Active Citizens, Creative Minds is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange coordinated by Coconut Italia, held in Filadelfia, Calabria, Italy from 6 to 14 December 2026. Applications are open to young people aged 18-30 who are residents of Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain or Tรผrkiye, and accommodation, meals and travel costs are covered, with no participation fee. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the call and the full infopack, and this guide puts every detail in one place.
What Is Active Citizens, Creative Minds?
It is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange (KA152, Mobility of young people) that uses photography and storytelling to explore local issues and get people talking about what needs to change. The project is funded by the European Union through the Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventรน, and Coconut Italia coordinates it. The project number is 2025-3-IT03-KA152-YOU-000383960.
The exchange gathers 30 young people from 5 countries for 7 activity days in Filadelfia. If you are new to this format, our guide explains what an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange is and how a typical one works.
From Frustration to Visible Action
The call lists frustrations many young people know well: a lack of spaces for young people, inaccessible streets, decisions made without asking you. So what can you do about it?
The infopack explains the idea behind the project. Many young people feel that decisions about their towns and neighbourhoods are taken without them. They talk about the lack of cultural opportunities, decent jobs that are hard to find, friends leaving small towns to look for work elsewhere and institutions they do not trust to listen. Most of them would like to do something useful, but they do not know where to start, so the frustration stays private.
This youth exchange starts from that frustration and gives it a form. Photography and storytelling are languages almost everyone understands, and most young people already carry a camera in their pocket. Used with intention, a photo and the story behind it can show a problem in a way that a speech or an official campaign cannot, and can open a conversation with neighbours and decision-makers.
Aim and Objectives
The goal of the project is to help young people turn frustration about their communities into creative, visible action. It sets three objectives:
๐งญ Understand active citizenship: give participants a better understanding of what it means to be an active citizen, how social and cultural barriers affect participation, and what actions they can take
๐ท Show it with photovoice and storytelling: teach participants to use creative methods such as photovoice and storytelling to show community issues in a way that others understand and act on
๐ก Act on it at home: build participants' confidence, teamwork and leadership, so that after the exchange they can start small actions in their own towns and motivate others to get involved
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๐ All opportunities in Italy โ
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What Happens in Filadelfia
For seven days in Filadelfia, young people from Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain and Tรผrkiye will explore what it means to be an active citizen, learn photovoice and storytelling, and use them to look closely at a real community. Part of the photovoice work happens outdoors.
๐ฃ๏ธ Daily reflection time: used, together with your learning diary, to identify and record the competences you develop
๐ญ Intercultural night: each national team prepares a short presentation of its town and brings food, drinks, music, photos or objects from its country
๐ Personal learning diary: you keep it during the whole week
Who Can Apply as a Participant?
The call says applications are open to participants aged 18-30. The infopack gives more detail: participants are aged 18 to 24, and motivated applicants up to 30 may also be considered. The profile it describes:
๐ฏ Motivated to learn storytelling and photography, with or without previous experience
๐๏ธ Feeling disconnected from civic life in your town, and wanting the confidence and the tools to act
๐ฑ New to Erasmus+ or with little experience of it: priority is given to first-timers
๐จ๏ธ Able to hold a conversation in English (B1 level or more)
๐ Resident in one of the partner countries: Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain or Tรผrkiye
Our guide on how to prepare a strong Erasmus+ application is a useful read before you fill in the form.
Who Can Apply as a Group Leader?
Each national team has 5 participants and 1 group leader. Group leaders must be aged 18 or over and available to accompany their national team before, during and after the exchange. This includes:
๐ Preparing the team before the exchange
๐ค Supporting participants during the week
๐ Coordinating the follow-up at home
What the Organisers Ask of You
If you are selected, you are expected to:
๐ Take part in the preparatory meetings with your national team
๐๏ธ Prepare, with your team, a short presentation of your town and your contribution to the intercultural night
โ Attend every session and keep a personal learning diary during the week
๐ฃ After the exchange, take part in the dissemination events and the follow-up activities with your sending organisation
Partner Organisations and National Teams
The consortium has five partner organisations, one per country. Each sends a national team of 5 participants + 1 group leader.
๐ฅฅ Coconut Italia (Italy): coordinator, 5 + 1
๐ต๐ฑ Fundacja Twoja ลwiadomoลฤ ลปycia (Poland): 5 + 1
๐ฒ Asociaศia Active Be Cicleta (Romania): 5 + 1
๐ช Aktive Kosmos (Spain): 5 + 1
๐ Pangea Genรงlik Derneฤi (Tรผrkiye): 5 + 1
Dates and Venue
The exchange takes place from 6 to 14 December 2026 in Filadelfia, a hill town in the province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria, about 570 m above sea level. The venue is Residenza L'Antico Borgo, Via B. Maiolo 30, 89814 Filadelfia (VV), a small hotel in a restored 19th-century building. Sessions take place at the venue.
Rooms, Linen and Meals
๐๏ธ Rooms: shared triple rooms with private bathroom, allocated by gender and mixed by nationality. The allocation is made before arrival and cannot be changed on site
๐งบ Linen and towels: provided
๐งด Toiletries: not provided, so bring your own
๐ Meals: full board from the hotel's own restaurant, which serves Calabrian cooking
๐ฅ Dietary needs: specific dietary requirements will be taken into consideration
What Is Covered and What Does It Cost?
Accommodation and all meals are fully covered by the project, and there is no participation fee. Travel costs are covered too, as a reimbursement under Erasmus+ rules (see the travel rules below). To see how the grant is built, read our guide on what costs Erasmus+ covers.
Getting to Filadelfia
Filadelfia is about 30 km from Lamezia Terme International Airport (SUF), the main airport of Calabria.
โ๏ธ Fly to Lamezia Terme (SUF): direct flights have operated from Bucharest (Ryanair) and Warsaw (Wizz Air), so check that they run in December before planning. From Spain and Tรผrkiye, plan one connection, usually through Rome Fiumicino or Milan, both linked to Lamezia by several flights a day (ITA Airways, Wizz Air, Ryanair and easyJet)
๐ Lamezia Terme airport to Filadelfia: about 30 km, 35 to 40 minutes by road. There is no public bus to Filadelfia on Sundays, so the organisers will run group transfers from the airport on 6 December at set times. Send your itinerary as soon as it is approved so the team can match you to a transfer
๐ Taxi: costs roughly โฌ50 to โฌ70 per car and is not reimbursed unless agreed with the organisers in advance
๐ If your approved itinerary includes a train: you arrive at Lamezia Terme Centrale, the station on the main Rome-Reggio Calabria line, 2 km from the airport. The organisers also run group transfers from the train station
Arrival and Departure Times
๐ฌ Arrival: plan to reach Lamezia Terme airport or train station by 18:30 on Sunday 6 December. If you change planes, leave at least 2 hours between flights
๐ซ Departure: on Monday 14 December, transfers to the airport leave after breakfast, so book return flights departing Lamezia Terme after 11:00
Travel Reimbursement Rules
Travel is reimbursed under Erasmus+ rules. The infopack sets out four rules. For how distance bands work, see our guide on how Erasmus+ travel reimbursement works.
๐ All travel must be approved by the organisers before booking: no approval, no reimbursement
๐ถ Use the cheapest reasonable option and book on the airline's or operator's own website, not through agencies
๐งพ Keep every ticket, invoice and boarding pass, including screenshots of mobile boarding passes
๐ซ No boarding pass, no reimbursement
Weather, Money and Recognition
๐ฆ๏ธ Weather: in December, Filadelfia averages about 14 ยฐC by day and 8 ยฐC at night, with frequent rain. Evenings on the hill are cold and often windy. Bring warm layers, a waterproof jacket and shoes you can walk in on wet streets
๐ต Money: Italy uses the euro. Cards are not widely accepted, especially in the small shops and cafรฉs of Filadelfia, so bring enough cash in euros
๐ Recognition: all participants receive a Youthpass certificate. Daily reflection time and your learning diary are used to identify and record the competences you develop. Our guide explains what Youthpass is
What to Bring
๐ชช ID card or passport, valid for the whole stay
๐ฉบ Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), unless you are resident in Italy, or your private insurance certificate if you are resident in Tรผrkiye
๐ฑ A smartphone with a working camera; if you own a camera, bring it, but it is not required
๐ป A laptop or tablet for photo editing if you have one (not required)
๐ฐ A reusable water bottle
๐ถ Food, drinks, music, photos or objects from your country for the intercultural night
๐ฉน Your own toiletries and any personal medication you need in its original packaging
Communication Before and During the Exchange
The project runs on a WhatsApp group for all selected participants, email for official documents, and a shared Google Drive folder for materials, the arrival and departure timetable, and travel documents. Before the exchange, each national team holds its own preparatory meetings and all five teams meet once online.
What You Agree To if You Are Selected
Selected participants sign a Participation agreement for the youth exchange part of the project. Its 11 points:
๐ Acceptance of terms: you have read, understood and agree with all the elements in the infopack
๐ก๏ธ Insurance: you have the European Health Insurance Card, unless you are resident in Italy. If you are resident outside the EU (including Tรผrkiye), you hold private insurance covering health, accidents, emergencies, repatriation and civil liability for the whole stay
โฐ Participation and punctuality: you attend all sessions on time and fully participate, publish one post (a recap of your experience) within 14 days after the exchange, and take part in the dissemination activities agreed with your sending organisation. Absence or repeated lateness may cancel your travel reimbursement
๐ธ Photos and videos: unless you state otherwise on arrival or in advance, you allow the organisers to take photos and videos of you during activities and publish them on their websites, social media and promotional materials
โ๏ธ Travel and reimbursement: all travel purchases must be pre-approved, you are responsible for reaching the destination at your own cost if you miss transport, you contact the carrier and keep the organisers informed in case of disruptions, and you save tickets and boarding passes. Reimbursements may take up to 2 months, subject to the correct documents, the completion of your dissemination actions and compliance with the agreement
๐ Code of conduct: you treat everyone with dignity and respect, without harassment or discrimination, and follow organiser rules, venue policies and local laws. Serious or repeated breaches may lead to early termination of your participation, in which case you cover your return travel and may forfeit reimbursement already planned
โ๏ธ Health and safety: in the dedicated registration form you inform the organisers of any medical conditions, allergies or dietary requirements, and of any physical or mental condition that might affect your participation or the other participants, and you provide accurate emergency contact information
๐งณ Liability waiver: you are responsible for ensuring your travel documents meet entry requirements, you do not possess or use illegal substances, and you release the organisers from liability for damages or losses during the activity or outside the official activity days, and for risks outside the educational programme time (pedagogical sessions), whether at the venue, outside it, or in any personal pursuit you decide to engage in
๐ช๏ธ Force majeure: the organisers are not liable for failure or delay due to circumstances beyond their reasonable control, including acts of God, war or public health emergencies
๐ค Confidentiality: you keep sensitive information confidential and do not share information or pictures of another participant without their consent
๐ Data protection and privacy: your personal data is used strictly for the proper conduct of the project and to provide updates and newsletters, and you consent to its processing under applicable data protection laws, including GDPR
โ๏ธ Dispute resolution: disputes are settled through amicable negotiation, and if that fails, in accordance with the laws of Italy
The agreement ends with the statement: "I have read and understood this agreement and accept that it is binding on me."
How to Apply
Fill in the online application form on the project page. Participants who are new to Erasmus+ or have little experience of it get priority. Find more projects like this in our Erasmus+ listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to Active Citizens, Creative Minds?
Young people who are residents of Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain or Tรผrkiye. The call says applications are open to participants aged 18-30. The infopack describes participants as aged 18 to 24, with motivated applicants up to 30 also considered, and group leaders as aged 18 or over.
Is there a participation fee?
No. Accommodation and all meals are fully covered by the project, and there is no participation fee.
Are travel costs covered?
Yes, under Erasmus+ rules, as a reimbursement. All travel must be approved by the organisers before booking, you must keep every ticket, invoice and boarding pass, and no boarding pass means no reimbursement. Reimbursements may take up to 2 months.
Do I need photography or storytelling experience?
No. The infopack asks for motivation to learn storytelling and photography, with or without previous experience. Bring a smartphone with a working camera.
What English level do I need?
You need to be able to hold a conversation in English (B1 level or more).
Can I apply if I have joined Erasmus+ projects before?
Yes, but priority is given to first-timers, meaning people new to Erasmus+ or with little experience of it.
When do I need to arrive and leave?
Arrive at Lamezia Terme airport or train station by 18:30 on Sunday 6 December 2026. Book return flights departing Lamezia Terme after 11:00 on Monday 14 December 2026.
How do I get from the airport to Filadelfia?
The organisers run group transfers from the airport and from the train station on 6 December at set times. Send your approved itinerary as soon as possible so they can match you to a transfer. Taxis cost roughly โฌ50 to โฌ70 per car and are not reimbursed unless agreed in advance.
Which insurance do I need?
Bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), unless you are resident in Italy. If you are resident in Tรผrkiye, bring your private insurance certificate.
Do I receive a certificate?
Yes. All participants receive a Youthpass certificate.
Who can I contact with questions?
The organisers answer anything about selection, travel, dietary needs, accessibility or questions the infopack has not answered. Their contact email is in the Links section below.
Project Snapshot
๐ Type: Erasmus+ Youth Exchange (KA152)
๐ Location: Residenza L'Antico Borgo, Filadelfia (Vibo Valentia), Calabria, Italy
๐๏ธ Activity Dates: 06-14 December 2026 (arrival by 18:30 on Sunday 06 December, departure on Monday 14 December)
๐ Countries: Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, Tรผrkiye
๐ Age: 18-30 (infopack: participants 18-24, motivated applicants up to 30 may be considered, group leaders 18+)
๐ข Project Number: 2025-3-IT03-KA152-YOU-000383960
Deadline
โณ 25 October 2026
Links
๐ Application form: https://form.jotform.com/262876716528572
๐ Project page: https://coconutwork.org/portfolio/accm/
๐ Infopack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cSeKoSs_NIEYtu3F79Pv2ArLcg_08tPx/view?usp=sharing
๐ง Questions (selection, travel, dietary needs, accessibility): italia@coconutwork.org
๐จ Venue, Residenza L'Antico Borgo: https://residenzaanticoborgo.it
๐ธ Coconut Italia on Instagram: https://instagram.com/coco.nutwork
๐ผ Coconut Italia on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/coconutwork-org
