🇭🇷 Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Croatia 🧠 Critical Connections: Youth Against Bullying and Misinformation 📱

Cyberbullying. Cultural bullying. Misinformation spreading faster than the truth. These aren’t abstract problems — they affect young people every day, and they hit hardest those who already have fewer opportunities. Critical Connections is an Erasmus+ youth exchange bringing together 36 young people from five countries in Croatia to build the critical thinking, media literacy, and anti-bullying competences needed to make a real difference — in the room and back home.

🎯 About the Project

Organised by Udruga za osnaživanje mladih Uroboros (Croatia), Critical Connections responds to daily challenges young people face around misinformation, cyberbullying, and cultural bullying. Through non-formal education, peer learning, and intercultural exchange, participants will leave with practical tools, a joint digital toolkit, and a shared campaign ready to multiply in their local communities.

📋 Objectives

🧠 Strengthen critical thinking and media literacy among young people from five countries

🤝 Build empathy and anti-bullying competences through peer-led workshops — forum theatre, role-plays, and case studies

🌍 Foster intercultural dialogue through cultural evenings, mixed-nationality group tasks, and storytelling

💬 Develop communication, facilitation, and leadership skills — each participant leads or co-facilitates at least one session

📣 Multiply results through a joint digital campaign, a shared toolkit, and concrete local follow-up initiatives

📋 Activities

🎭 Workshops on critical thinking, media literacy, and bullying prevention using forum theatre, intercultural storytelling, and debate

📱 #ThinkTwiceActWise Campaign — designed and implemented by participants using videos, infographics, and social media content

🛠️ Critical Connections Digital Toolkit — collaboratively created by all national groups, compiling tested methods for bullying prevention and media literacy

🔍 Daily reflection sessions connecting learning with Youthpass competences

🏠 Accommodation

Participants stay at Studentski centar Osijek — located in the wider city centre of Osijek, 2km from the city centre. Rooms with two beds; every two rooms share one bathroom. All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and all planned activities are provided on site.

✈️ Getting to Osijek

The most common route is via Zagreb:

✈️ Fly to Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG) → airport shuttle to Zagreb Central Bus Station → direct bus to Osijek (approximately 3.5–4 hours)

⚠️ Cash only for some transport options — plan accordingly

✈️ Travel Reimbursement

💶 Croatia — €28

💶 Germany — €309

💶 Portugal — €395

💶 Serbia — €211

💶 Türkiye — €309

Reimbursement is by bank transfer after the exchange upon submission of all original tickets, boarding passes, invoices, and receipts. Missing tickets will not be reimbursed. Taxi is not eligible.

⚠️ Before purchasing tickets, send your travel plan to udrugauroboros@gmail.com for approval.

🎒 What to Bring

🧴 Personal towels, hygiene items, and any necessary medication

💻 Laptop or tablet if available — useful for campaign and digital booklet creation

🌍 Cultural items, food, or small gifts for the intercultural evening

💪 A positive attitude, openness, and motivation to contribute actively

👤 Who Should Apply

This exchange is open to young people aged 18–30 (group leaders can be older) from Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Serbia, and Türkiye. Each national team consists of 6 participants + 1 group leader. Participants should be open-minded, motivated, and interested in misinformation, cyberbullying, and cultural bullying. Newcomers to Erasmus+ are welcomed.

🔎 New to Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges? Everything you need to know about how the programme works is right here: https://youthworkshub.org/15107/

🌍 Eligible Countries

🇭🇷 Croatia 🇩🇪 Germany 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇷🇸 Serbia 🇹🇷 Türkiye

📅 Activity Dates

🗓️ 7 — 15 June 2026 (including travel days)

📍 Osijek, Croatia

⏰ Deadline

1 May 2026 (selection results by 5 May 2026)

📬 How to Apply

📝 Application Form: https://forms.gle/9rN4wymuFy4h3g7YA

📎 Infopack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mvOYxgdvRqEQOg_xV6ssBYOjiomUa8F2/view

📧 udrugauroboros@gmail.com

🌐 @udruga.uroboros

✋Important Notice

Youth Works Hub does not represent or act on behalf of any organization listed on this platform. All project details are sourced directly from official ESC and Erasmus+ databases. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official project page or contact the hosting organization directly. Youth Works Hub is not responsible for any changes made to project details after publication.