Break the Silence is a fully funded Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Normandy, France, from 23 October to 1 November 2026, bringing together 30 young people from four countries to confront exclusion, discrimination and marginalisation and to build the tools to advocate for equal rights. At Youth Works Hub, we read the full info pack so you know exactly what the exchange involves, who can join and how to apply before the 20 September 2026 deadline.
Hosted by Le Lab Lisieux Normandie and coordinated with partners across Italy, France, Germany and Hungary, the exchange uses non-formal education, peer learning, experiential workshops and creative expression to create a safe and brave space where young people address systemic barriers and promote equal opportunities.
What Is Break the Silence About?
The exchange brings together 30 young people (aged 18–30) from different countries to engage in non-formal education and work together on inclusion and diversity. Rather than lectures, it is built on shared experience, creativity and dialogue.
✊ It creates a safe and brave space to address systemic barriers and promote equal opportunities.
🎙️ Participants co-create multimedia outcomes such as podcasts, digital storytelling or visual exhibitions to raise public awareness.
🕊️ The goal is to move from awareness to action, both during the exchange and back home in each participant's community.
The Objectives
The project works toward five objectives:
🔍 Identify and deconstruct mechanisms of exclusion, discrimination and marginalisation to advocate for equal rights around diverse communities.
🤝 Foster cross-cultural understanding, empathy and active listening by analysing different perspectives on cultural, religious, gender and social diversity.
🛠️ Equip participants with practical tools (advocacy, non-violent communication, campaign design) to initiate local inclusive actions within their home organisations and regions.
📣 Co-create multimedia outcomes (podcasts, digital storytelling, visual exhibitions) to raise public awareness and disseminate results to wider communities.
🌍 Foster intercultural exchange and competencies to work with young people.
🌱 Curious how an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange actually works day to day? Here is a plain-language guide to what a Youth Exchange is and how to join one → https://youthworkshub.org/youthexchange
Who Can Apply?
This exchange is for young people aged 18 and above, resident in one of the partner countries. The profile the organisers look for:
📍 Be resident of one of the partnering organisations' countries.
🌟 Young people with fewer opportunities are especially welcomed.
📅 Motivated and able to take part in the full duration of the activity, and to share previous experience, including running a local follow-up activity at home after the exchange.
🧑🤝🧑 A background working with youth and experience in inclusion and diversity, or a genuine interest in exploring the topic.
🔞 Aged 18+.
🗣️ Able to communicate independently in English.
⚖️ Gender balance is highly recommended, and newcomers to Erasmus+ are welcome, aiming for a balanced group in age, gender, background and experience.
💡 Not sure whether you qualify or what coordinators look for? See our overview of who can apply for Erasmus+ and ESC → https://youthworkshub.org/whocanapply
The Partner Countries
Break the Silence is run by a partnership across four countries: 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany and 🇭🇺 Hungary, with each partner organisation selecting 5 participants. Partners include Bapob, Umbrella, Mosaiko, the "Belvárosi Tanoda" Foundation and host Le Lab Normandy.
🇫🇷 Le Lab Lisieux Normandie is a secular and apolitical association created in 2018 to be an incubator of citizen initiatives, bringing together young people from Lisieux and its agglomeration around European values and encouraging international mobility, notably through Erasmus+.
Where You'll Be: Normandy
The exchange takes place in Saint Désir de Lisieux, Normandy, France (address: 2109 route de Dives, 14100 Saint Désir de Lisieux).
🏡 Accommodation is at the Maison Familiale Rurale La Pommeraye Saint Désir, in shared rooms (3–4 people per room) with private bathroom and shared toilets per floor, with hot and cold water provided.
🍽️ The project covers three meals a day plus two coffee breaks.
🧳 What to bring: comfy shoes and clothes, a water bottle, personal toiletries, warm jackets and any traditional local snacks or sweets if possible.
🇪🇺 Want to stay involved in European citizenship afterwards? Take a look at European Citizenship and Community volunteering in 🇫🇷 France → https://youthworkshub.org/21938
What's Covered and Reimbursement
According to Youth Works Hub's review of the info pack, this is a fully funded exchange with a few practical conditions:
💶 All expenses (accommodation and travel tickets/costs) are covered by the project, based on sufficient receipts, tickets, boarding passes and invoices.
🏦 Reimbursement is made after the project, within three months, by bank transfer.
🎫 Buy the cheapest travel tickets within the given travel options for the activity period; buy tickets in Euros where possible (other currencies are converted via the official EU calculator, which can cause loss).
⚠️ Do not purchase any tickets without approval from the project manager; ticket options are provided once your group is selected. Without sufficient proof of travel and boarding passes, no reimbursement can be made.
🩺 Travel and health insurance are not covered; bring your EHIC card or buy insurance.
Getting There
✈️ The nearest international airports are Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris Orly (ORY).
🚆 From Paris Saint-Lazare station, take a train to Lisieux (book via SNCF Connect); reaching Saint-Lazare from the airport by metro/train needs a special airport ticket (about €13 per way).
🚌 From Orly there is a Flixbus to Caen (a city close to the venue); from Lisieux train station, transport to the venue is provided, and if bus timing fits, a car may be provided from Caen.
The Follow-Up
This is a full-cycle project: participants take part in preparation, the mobility itself and the follow-up. After the exchange, each country group runs one local follow-up activity — a one-hour workshop with at least 10 local young people, sharing what they learned — and provides an activity report with pictures and description, plus at least one dissemination post about the project and its outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is Break the Silence fully funded? Yes. Accommodation and travel are covered based on receipts (reimbursed by bank transfer within three months), and three meals plus two coffee breaks are provided. Insurance is not covered.
❓ Who can join? Young people aged 18+ resident in one of the partner countries (Italy, France, Germany, Hungary), able to communicate in English; those with fewer opportunities are especially welcome.
❓ What are the exact dates? 23 October to 1 November 2026, including travel days (arrival 23 October, departure 1 November).
❓ Can I book my own tickets right away? No. Wait for the project manager's approval; ticket options come after selection.
❓ Is there a commitment after the exchange? Yes, a local follow-up workshop with at least 10 young people and a dissemination post.
Deadline
⏳ 20 September 2026
Links
📝 Application form: https://forms.gle/F6JYiKnP7UXewwtK9
📄 Info pack: https://canva.link/47uz6as8n2y99zs
📧 Questions: ketevaniumbrella@gmail.com
For more fully funded Erasmus+ and ESC opportunities, explained in plain language, visit Youth Works Hub.
⚠️ Important Notice
Youth Works Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the listed projects. This listing is shared for information only, based on details from the source. Deadlines, eligible countries, dates, and other details may change or be withdrawn at any time, and all funding, reimbursements, and allowances are set by the project coordinator or National Agency. Applications go directly to the coordinator or hosting organisation through the official link. Listings may include third-party links (ESC Portal, infopacks, forms) that Youth Works Hub does not control. Always verify the details on the official project page before applying.
