Erasmus+ Youth Exchange "Swipe Right for Change: Tolerance in the Digital World”

Between September 25 and October 4, Asociatia Agoje took part as a partner in the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “Swipe Right for Change: Tolerance in the Digital World”, hosted at the Blue Whale Educational Centre in Tauchen, Austria. 

The project brought together 30 young people from Germany, Austria, Serbia, Italy, and Romania for an international learning experience focused on one of the most relevant topics for young people today: how we interact, communicate, and take action in the digital world.

The Romanian group travelled to the project through the Green Travel option, which made the journey part of the learning experience itself. On their way to Austria, participants had the chance to stop and visit Budapest and Vienna, adding an extra cultural dimension to the exchange. This was one of the great advantages of choosing a more sustainable way of travelling: the participants not only reduced the environmental impact of their journey, but also discovered new cities, cultures, and perspectives along the way. 

Over the course of the exchange, participants explored themes such as digital literacy, fake news, hate speech, stereotypes, freedom of speech, intercultural communication, online activism, digital citizenship, and non-violent communication.

What made this project especially valuable was its highly interactive and participatory approach. Instead of only attending sessions, young people became active contributors to the learning process and facilitated the sessions developed in the weeks before the project. They worked in international teams, created their own workshops, facilitated discussions, and learned from each other through non-formal education methods. 

A central part of the exchange was the 3-day digital disconnection challenge, during which participants put away their devices and reflected on their relationship with technology, social media, and online spaces. This experience opened important conversations about digital habits, access to technology, the digital divide, and the environmental impact of our online world. The project also encouraged participants to think critically about how hate and misinformation appear both online and offline, how propaganda influences public narratives, and how young people can become more responsible and active digital citizens. 

For Asociatia Agoje, being part of this project was an important opportunity to support young people from Romania in developing practical skills, international connections, and a stronger understanding of tolerance in today’s digital society.  The learning process continued beyond the exchange itself. Participants contributed to an educational Instagram page, @swipe4change, and later disseminated the project through workshops in their own local communities, schools, or universities, helping the impact of the project reach even further, spreading like seeds blown by the wind. 

We are grateful to CAMBIO e.V., the coordinator of the project, and to all international partners involved: Generation Europa, New Wellness Education, and Srednja škola “Svilajnac”. 

Projects like this remind us that digital spaces can become healthier and more responsible when young people are given the tools, confidence, and space to shape them.