SAFE – Strengthening Awareness on Freedom in the E-world – is a Youth Exchange project under the Erasmus+ programme that focuses on raising awareness about online Gender-Based Violence, including issues such as revenge porn, non-consensual sexting, online harassment, and deepfakes. Through an intersectional and youth-centered approach, the project aims to promote consent, affectivity, and safe digital environments where young people can openly explore topics related to identity and sexuality.
The project is structured in two main phases: the Preparatory Visit (PV), held in Fiorenzuola in March 2026, and the Youth Exchange (YE), which will take place in Morfasso at the end of June. This article reflects on the Preparatory Visit, a crucial step in shaping the upcoming exchange and ensuring a meaningful and impactful experience for all participants.
Day 1
The first day of the PV was mainly dedicated to getting to know each other and creating a positive and cooperative group atmosphere, as through a series of icebreakers, name games, and interactive activities we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves, share information about our personal and cultural backgrounds, and learn more about the other participants’ interests, experiences, and motivations, which significantly reduced the initial awkwardness and helped us feel more comfortable within the group, while at the same time encouraging communication, trust, and teamwork among participants from different countries, and in addition we were introduced in detail to the youth exchange program itself, including its main aims, objectives, and overall philosophy, which helped us better understand what to expect during the following days, the purpose of our participation, and the importance of being actively involved throughout the entire experience, while further practical information was provided regarding the hosting organization, the accommodation, and the different spaces where the activities would take place, allowing us to become familiar with our new environment and feel more prepared and confident for the days ahead.
Later in the day, each national group presented its profile through short presentations, sharing information about their country, the organization they represent, their previous experiences in similar programs, and their expectations from this youth exchange, which enhanced our understanding of the cultural diversity within the group and encouraged intercultural dialogue and mutual respect, while at the same time we were introduced to the main topic of the program through initial discussions and exchanges of ideas, focusing on key concepts such as freedom and freedom in the digital world, giving participants the opportunity to express their opinions, reflect on different perspectives, and engage in meaningful conversations, and additionally we took part in activities related to group organization and the establishment of common rules and values, which helped create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for collaboration, and overall the first day was very engaging, well-structured, and essential in building strong foundations for communication, teamwork, learning, and active participation throughout the rest of the program.
Day 2
The second day was mainly dedicated to exploring the location that will host the Youth Exchange, as we visited Morfasso and the hostel where the activities will take place, surrounded by nature and offering an ideal environment for reflection, creativity, and group work, allowing us to better imagine how the future activities will unfold and ensuring that the space is suitable, safe, and inspiring for all participants.
We also visited the beautiful village of Castell’Arquato, which will be one of the destinations during the Youth Exchange, giving group leaders the opportunity to become familiar with the area and later guide their groups in discovering its cultural and historical value.
In addition, a significant part of the day was dedicated to planning the advocacy campaign, where participants collaboratively defined the strategy, created the project’s Instagram page, and developed the first dissemination materials, including the production of three initial videos that will be shared in preparation for the Youth Exchange, marking an important step in spreading awareness and engaging a wider audience even before the start of the main activity.
Conclusion
All in all, this visit allowed the group to be prepared for what’s to come. Knowledge will be important, but healthy communication will be key. Friendships will be certain, but boundaries will have to be set. The views will be amazing, but attention to logistics will be the difference between enjoying and worrying. Fighting gender-based violence online is a battle for the decades to come, but in the end of June we’ll all come together to say: let’s go!
Writtent by participants of a Preparatory Visit of the Erasmus+ youth exchange “SAFE – Strengthening Awareness on Freedom in the E-world”. Funded by the European Union. The opinions and views expressed are, however, the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA is responsible for them.
