START DATE: 01/06/2026
END DATE: 01/01/2027
Description
“Power of Volunteering” is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange (KA152-YOU) designed to encourage young people to become more actively involved in volunteering and in the life of their local communities.
The project brings together young people from Slovakia, Greece, Italy, Romania, Portugal and Bulgaria for an international learning experience in the Liptov region of northern Slovakia.
Through non-formal learning methods, participants will explore the importance of volunteering, active citizenship, community participation and European cooperation. They will exchange experiences, develop practical skills and strengthen their motivation to contribute to positive change in their communities.
The programme includes interactive workshops, teamwork activities, debates, research sessions, an open-space workshop, a public café, a study visit, meetings with representatives of local organisations, audiovisual content creation and dissemination planning.
The youth exchange will take place from 17 to 28 October 2026 at Penzión Roháčan in Huty, Slovakia.
Open Up Hellenic Scientific Association of Innovation participates as the Sending Organisation responsible for selecting, preparing and supporting the Greek group. The overall coordination, hosting and implementation of the mobility in Slovakia are the responsibility of Better Future Lab.
Objectives
The project aims to:
- Raise young people’s awareness of the importance of volunteering in their local communities.
- Equip participants with knowledge and practical skills related to volunteering and community engagement.
- Strengthen young people’s motivation to become active citizens.
- Increase youth participation in local voluntary activities.
- Promote active citizenship, social responsibility and solidarity.
- Encourage intercultural dialogue and cooperation among young people from different European countries.
- Develop teamwork, communication, research and creative-expression skills.
- Support the participation of young people with fewer opportunities.
- Enable participants to exchange experiences and examples of volunteering from their countries.
- Encourage participants to disseminate the project results and promote volunteering after the mobility.
Participating Countries
- Slovakia
- Greece
- Italy
- Romania
- Portugal
- Bulgaria
Each national group consists of seven young participants and one group leader.
Coordinator and Hosting Organisation
Better Future Lab o.z. — Slovakia
Better Future Lab is responsible for the overall coordination, organisation, accommodation, local logistics, facilitation and implementation of the youth exchange in Slovakia.
Partner Organisations
- Better Future Lab o.z. — Slovakia
- Open Up Hellenic Scientific Association of Innovation — Greece
- Associazione Progetto Arcobaleno — Italy
- Agrupamento de Escolas Terras do Ave — Portugal
- Asociația Pro Bono Youth Club — Romania
- Life is Beautiful — Bulgaria
Open Up’s Role
Open Up Hellenic Scientific Association of Innovation participates as the Sending Organisation for Greece. Its responsibilities include the selection and preparation of the Greek participants, pre-departure communication, support during the mobility process, collection of the necessary travel documentation and coordination of follow-up and dissemination activities in Greece.
