From 13–21 June 2026, young people from Norway, Germany, Estonia, Spain, Italy, and Poland came together in Volda, Norway, for the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “Voice of Change: Public Speaking and Storytelling for Youth Advocacy.” Hosted by International Volda, the project brought together participants to develop their public speaking, storytelling, and advocacy skills through non-formal education, creative workshops, and intercultural exchange. Representing Germany, Culture Goes Europe (CGE) Erfurt joined partners from across Europe to explore how personal stories can inspire dialogue and strengthen community engagement.
The programme began with team-building activities designed to create trust and encourage participants to share their expectations, fears, and personal motivations for the week ahead. Participants were also introduced to the Youthpass, learning how the exchange would contribute to the development of key competences such as entrepreneurship, multilingualism, cultural awareness, citizenship, and personal development. From there, the focus shifted to the fundamentals of storytelling, exploring why stories matter, how they shape perspectives, and how they can be used as powerful tools for education, advocacy, social connection, and communication.
Throughout the exchange, participants explored a variety of storytelling techniques through highly interactive activities. They learned internationally recognised storytelling frameworks, including the Disney Story Structure and the Pixar Storytelling Model, while also experimenting with non-verbal storytelling through movement and theatre. Working in small groups, participants created and presented their own narratives, discovering how voice, emotion, silence, and body language influence the way stories are received. A particularly meaningful activity was the Human Library, where facilitators shared personal experiences that encouraged empathy, understanding, and dialogue among the group.
As the week progressed, participants applied their newly developed skills by planning and delivering a community event for the people of Volda. Working in international teams, they experienced the realities of organising an event collaboratively, from communication and planning to adaptability and inclusion. The exchange emphasized that successful community initiatives are built not only on strong ideas but also on teamwork, shared responsibility, and meaningful engagement with local communities. Alongside the event, participants also explored creative forms of expression through poetry slam and audio drama, learning how stories can be communicated across different formats and audiences.
The youth exchange concluded with participants developing action plans to transfer their learning into their own communities. Reflecting on the week, many recognised storytelling as far more than a communication technique, it became a tool for advocacy, confidence-building, intercultural understanding, and social change. By combining creativity, public speaking, and collaboration, Voice of Change empowered young people to use their voices to inspire others and create stronger, more connected communities long after the exchange had ended.