How a Youth Exchange Gave Teenagers the Tools to Lead
In late October 2024, 21 teenagers from Malta (Projekta), Sweden (Awesome People), and Spain (Plis) travelled to Malaga, Spain, to take part in an Erasmus+ youth exchange.
Level Up for Community was about more than learning – it was about leading.
About stepping up, speaking out, and discovering what it really means to be active in your community.
What made this project stand out?
The idea came from young people themselves. A few participants, together with their group leaders, designed the whole thing – and turned it into a successful Erasmus+ project.
A Week Where Young People Took the Lead
Each country took charge of one full day of the programme. That meant planning it, running it, and owning the experience. This wasn’t about sitting and listening.
- 🇲🇹 Malta explored digital skills for activism and creativity
- 🇸🇪 Sweden added energy and fun to the topic of participation
- 🇪🇸 Spain dug into what it really means to be part of a community
The result?
A week of hands-on sessions, deep discussions, creative tools – and the kind of collaboration that makes you forget you only met a few days earlier.
Tools That Helped Ideas Turn Into Action
To guide the week, we developed practical and visual learning tools, which were tested directly with the group, adapted to their input, and are now publicly available as open-source resources which you can download below:
Set the tone, your way. This activity helped the group decide what kind of energy they wanted to bring – and what they expected from each other. No rules from above, just shared values built by the group.
How much say do young people actually have? This simple but eye-opening tool helped participants reflect on their role in schools, clubs, and daily life — and where they’d like to climb higher.
Download Instructions Download Ladder of Participation Resource
Big issues can feel too big. This activity helped break things down and uncover opportunities — not just problems. It got everyone thinking creatively about change.
Download Instructions Download Problem & Opportunity Tree Resource
Got an idea? This helped turn it into a plan. From first steps to long-term goals, participants mapped out how they could make a difference in their own communities.
The whole group was given a variety of words and was asked to capture them through photos. It was fascinating to see how differently everyone interpreted the same words. The photos they shared showed just how personal – and powerful – those meanings can be.
Download Instructions Download Social Scavenger Hunt Resource
In international teams, participants created short videos about their journey through the week. They shared skills – all while having fun. It was a creative, team-based way to look back at the experience and capture moments that mattered.
Why It All Mattered
It was about discovering what you’re capable of. It showed that teenagers, aged just 13–17, can lead real conversations, plan smart projects, and connect across borders with purpose and confidence.
The tools used helped build trust, spark ideas, and turn small thoughts into something real. And that’s something every community – and every young person – can benefit from.
Want to Try It Yourself?
You don’t have to wait for someone else to organise something. You can use these tools yourself – with your friends, your youth group, or even in school.
These activities aren’t complicated. They’re made for people who are curious, creative, and ready to explore how they can make a difference.
Testimonials
Level Up on Spanish TV
The Level Up Erasmus project was featured on Spanish television, highlighting the incredible opportunities Erasmus offers to young people. The segment explored the various Level Up project activities, showing how to elevate local communities through youth work.
To enable English subtitles: Click the ⚙️ settings icon → Subtitles → Auto-translate → English
Got a project idea?
If this has inspired you and you’re already thinking, “I’ve got an idea we could work on,” – tell us!
You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just a topic, a challenge, or something you want to explore.
We’re happy to talk it through – and if it fits the Erasmus+ programme, we can help shape it into a real project.
📧 Contact us: info@projekta.mt or online form
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @projektamalta