NextGen Peacebuilders is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Romania, from 22 to 31 October 2026 (including travel days), for young people aged 18 to 25 and group leaders aged 18 and over. It brings together 40 participants from four partner countries to work on democracy, human rights, civic participation, non-violent communication, mediation and conflict prevention. The call asks for applications as soon as possible. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the infopack and the live application form so you know exactly what you are signing up for.
Learning happens through non-formal education: workshops, debates, simulations, teamwork and practical exercises. The organisers describe the project as a safe and inclusive intercultural learning space where young people explore current social challenges, exchange perspectives and strengthen their ability to contribute positively to their communities.
What NextGen Peacebuilders Is About
The aim of the project is to equip young people to promote democratic participation, protect human rights and approach conflicts in constructive and peaceful ways. Through non-formal education, teamwork and practical activities, participants build confidence in dialogue, cooperation and active citizenship.
The infopack says participants learn how to communicate across differences, manage disagreements more effectively and become active promoters of inclusion, peace and democratic values in their local communities. The call adds that the exchange strengthens communication, critical thinking and conflict-resolution skills.
Participants are invited to connect with young people from across Europe, develop practical peacebuilding skills and explore how to create more inclusive and democratic communities.
The Five Topics
π± Peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
π¬ Non-violent communication.
π€ Mediation.
π³οΈ Democracy and civic participation.
βοΈ Human rights.
What Happens During the Exchange
Participants take part in interactive workshops, group work, debates, simulations and practical exercises connected to democracy, human rights, civic participation, non-violent communication, mediation and conflict prevention.
A key part of the experience is international teamwork: you exchange perspectives, work with people from different cultural backgrounds and develop communication and cooperation skills. The programme also includes reflection sessions, which help you identify what you are learning and how you can use these competences after the mobility.
You do not only attend activities. You also have opportunities to contribute to and lead parts of the programme, which makes the exchange more participatory, practical and youth-led.
Who Can Apply
NextGen Peacebuilders is open to young people aged 18 to 25 from the four partner countries listed in the Project Snapshot. Group leaders must be 18 or older. Each national team consists of:
π₯ 8 young participants.
π§ 2 group leaders.
The project brings together equal-sized national teams from each partner country, which creates a balanced international group and gives all countries an equal opportunity to contribute to the exchange.
No previous Erasmus+ experience and no advanced knowledge of the project topics is required. What matters most is your motivation, your openness to learning and your willingness to take an active role in the activities. Participants should be ready to work in international teams, share ideas, respect different perspectives and contribute actively throughout the preparation, mobility and follow-up phases of the project.
How Selection Works
The infopack asks you to complete the application form provided by your sending organisation and to make sure that all information you submit is accurate and complete. After the application deadline, the partner organisations review the applications. They select participants based on motivation, interest in the project topics, willingness to participate actively and overall suitability for the Youth Exchange.
Selected participants are contacted by their sending organisation and receive further information about preparation, travel and the mobility programme. Do not purchase any travel tickets before you have been officially selected and before your travel plan has been approved by the organisers.
Your Responsibilities Before, During and After
ποΈ Before the mobility: take part in the preparation process, join the project WhatsApp group and take part in the preparatory Zoom meetings. Come ready to contribute, prepare any tasks or activities agreed with your national team, and make sure you understand the project objectives, programme and practical arrangements.
π During the mobility: participate actively in all workshops, group activities, discussions and reflection sessions. Work respectfully and responsibly in international teams, contribute ideas, experiences and perspectives, follow the project rules, group agreements and safety guidelines, keep all travel documents needed for reimbursement and support the creation and visibility of project results.
π£ After the mobility: help share the results and learning with a wider audience. This includes online dissemination (social media posts, photos, videos or other digital content) and taking part in one local follow-up workshop in your community together with your sending organisation.
What to Prepare
π€ Activities: you may be invited to facilitate some activities, discussions or group exercises during the programme. Coordinate with your national team in advance and prepare any tasks assigned to you.
π’ Your sending organisation: be ready to briefly introduce your sending organisation, its work, its main activities and the opportunities it offers to young people.
π Cultural evening: together with your national team, prepare something creative and interactive that represents your country and culture.
π§₯ Clothes and footwear: bring comfortable clothes suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities, plus warm layers and appropriate shoes for the season and the mountain environment.
π₯ Health insurance: all participants must have valid travel or health insurance for the entire mobility period. If you are eligible for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), bring it with you.
π Personal essentials: personal medication, toiletries, chargers, travel documents and other essential items you may need during your stay.
For a fuller checklist, see our Erasmus+ preparation guide.
The Intercultural Evening
The Intercultural Evening is a chance for each national team to share its culture, traditions and everyday life with the rest of the group in a fun and engaging way. Each team prepares something representative of its country.
π² You may bring traditional food or drinks, music, flags, small cultural objects, traditional clothing or anything else that helps others discover your culture.
π² The organisers encourage you to make your presentation interactive: teach a traditional dance, organise a game or quiz, share interesting customs, present local traditions or involve the group in a short activity.
π« Avoid long PowerPoint presentations and generic touristic videos. The organisers would much rather experience your culture through stories, music, food, games, traditions and live interaction.
Venue and Food: Pensiunea SperanΘa in Predeal
Participants stay at Pensiunea SperanΘa in Predeal, a guesthouse with a rustic, traditional Romanian atmosphere, at Strada Trei Brazi 60, Predeal, Romania.
ποΈ Rooms: twin rooms with private bathrooms.
π½οΈ Meals: throughout the mobility, the project provides breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as coffee breaks.
π₯ Diets: vegetarian and vegan options are available. Indicate your dietary preferences in the participation form, and mention any food allergies, intolerances or other dietary requirements clearly so the menu can be adapted.
About Predeal and the Weather
Predeal is a small mountain town in central Romania, located in the Carpathian Mountains and surrounded by forests, hiking trails and beautiful natural landscapes. The infopack calls its peaceful mountain setting a great place for an international Youth Exchange.
In late October, the weather in Predeal can be quite cool and changeable, especially because of the higher altitude. The organisers recommend warm layers, a waterproof jacket, comfortable trousers and sturdy closed shoes. Mornings and evenings may feel particularly cold.
If the weather allows, the group may go on an optional beginner-friendly hike. No advanced hiking experience is necessary, but participants who wish to join should bring comfortable and appropriate outdoor footwear and clothing.
Getting to Predeal and Travel Reimbursement
For participants arriving by plane, the recommended arrival airport is Henri CoandΔ International Airport (Otopeni), Bucharest. From the airport, take the train to Bucharest North Railway Station (Gara de Nord) and then continue by train to Predeal. The train journey from Bucharest to Predeal takes approximately 2 hours.
Participants are encouraged to choose green travel options whenever possible, such as trains, buses or car-sharing. Our guide to green travel in Erasmus+ explains how it works. For the Bulgarian team, green travel is required.
According to Youth Works Hub's review of the infopack, the maximum travel reimbursement per participant depends on the country, and our guide to travel reimbursement and distance bands explains how Erasmus+ calculates such amounts:
π§π¬ Bulgaria: up to β¬285, with green travel required.
πΉπ· TΓΌrkiye: up to β¬309.
πͺπΈ Spain: up to β¬395.
Do not purchase any travel tickets before the organisers have approved your route. Tickets bought without prior approval may not be eligible for reimbursement. Keep all relevant travel documents until the reimbursement process is completed: tickets, invoices, receipts and boarding passes. Where applicable, also keep booking confirmations and proof of payment.
Health, Safety and Responsible Behaviour
Your health and well-being are important throughout the entire Youth Exchange.
π₯ Insurance: all participants should have valid travel and/or health insurance covering the full mobility period. If you are eligible for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), bring it as additional proof of healthcare coverage. The declaration in the application form states that obtaining health and full travel insurance is your own responsibility and at your own expense.
π Medical information: inform your sending organisation and the organisers in advance about any medical conditions, allergies, dietary restrictions, ongoing treatments or specific support needs that may be relevant during the mobility. This information helps them provide appropriate support and prepare any necessary arrangements.
π€ Responsible behaviour: participants are expected to act responsibly, respect the project rules and follow the instructions of the organisers, facilitators and group leaders. Everyone has a role in creating a safe, respectful and supportive environment for the whole group.
Youthpass and Follow-Up
At the end of the exchange, participants receive a Youthpass certificate, the official recognition tool used in Erasmus+ Youth projects. Throughout the exchange, you take part in reflection activities to identify what you are learning, which competences you are developing and how these experiences can be useful in your personal, social, educational or professional life. After the mobility and the reflection process, each participant receives the certificate as recognition of their participation and learning outcomes.
The impact of the project is meant to continue after the mobility ends. After returning home, participants contribute to online dissemination by sharing project results, key messages and personal learning experiences through social media posts, photos, short videos, stories or other digital content. Together with their sending organisation, they also support one local follow-up workshop in their community, which shares the project topics with other young people and encourages discussion about democracy, human rights, dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution.
Participants are also encouraged to act as multipliers, using the knowledge, skills and values developed during the exchange to inspire others and create a positive impact in their local communities.
How to Apply and What the Form Asks
Before travelling, make sure you have read the infopack carefully and that you are familiar with the project rules, travel arrangements and participation requirements. For help with the written answers, see our tips for preparing a strong Erasmus+ application. The form asks for:
π€ Your name, surname, date of birth, how old you will be at the time of the mobility, and your place of birth.
π Your country of residency.
π§ Your e-mail address, your WhatsApp phone number with country code and a link to your Facebook profile.
π½οΈ Whether you have food allergies or intolerances, and whether you are vegetarian.
π₯ Any medical conditions, health concerns, allergies or ongoing treatments the organisers should know about to support your safe participation, and an emergency contact (name and phone number).
πΊοΈ The city or place where you will start your journey and the one you will return to, for example "I start my journey from Barcelona".
βοΈ Your motivation to join the project, whether you have taken part in an Erasmus+ project before (with a brief description if so), and what you would like to learn or improve during the exchange.
βοΈ Your agreement to take part in the dissemination activities, your consent to be photographed during the activities for online dissemination of the project, and your consent for works you produce to be used and exhibited within other activities of the project.
π A final declaration. In it you confirm that you have carefully read and understood the project information and commit to take part in the whole process. You acknowledge that obtaining health and full travel insurance is your own responsibility and at your own expense, and that the organisers are not responsible for personal damages or for harm caused to third parties. You consent to your personal data in the form being shared with the sending and hosting organisation, which use it for project management purposes only (European General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR). You also confirm that you comply with the terms and conditions of the project and that everything in the form is true.
π¬ Comments or questions (optional).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to NextGen Peacebuilders?
Young people aged 18 to 25 from the four partner countries listed in the Project Snapshot, plus group leaders aged 18 and over. Each national team has 8 young participants and 2 group leaders.
Do I need Erasmus+ experience?
No. The infopack states that no previous Erasmus+ experience or advanced knowledge of the project topics is required. What matters most is your motivation, your openness to learning and your willingness to take an active role.
How many people take part?
40 participants from four partner countries, in equal-sized national teams.
What is the application deadline?
As soon as possible. Neither the call nor the infopack gives a fixed closing date.
When can I buy my tickets?
Only after you have been officially selected and the organisers have approved your travel plan. Tickets bought without prior approval may not be eligible for reimbursement.
How much is travel reimbursed?
The infopack sets a maximum per participant by country, between β¬285 and β¬395. The full list is in the section on getting to Predeal above. Keep all tickets, invoices, receipts and boarding passes until the reimbursement process is completed.
Who pays for insurance?
Participants do. The declaration in the application form states that obtaining health and full travel insurance is the participant's own responsibility and at their own expense, and the infopack asks every participant to have valid travel and/or health insurance for the full mobility period.
Is green travel required?
It is encouraged for everyone and required for the Bulgarian team. Trains, buses and car-sharing are the examples the infopack gives.
Where do participants stay?
At Pensiunea SperanΘa in Predeal, in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The project provides breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee breaks, and vegetarian and vegan options are available.
What will the weather be like?
In late October the weather in Predeal can be quite cool and changeable because of the higher altitude. The organisers recommend warm layers, a waterproof jacket, comfortable trousers and sturdy closed shoes.
What do I receive at the end?
A Youthpass certificate, the official recognition tool used in Erasmus+ Youth projects, after reflection activities during the exchange.
What do I have to do after the exchange?
Share the project results online through social media posts, photos, videos or other digital content, and take part in one local follow-up workshop in your community together with your sending organisation.
Who do I contact with questions?
The organisers' address is in the Links section. The infopack asks you to read it carefully before you travel and to keep all travel documents until reimbursement is complete.
Project Snapshot
π Type: Erasmus+ Youth Exchange
π Location: Pensiunea SperanΘa, Predeal, Romania
ποΈ Activity Dates: 22β31 October 2026 (including travel days)
π Countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, TΓΌrkiye
π Age: 18β25 (group leaders 18+)
Deadline
β³ As soon as possible!
The call asks for applications as soon as possible. Find more Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges on Youth Works Hub.
Links
π Application form: https://forms.gle/7qSXTa6mofk9nyNZ8
π Infopack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zra4jFOHgN1N-JKqWkvQAvqv_5k1LqlG/view?usp=sharing
π§ Organisers' contact: asociatia.act.ngo@gmail.com
