participants were not only event attendees but also co-creators, preparing activities such as folklore workshops, a city game, and the final concert. This allowed them to develop social, artistic, and organisational skills while overcoming barriers like stage fright and communication difficulties. Joint activities supported the exchange of perspectives, fostered respect for cultural differences, and built attitudes of openness, tolerance, and active citizenship.<< Implementation >>In each partner country, participants organized a promotional activity – workshops on the culture of the partner countries or on the organization of cultural events – sharing the knowledge gained during the mobility. As part of the dissemination activities, each organization prepared a social media campaign consisting of a series of five posts on the culture of the partner countries and five on cultural events. The campaigns reached a wide audience and supported the promotion of the project’s results.A key element was the Cultural Festival in Wołomin, which brought together around 100 participants. The event featured a music, theatre and dance performance that combined elements of Polish, Lithuanian and Italian folklore with contemporary artistic forms, as well as an Indian cultural accent. The festival concluded the previous stages of the project and gave young people the opportunity to put their artistic, organizational and project management competences into practice.<< Results >>In each partner country, participants organized at least one workshop on the culture of the partner countries for a minimum of 15 young people (aged 18–30), as well as two workshops on the organization of cultural events, sharing the knowledge gained during the mobility.The key element was the Cultural Festival in Wołomin, attended by around 100 participants. The event showcased a music, theatre and dance performance combining Polish, Lithuanian and Italian folklore with contemporary art forms. The festival summarized the previous activities and allowed young people to put their artistic and organizational competences into practice.