After taking part in the training course “Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development: A Global Perspective” in Prague, a representative of the German national team from Copernicus Berlin organized a workshop during a youth exchange in Portugal. The aim was to raise awareness about the Erasmus+ program and its opportunities, as well as to reflect on cultural identity, heritage preservation, and related threats.
The workshop took place in a shared session room and gathered around 10 participants from different countries. Discussions focused on how culture is passed down, what challenges can threaten it, and how Erasmus+ projects can serve as a platform for cultural preservation and empowerment. Ukrainian participants were able to share personal experiences about war-related cultural loss, deepening the conversation.
Workshop Goals
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Raise awareness about the Erasmus+ program and cultural heritage.
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Explore threats to cultural identity, especially in times of crisis.
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Encourage cross-cultural dialogue and youth activism in heritage preservation.
Key Activities
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Exchange of personal stories and cultural threats participants had faced.
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Group brainstorming on how to protect individual and national cultures.
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Poster creation for a campaign on cultural sustainability.
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Open discussion on how Erasmus+ can promote culture and diversity.
Participant Reflections
“Hearing the Ukrainian stories made the topic more real for all of us. It was emotional, and motivating. Culture needs our protection.”
Outputs
A visual campaign titled “My Culture, My Future” was launched across schools and online. Participants also expressed strong interest in continuing to engage with Erasmus+ projects to protect and promote cultural diversity.
