In April 2026, seven participants from Ukraine traveled to the town of Salve in southern Italy as part of the Erasmus+ youth exchange program “Future Leaders for Peace: Uniting Voices, Creating Change.” Nine days of working together, talking about peace, enjoying cultural evenings, and getting to know peers from Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Georgia, and Spain. It was an experience that everyone lived through in their own way.
Below you will find the participants’ reviews. See and feel what they saw and felt.
Valeriia
This project was my first step into the world of Erasmus, and this experience can rightfully be called invaluable. The goal was to explore the idea of peace and exchange worldviews among participants from five countries: Ukraine, Georgia, Lithuania, Romania, and Spain.
We began with introductions — and that very moment became the first impulse toward encountering new cultures, diverse backgrounds, and genuine unity. Each participant had the opportunity to share their everyday life, cultural features, and traditions. That was our first shared goal.
As the days went on, we immersed ourselves more deeply in the work on a peace manifesto, a logo for it, and a video reflecting our vision of peace. Each team developed their own part, then collaboratively brought the text or logo to its final form — sharing their own perspectives and discussing them with all participants. This gave every team the chance to express their position and hear the positions of others.
The Ukrainians had a wonderful opportunity to tell the other participants about the contrast between ordinary life and life in the conditions of war — and in return learned about the challenges on the road to peace in other countries. Communication between participants was present at every stage: whether working on a task, getting to know each other, or the informal exchanges we had plenty of as well. We grew even closer walking along the beaches and streets of Italy, singing songs and dancing with the residents of the small town of Salve.
Yet it was not only each other we got to know — we also had the chance to connect with the people of Italy, learn their perspective on peace, and compare it with our own. Through this exchange, everyone met interesting locals and shared our common purpose, which is exactly what Erasmus is meant to carry forward: celebrating differences, uniting peoples, and promoting peace.
This exchange became a space where people from different nations could come together, celebrate their distinctions, share thoughts, and voice their concerns. We exchanged music, recipes of our favorite home-cooked dishes, simple words from our native languages, and sincere stories from our lives.
I will remember this exchange, my Ukrainian team, and all the participants with warmth — and with the certainty that we managed to tell the world something, and to hear its answer.
Vladyslav
I am glad to have been one of the seven participants representing the Ukrainian team in the youth exchange «Future Leaders for Peace: Uniting Voices, Creating Change» within the Erasmus+ programme, which took place in Salve, Apulia, from April 22 to April 29.
This project became much more than just a youth exchange for me. Throughout the week, we worked with themes of peace, active citizenship, and intercultural dialogue through discussion sessions, team activities, flash interviews, elements of documentary storytelling, and the collective development of a manifesto on peace and the responsibility of modern youth.
Working on the manifesto itself became one of the most valuable parts of this experience. Writing, structuring, and identifying key ideas about peace, solidarity, social consolidation, accessibility, and human dignity together with representatives of different countries was truly unforgettable. What felt especially meaningful was seeing how people with completely different cultural, political, and social backgrounds could arrive at shared conclusions through dialogue rather than conflict.
Interviewing also became an important part of the project – a skill that requires not only communication, but also the ability to listen carefully, ask the right questions, and understand another person beyond linguistic or cultural barriers.
The people gave this experience a special depth. The Lithuanian team stood out for their strong sense of unity, trust, and genuine support for one another. The Georgian participants sincerely impressed me with the number of thoughtful and intellectually engaged young people – people with whom it was possible to spend hours discussing literature, philosophy, and social processes without any sense of artificiality or formality. The Romanian team brought incredible energy and a natural ability to unite people around shared moments. The Spanish participants were distinguished by their openness, warmth, and sincere humanity in communication.
Equally valuable were the conversations with Italians about literature – from Dante to D’Annunzio – and the opportunity to see how differently people from various cultures can interpret the same texts, ideas, and meanings.
For me, as a Ukrainian, it was especially important to speak about what is happening in Ukraine today. These conversations shape understanding, influence how events are perceived within the European environment, and remind us that peace is not an abstract or purely political concept.
Salve and the Salento region created a unique atmosphere of their own – a place that absorbs you so completely with its rhythm and mood that it leaves space only for philosophy, poetry, and a quiet, almost natural sense of hedonism.
This experience became a combination of people, ideas, culture, and genuine dialogue for me. And undoubtedly – the kind of experience one wants to live through again.
Yevheniia
When I submitted my application, I did not really expect to be selected for the project, so I was very happy when I accidentally saw the email with the selection results.
During the project, I managed to recharge and take a break from everyday life. Since the project took place in the town of Salve, we had the chance to enjoy the beauty of this historic part of Italy, spend time by the sea, take photos with the cactus plants, and simply relax a little.
We had many interesting activities and sessions during the project. he moments I remember most are probably our attempts to conduct a survey about the meaning of peace among people living in the Apulia region, as well as filming short movies about peace, where we worked together with the team from Georgia (Sakartvelo).
I really enjoyed meeting and talking with people from other countries. They are amazing, and I cannot fully express how happy I am that I had the chance to meet them. We spent a lot of time talking together and everyone was ready to help and support. It was fun teaching each other words and phrases from our native languages, trying to read poems, and playing games. During the cultural evenings, we shared our traditions, interesting facts, snacks, and even tried dancing national dances. We all grew closer, and honestly, I think we are all more similar than different.
The youth exchange in Italy was an unforgettable and very valuable experience for me. The project taught me not to be afraid to speak, to explain things with gestures, and to be more open and understanding. It also showed me how to travel by plane and simply not to be afraid to live a little more freely, because life is worth experiencing.
Hlib
Recently, I returned from the Erasmus+ youth exchange “Future Leaders for Peace”, which took place in the incredible region of Salento (Apulia, Italy). It was truly a life-changing experience.
For 9 days, together with participants from Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Georgia, and Spain, we worked on developing a culture of peace and studying methods of non-violent conflict resolution.
It was an amazing opportunity to communicate and build connections with peers from different countries.
We were treated to Italian cuisine, especially pasta and pizza.
My English improved more than I could have ever imagined. Constant communication – whether during tasks, while creating the manifesto, or simply chatting in our free time – brought my language skills to a whole new level.
During the cultural evenings, we proudly represented our country. We talked about the realities of our lives today, treated everyone to traditional Ukrainian snacks, gave symbolic bracelets as gifts, and even taught everyone some of our folk dances.
I especially remember the “energizers” – they were always fun, active, and creative ways to start the day.
I would also like to express special thanks to our team leader, who supported and guided us throughout the entire project.
Since this was my first exchange, I was absolutely amazed by everything — the atmosphere, the incredible emotions, and the priceless experience I gained.
Tetyana
The youth exchange in Italy was a wonderful opportunity to engage in research and discussion on important contemporary issues.
The learning process was very interactive: we created videos, interviewed local residents, designed logos, and wrote a manifesto. Throughout the project, I not only gained new knowledge but also became more familiar with the cultures and traditions of different countries.
The time spent on this project will remain a fond memory for me, because, in addition to learning, we had a wonderful time together: we danced, sang karaoke, traveled, and simply enjoyed each other’s company.
I am glad that I had the wonderful opportunity to join the Erasmus+ YE project «Future Leaders for Peace: Uniting Voices, Creating Change».
Victoria
Traveling to Italy was a real challenge for me. It was my first solo trip, so I was incredibly nervous about everything: from getting lost at the airport to making my flights on time. But my biggest fear was the communication. I was worried about whether people would understand me and how they would treat me as a Ukrainian. However, all those fears vanished the moment we met.
The exchange was a true cultural discovery. I was amazed by how Italians master the art of not rushing, simply enjoying life (and, of course, the incredibly delicious food!). One of the warmest moments was the intercultural night. It was amazing to present my country and see genuine interest in the eyes of the other participants. We tasted dishes from different nations, listened to their music, and realized once again how diverse, yet united in shared values, the world is.
The overall atmosphere of the project was wonderful; daily workshops and ice-breaking games helped us open up to one another. What I’ll remember most are the final days and our evening hangouts. During our last trip to the beach, I just wanted to hit the pause button so those moments would never end. This experience taught me not to be afraid of new things, because the world is actually very open and friendly.
