Against the Current: Travelling Differently is an Erasmus+ KA152 Youth Exchange taking place from 13 to 20 November 2026 in the Bordeaux area, France, near La Réole. It is open to young people aged 18-27 from France, Spain, Estonia and Türkiye with at least B1 English. Accommodation and food are 100% covered by the Erasmus+ Programme, and each country has a set travel budget. At Youth Works Hub, we read the call, the application form description and the full infopack, and this guide puts every detail in one place.
What Is Against the Current About?
The project focuses on sustainable tourism, environmental impact, water protection and responsible travel. Through non-formal education, practical activities and intercultural exchange, participants will explore how tourism affects rivers, oceans and local environments, while developing ideas and tools to encourage more sustainable ways of travelling.
Participants will also work on:
🎭 Creative storytelling
🌍 Environmental awareness
📱 The creation of a digital product promoting sustainable tourism
New to this format? Our guide explains what an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange is and how groups from different countries learn together.
Why Mass Tourism and Water Are the Focus
According to the infopack, the current model of mass tourism in Europe puts unsustainable pressure on water resources, turning rivers like the Garonne and oceans like the Atlantic Ocean into mere consumption backdrops.
In response, the project aims to solve a specific problem identified by the partner consortium: the critical lack of technical skills among young people to evaluate and reduce their real environmental impact.
From Awareness to Concrete Technical Action
The goal is to move from simple awareness-raising to concrete technical action. Participants will receive:
🔎 Verifiable methods to audit tourist sites
🎬 Skills to create professional digital content that directs tourist flows towards sustainable practices
Built on the European GreenComp Framework
To keep the educational approach rigorous, the methodology is aligned with the European GreenComp skills framework. This ensures that the skills participants gain are structured and directly valuable in the labour market.
The Four Project Aims
🌊 Audit the Flow: learn to evaluate a tourist site based on its impact on water and local life, using the expertise of the Turkish partner GECSUD
🎭 Master Liquid Storytelling: use theatrical techniques to tell the stories of the river and the ocean, turning water protection into an adventure, thanks to the R-Evolución association
🗺️ Digitize the Current: create a concrete digital product (Interactive River Map / Audio Guide) that guides tourists along the Garonne to sustainable locations, under the direction of the Estonian partner Elama
💙 Promote Blue Citizenship: develop a sense of shared responsibility for the oceans and rivers that connect European nations
How the Learning Works
The exchange uses non-formal education, practical activities and intercultural exchange. Instead of lectures, you learn by auditing real sites, telling stories through theatre and building a digital tool with a mixed international team.
Who Can Apply?
👥 Age: 18-27
🗣️ English: at least B1
🌱 Motivation: willing to participate actively and engage with the project topic
🏠 Countries: participants from France, Spain, Estonia and Türkiye
28 Participants From 4 Countries
The exchange brings together 28 participants from 4 countries. The organisers will ensure gender balance among participants.
The Learning Agreement
All participants will sign a Learning Agreement, to make sure everyone can enjoy the project in a safe and respectful environment.
Partner Organisations
🇫🇷 Wild United Travellers (France, host and coordinator)
🇪🇸 Asociación Cultural R-Evolución (Spain)
🇪🇪 MTÜ Elama (Estonia)
🇹🇷 Gemlik Cevre Kultur ve Surdurulebilirlik Dernegi (GECSUD) (Türkiye)
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🌍 All opportunities in France →
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Countries, Group Sizes and Travel Budget
The infopack lists the number of participants and the travel budget for each country:
🇫🇷 France: 8 people, 56€
🇹🇷 Türkiye: 7 people, 395€
🇪🇸 Spain: 7 people, 285€
🇪🇪 Estonia: 7 people, 395€
To understand how these amounts are set, read our guide on how Erasmus+ travel reimbursement works.
Where You Will Stay: Domaine Les Messauts
The group will stay at Domaine Les Messauts, 200 route des Messauts, 33190 Blaignac, France.
🛏️ Rooms: mixed national teams, divided by gender
🍽️ Meals: 3 meals a day plus 2 coffee breaks at the accommodation
🛌 Bedding: pillows and blankets are provided
💨 Hair dryer: you can bring your own, just in case
🧥 Clothing: bring warm clothes and a raincoat, as the oceanic climate can get rainy and cold
What the Erasmus+ Programme Covers
Accommodation and food (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and 2 coffee breaks are 100% covered by the Erasmus+ Programme. For a full picture of how these grants work, see our guide on what costs Erasmus+ covers.
🌙 Arrival day (13 November 2026): only dinner
☕ Departure day (20 November 2026): only breakfast
Staying Extra Days in France
You can stay up to 2 extra days before or after the project in France. All costs for these extra days, such as food, hostel and local transport, must be covered by the participant.
Flight Booking Rules
✋ Wait for approval: do not reserve your flights before getting approval from the coordinator
❌ Early bookings: any travel tickets reserved before confirmation by the coordinator are not eligible for reimbursement
⚠️ Missed flights: missed flights are not eligible for reimbursement; participants are financially responsible for any missed flights and the cost of replacement tickets
How to Get to the Venue
✈️ Fly to Bordeaux Airport
🚌 Shuttle or tram to Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station
🚆 Train to La Réole, approximately 45-50 minutes
🚄 Arriving in Toulouse or Paris: take a train to Bordeaux first, then continue to La Réole
📍 From La Réole station: the organisers will provide further instructions on how to reach the venue
The coordinator and your team leader will help you with the details of your trip.
Who Is Behind the Project
The exchange is coordinated by Wild United Travellers in France. The project coordinator is François Cardinaud, who can be reached by e-mail or WhatsApp (details in the Links section below). The infopack also encourages participants to read all the information carefully and not hesitate to ask questions.
How to Apply
Fill in the participant application form for "Against the Current". The call asks for applications as soon as possible, so it is best not to wait. You can browse more Erasmus+ projects on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to Against the Current: Travelling Differently?
Young people aged 18-27 from France, Spain, Estonia or Türkiye with at least B1 English. You should be motivated to take an active part and work on the project topic.
When and where does the Youth Exchange take place?
From 13 to 20 November 2026 in the Bordeaux area, France. The venue is Domaine Les Messauts in Blaignac, reached via the train station in La Réole.
What is the main topic?
Sustainable tourism, environmental impact, water protection and responsible travel. Participants explore how tourism affects rivers, oceans and local environments, with a focus on the Garonne and the Atlantic Ocean.
What will participants create?
A concrete digital product, an Interactive River Map / Audio Guide, that guides tourists along the Garonne to sustainable locations. Participants also work on creative storytelling with theatrical techniques.
What is covered by Erasmus+?
Accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 coffee breaks are 100% covered by the Erasmus+ Programme. On arrival day there is only dinner, and on departure day only breakfast.
What is the travel budget for my country?
The infopack lists 56€ for France, 395€ for Türkiye, 285€ for Spain and 395€ for Estonia. Tickets booked before the coordinator's confirmation are not eligible for reimbursement.
How many participants are there per country?
There are 28 participants in total: 8 from France and 7 each from Türkiye, Spain and Estonia, with gender balance among participants.
Can I book my flight right away?
No. Do not reserve flights before getting approval from the coordinator. Tickets bought before confirmation and missed flights are not reimbursed.
Can I stay longer in France?
Yes, up to 2 extra days before or after the project. All costs of those days, including food, hostel and local transport, are your own.
What should I pack?
Warm clothes and a raincoat, because the oceanic climate can be rainy and cold. Pillows and blankets are provided, and you can bring a hair dryer if you like.
What is the GreenComp framework mentioned in the project?
It is the European GreenComp skills framework. The project aligns its methodology with it so that the skills you gain are structured and directly valuable in the labour market.
Project Snapshot
📌 Type: Youth Exchange (Erasmus+ KA152)
📍 Location: Domaine Les Messauts, Blaignac (near La Réole), Bordeaux area, France
🗓️ Activity Dates: 13-20 November 2026
🌍 Countries: France, Spain, Estonia, Türkiye
🎂 Age: 18-27
🔢 Project Number: KA152-YOU-41DE2B4E
Deadline
⏳ As soon as possible!
Links
📝 Application form: https://forms.gle/Y7pAykB82iELbdDA6
📄 Infopack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zLzmfeH1HNLVTtRzVng2s0NuehsVfQu1/view?usp=sharing
📩 Contact e-mail: wildandunitedtravellers@gmail.com
📱 WhatsApp (Project Coordinator François Cardinaud): +33 6 83 25 69 66
