Narrative Futures is a 7-day Erasmus+ training course coordinated by Officina Nuova Dimensione Europea (ONDE), taking place in Lecce, Italy from 18 to 26 November 2026, travel days included. It is open to youth workers, educators and highly motivated young people aged 18 and over who are resident in Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal or Slovakia. Accommodation, three meals a day and coffee breaks are fully covered, participation is free, and travel costs are reimbursed after the project up to a cap that depends on your country. At Youth Works Hub, we read the call and the full twelve-page infopack, and this guide puts every condition in one place.
A Training Course Built Around Personal Stories
Narrative Futures is an Erasmus+ KA1 Mobility of Youth Workers project, registered under the number 2025-1-KA153-000303936. It is designed to help youth workers and motivated young people discover how personal storytelling can become a tool for connection, inclusion and positive change in their communities.
Over seven activity days, participants from nine European countries work through creative workshops, hands-on activities and intercultural exchange to explore their identities, discover their strengths, develop storytelling skills, and learn how to use narratives to bring people together and inspire community initiatives. If this format is new to you, our guide explains what an Erasmus+ training course is and how a professional development activity for youth workers runs.
The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union with the support of Italy's Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventรน.
Why ONDE Thinks Storytelling Belongs in Youth Work
The organisers start from a simple observation: we all have stories worth telling. The harder question is how to turn your experiences, your challenges and the lessons you have learned into something that means something to other people.
Every story matters, the infopack argues, because our experiences shape who we are, what we believe and how we connect with the world around us. Narrative Futures is built to answer the follow-up question: how do you turn a personal story into meaningful action?
The training is pitched at people who want to step outside their everyday routine, connect with others, and see how their own experiences can inspire change. Whether you are already working with young people or only beginning, the course is meant to show you how storytelling connects people and strengthens communities. Through creative challenges, hands-on workshops and intercultural activities, you experiment with different storytelling techniques, discover new perspectives, and learn how to turn personal experience into usable ideas for your own community.
By the end of the week, the organisers expect you to leave with new friendships, creative tools you can use in your work with young people, and a realistic action plan to take your ideas home. As the infopack puts it, a good story does not have to end when the training does.
The Five Objectives of the Training
The project sets out five objectives, and the programme is built around them:
๐ฃ๏ธ Practical communication skills: develop storytelling, communication and active listening skills
๐ช Self-confidence through reflection: build confidence by reflecting on your own experience and discovering your individual strengths
๐ซถ Empathy and intercultural understanding: encourage empathy, intercultural understanding and respect for diversity
๐๏ธ Stories tied to real community needs: explore how personal stories connect to the needs of your community and to shared European values
๐ From idea to initiative: leave able to design realistic, storytelling-based activities and initiatives that promote inclusion and positive change
Who ONDE Is Looking For
The call is open to youth workers, educators and highly motivated young people. The infopack sets out the participant profile in detail:
๐ Aged 18 or over, with older participants strongly encouraged
๐ Resident in Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal or Slovakia
๐คฒ Open minded, showing respect towards other people's values, religions and cultures regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or nationality
๐ฅ Highly motivated and willing to engage in all activities
๐ฃ Committed to disseminating what they learn in their local communities
The last point is also one of the written conditions for travel reimbursement: a dissemination activity in your local community by 26 December 2026. Before you write your application, our guide with ten tips for preparing a strong Erasmus+ application is worth a read.
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๐ All opportunities in Italy โ
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Nine Countries, Twenty-Seven People
The project brings together 27 people from nine European countries: Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia. The working language is English.
The infopack presents this mix as part of the learning: bringing 27 people from nine countries together is described as opening the door to life-changing intercultural exchanges. Our guide on the role of youth workers in Erasmus+ and ESC projects explains how this kind of mobility feeds back into local youth work.
Intercultural Nights and Sharing Your Culture
Every participant gets the chance to share their own culture with the rest of the group, however they define it and whichever one they identify with. How you represent it is entirely up to you. The infopack suggests a poem, a traditional dance, a song, some snacks or a quiz, and then says the possibilities are endless.
Intercultural nights are the dedicated slot for this, letting participants introduce their cultures with more depth in a relaxed setting. Take the time before you travel to think about what represents you and your country, and come prepared to share it.
What the Project Pays For
Participating in Narrative Futures is free. ONDE does not charge any participation fees. What the project covers:
๐ 100% of room and accommodation
๐ฝ๏ธ Three meals per day and two coffee breaks
๐ A free shuttle from the Lecce train or bus station to the venue, and back, on arrival and departure dates
โ๏ธ Roundtrip travel costs, reimbursed after the project up to a country-specific cap
For the wider picture of how the funding behind a project like this is built, see our guide on what costs Erasmus+ covers.
Travel Reimbursement Caps by Country
Travel is reimbursed up to a fixed limit that depends on where you travel from:
๐ซ Italy: no coverage
๐ถ France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia: โฌ309
๐ซ Ireland and Portugal: โฌ395
These are the limits up to which roundtrip travel is reimbursed. Our guide explains how Erasmus+ travel reimbursement and distance bands work in general.
The Conditions Attached to Your Reimbursement
Reimbursements are paid by bank transfer through your sending organisation, and only if all of the following are true:
โ 100% participation in all project activities
๐งพ Submission of all original travel documents, paper or electronic
๐ Your group leader submits the Erasmus+ final evaluation report
๐ You complete a dissemination activity in your local community by 26 December 2026
Erasmus+ Travel Rules You Have to Follow
On top of the project's own conditions, Erasmus+ rules decide whether a journey can be reimbursed at all:
๐ซ Route: you travel from the country of your sending organisation and back
๐๏ธ Dates: your travel dates match the project's, arrival 18 November and departure 26 November
โฑ๏ธ Margin: travel may happen at most two days before or after the project dates, so 17 to 18 November and 26 to 27 November. Lodging on 17 and 26 November is at your own expense. If you can only travel outside that range, you cannot take part in the project
๐งฎ Proof: you present original receipts and invoices for all transport costs, plus all boarding passes, paper tickets and similar documents
๐ Reasonable means: economy class flights and second class trains or buses. Taxis and private transport are not reimbursable
Additional travel information is provided once you are selected.
Le Sorgenti: A Former Convent as a Learning Space
The venue is Le Sorgenti, a former convent now running as a nonprofit space. Participants have access to two common rooms, the activity and dining rooms, and various outdoor spaces.
It is worth repeating what the infopack says plainly: the venue is an educational space, not a hotel, and it cannot be booked privately.
Rooms, Meals and Coffee Breaks
๐๏ธ Rooms: shared rooms of 2 to 3 people, mixed countries, same gender, each with its own private bathroom
๐ฅ Meals: three meals a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals are vegetarian, with adjustments only for documented dietary needs
โ Breakfast: Italian style, consisting of light food: coffee, fruit and biscuits
๐ช Coffee and tea breaks: two 30-minute breaks per day, morning and afternoon, with light snacks and warm drinks
Lecce: A Baroque City in Salento
The project takes place in Lecce, in the south of Italy. It is a Baroque city in the Salento region, and its historical centre includes the second largest Roman colosseum in Italy. Time is planned into the programme for you to explore the city.
Who Is Officina Nuova Dimensione Europea?
Officina Nuova Dimensione Europea (ONDE) APS is a nonprofit organisation based in Lecce, Italy, founded in 2022. Its stated mission is to help young people develop professional and personal skills so they can grow beyond their borders, dismantle stereotypes, and become better informed and more active citizens.
ONDE describes young people as catalysts for change in their communities, and sees its own job as helping them tap into the resources they already carry. The organisation says it wants to inspire young people to abandon performative activism and discover instead the real power of their own voices.
ONDE's Culture of Gratitude
ONDE runs its projects around what it calls a culture of gratitude, citing Harvard Health Publishing on how gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, deal with adversity and build strong relationships. In practice, that culture means four concrete commitments from every participant:
๐งน Shared upkeep: participants work together to maintain the living spaces and help with activity preparations
๐ฒ Dishwashing shifts: participants sign up for short group dishwashing shifts to assist the kitchen staff
๐ต Limited phone use: phones are used only for specific project activities or urgent situations, out of respect for other participants and the facilitators
โป๏ธ Environmental care: participants join ONDE's efforts to protect the environment by using paper responsibly and recycling waste
What This Project Is Not
The infopack asks you to read this part carefully before applying. Narrative Futures is not a holiday or a paid excursion, but an intercultural learning experience. It is also not a tourist visit to Lecce or Italy. If you want to explore, the organisers ask you to plan your own travel for 17 to 18 November or 26 to 27 November, and they remind you that ONDE does not cover accommodation or meals on those days.
Two related points follow from this. ONDE is not a travel agency and does not provide guided tours, and the programme will not be changed to add extra free time.
House Rules You Agree To
The infopack also sets out these rules, several of which affect your reimbursement:
๐งฑ Damages: any damage to the venue or to rooms is deducted from your travel reimbursement
๐คซ Quiet hours: quiet hours must be respected, with no loud gatherings or parties
๐จโ๐ณ Kitchen: the kitchen team does not take individual orders
๐ณ Health card: the organisers strongly recommend that you bring your European Health Card
๐ Full participation: full participation is required, and unjustified absences result in loss of reimbursement
โ Alcohol and drugs: strictly forbidden. Smoking is allowed only in designated outdoor spaces, and failure to comply leads to immediate removal without reimbursement
๐ก๏ธ Harassment and violence: any form of harassment or violence is addressed immediately, reported to the proper authorities, and results in removal from the project without reimbursement
The Participation Agreement
By joining Narrative Futures you agree to uphold ONDE's culture of gratitude, follow all project rules and fully participate in all activities. You confirm that you have read the infopack, that you understand the project's objectives and expectations, and that you are aware of the conditions linked to participation and reimbursement. You also confirm that you can complete the required dissemination activity in your community by 26 December 2026.
How to Apply and What Happens Next
Applications go through an online participant application form. The organisers state three conditions:
๐ Read the infopack carefully before applying
โ๏ธ Only complete applications will be considered
โ AI-generated applications will be rejected
The application timeline after you submit:
๐จ Someone from ONDE or the partner organisation in your country contacts you if you are selected
โฐ If you accept your spot, you then have 24 hours to confirm and send your planned travel itinerary to ONDE's team for approval
The deadline for applications is as soon as possible. You can find more projects like this in the Erasmus+ listings on Youth Works Hub.
The Partner Organisations in Each Country
The project is run by nine organisations, one in each participating country:
๐ฎ๐น Officina Nuova Dimensione Europea (ONDE), Italy: project coordinator
๐ซ๐ท Bokra Sawa, France
๐ฉ๐ช Biku, Germany
๐ฌ๐ท LevelUp, Greece
๐ฎ๐ช Youths Rule, Ireland
๐ฑ๐น Musninkลณ Kaimo Bendruomenฤ, Lithuania
๐ต๐ฑ MSK, Poland
๐ต๐น Inspira, Portugal
๐ธ๐ฐ STEP, Slovakia
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to Narrative Futures?
Youth workers, educators and highly motivated young people aged 18 and over, resident in Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal or Slovakia. The infopack notes that older participants are strongly encouraged to apply.
Is there a participation fee?
No. Participation is free and ONDE does not charge any fees. Accommodation, three meals a day and two coffee breaks are fully covered by the project.
How much of my travel will be reimbursed?
Roundtrip travel costs are reimbursed up to a limit that depends on your country: โฌ309 for France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia, โฌ395 for Ireland and Portugal, and no coverage for Italy. Reimbursement is paid by bank transfer through your sending organisation after the project.
What do I have to do to get my travel money back?
Four things: take part in 100% of the activities, submit all original travel documents, make sure your group leader submits the Erasmus+ final evaluation report, and run a dissemination activity in your local community by 26 December 2026.
Can I arrive earlier or leave later?
Only within a short margin. Travel may take place at most two days before or after the project, so 17 to 18 November and 26 to 27 November, and you pay for your own lodging on 17 and 26 November. If your only possible travel dates fall outside that window, you cannot take part.
Are taxis reimbursed?
No. Erasmus+ rules require reasonable means of travel, which means economy class flights and second class trains or buses. Taxis and private transport are not reimbursable.
What is the accommodation like?
You stay at Le Sorgenti, a former convent now used as a nonprofit space, in shared rooms of 2 to 3 people with mixed nationalities, same gender, each room with its own private bathroom.
Are the meals vegetarian?
Yes. All meals are vegetarian, and adjustments are made only for documented dietary needs. Breakfast is Italian style and light: coffee, fruit and biscuits.
What language is the training in?
English is the working language of the project.
What happens if I miss part of the programme?
Full participation is required, and unjustified absences result in loss of reimbursement. Reimbursement is conditional on 100% participation in all project activities.
Can I use AI to write my application?
No. The call states that AI-generated applications will be rejected, and that only complete applications will be considered.
How is the project funded?
It is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union with the support of Italy's Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventรน, under the project number 2025-1-KA153-000303936.
Project Snapshot
๐ Type: Erasmus+ Training Course (KA153, Mobility of Youth Workers)
๐ Location: Le Sorgenti, Lecce, Italy
๐๏ธ Activity Dates: 18-26 November 2026, including 2 travel days (arrival 18 November, departure 26 November)
๐ Countries: Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia
๐ Age: 18+ (older participants strongly encouraged)
๐ข Project Number: 2025-1-KA153-000303936
Deadline
โณ As soon as possible!
Links
๐ Application form: https://forms.gle/GfoANqRqj2MVkeSg8
๐ Infopack: https://tinyurl.com/4nyj25nd
๐ง Questions and contact: projects@ondeitaly.org
๐ ONDE website: https://www.ondeitaly.org
๐ธ ONDE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onde.italy/
๐ซ๐ท Bokra Sawa, France: http://www.bokrasawa.org/
๐ฉ๐ช Biku, Germany: https://kubi.info/biku/
๐ฌ๐ท LevelUp, Greece: https://www.levelupgr.com/
๐ฎ๐ช Youths Rule, Ireland: https://www.loveandcareforpeople.eu/
๐ฑ๐น Musninkลณ Kaimo Bendruomenฤ, Lithuania: https://musninkai.org/
๐ต๐ฑ MSK, Poland: https://msk.lodz.pl/
๐ต๐น Inspira, Portugal: https://www.facebook.com/Inspiraj/
๐ธ๐ฐ STEP, Slovakia: https://www.societystep.eu/
