Empowered Youth, Stronger Communities is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Bฤile Felix (Oradea), Romania, from 18 to 26 November 2026, for young people aged 16-25 from Romania, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Poland. Accommodation and meals are covered, and travel costs are reimbursed up to โฌ309. Applications close on 11 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the project call and infopack to bring every practical detail together on one page.
What Is This Youth Exchange About?
Also presented under the name genK, with the motto "Standing up for each other", this nine-day exchange is about inclusion, bullying prevention and standing up for yourself and others. Through workshops, team challenges and creative activities, participants explore stereotypes and learn how to build communities where everyone belongs. The project topics are Inclusion & Diversity and Human Rights & Peace. New to this format? Our guide explains what an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange is and how groups from different countries work together.
The Main Objective
The exchange is all about empowering young people to become active and confident members of their communities. The organisers want to create a safe and inclusive space where young people can learn to stand up for themselves and others, challenge prejudice and build stronger connections across different social and cultural backgrounds.
Social Sustainability and Inclusion
Participants discover how supportive, inclusive communities can be built where everyone feels respected, valued and accepted, regardless of their background or social situation.
Bullying Prevention
This focus area explores why bullying, exclusion and discrimination happen, how stereotypes and prejudices can contribute to them, and what young people can do to prevent and challenge them.
Self-Advocacy and Empowerment
Participants learn how to express their opinions, needs and boundaries, how to stand up for themselves and how to support others when facing unfairness, exclusion or bullying.
Intercultural Learning
Young people from different countries and backgrounds meet to exchange experiences and perspectives, challenge stereotypes and discover how diversity can become a strength rather than a source of division.
What You Will Do During the Nine Days
๐ก๏ธ Bullying prevention workshops
๐ฃ๏ธ Self-advocacy and empowerment activities
๐งฉ Team challenges
๐ Intercultural evenings
๐ฌ Discussions on the project themes
๐จ Creative activities and intercultural experiences
You will have the opportunity to share your own perspective, learn from others and develop practical skills that you can use long after the project ends.
More Than Responding to Bullying
The organisers describe the project as something bigger than learning how to respond to bullying: it is about building the confidence, empathy and courage to create communities where everyone has the opportunity to belong, speak up and make a difference.
Who Can Apply?
๐ Age: young people aged 16-25
๐ Residence: living in Romania, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Bulgaria or Poland
๐ฅ Team leaders: each national group travels with team leaders aged 18+
๐ Teenagers: participants from the age of 16 can apply together with their group leaders
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๐ All opportunities in Romania โ
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How Many Places Does Each Country Have?
The exchange brings together 37 people in total: 31 young participants and 6 team leaders.
๐ท๐ด Romania: 6 participants aged 16-25 + 2 team leaders aged 18+
๐ง๐ฌ Bulgaria: 7 participants aged 16-25 + 1 team leader aged 18+
๐ธ๐ฐ Slovakia: 6 participants aged 16-25 + 1 team leader aged 18+
๐ต๐ฑ Poland: 6 participants aged 16-25 + 1 team leader aged 18+
๐ฒ๐ฐ North Macedonia: 6 participants aged 16-25 + 1 team leader aged 18+
Host and Partner Organisations
๐ Asociaศia Prisma (Romania, host)
๐ฟ Association for Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection GO GREEN Skopje (North Macedonia)
๐ฌ Bulgarian Foundation for Research, Education and Entrepreneurship (BFree) (Bulgaria)
๐งญ Megรบjulรกs - Szlovรกkiai Magyar Ifjรบsรกgi Szรถvetsรฉg (SZMISZ) (Slovakia)
๐ธ Stowarzyszenie Sororitas (Poland)
The host organisation selects the participants.
Meet the Facilitators
๐ Janka: Head of the learning project and Lead Facilitator
โจ Bea: Junior Facilitator
The Venue: Hotel Metropol in Bฤile Felix
The exchange is based at Hotel Metropol in Bฤile Felix, a picturesque location right next to Oradea that is known for its rejuvenating thermal springs. The hotel will serve as the basecamp of the project, combining natural surroundings with modern comfort as the setting for new connections and shared experiences.
What Is Covered?
๐๏ธ Accommodation: covered
๐ฝ๏ธ Meals: covered
๐ซ Travel: reimbursed up to the maximum budget for your country, with the highest limit at โฌ309
To see how this works across youth projects, read our guide on what Erasmus+ pays for in a youth project.
Maximum Travel Budget by Country
The budget depends on where you travel from and how you travel:
๐ท๐ด Romania: green travel up to โฌ285, non-green travel up to โฌ211
๐ง๐ฌ Bulgaria: green travel up to โฌ285, non-green travel up to โฌ211
๐ธ๐ฐ Slovakia: green travel up to โฌ285, non-green travel up to โฌ211
๐ต๐ฑ Poland: no green travel budget is given, non-green travel up to โฌ211
๐ฒ๐ฐ North Macedonia: no green travel budget is given, non-green travel up to โฌ309
For the general picture, see our guide on how Erasmus+ travel reimbursement works.
What Counts as Green Travel?
๐ Green: travelling by car when sharing with other participants (carpooling)
๐ Green: travelling by train
๐ Green: travelling by bus
โ๏ธ Non-green: travelling by plane
You can read more about green travel in Erasmus+ projects in our guide.
Before You Buy Your Tickets
๐ Contact first: before buying anything, contact the organisers or your sending organisation
๐ป Buy online: try to buy your travel documents online
๐งพ Keep the originals: if buying online is not possible, bring the original tickets with you
Arrival in Oradea
โฐ Please reach Oradea by 19:00 at the latest on 18 November 2026, the first day of the exchange.
Project Timeline
๐งญ 7-9 October 2026: advance planning visit (APV), with 1 leader and 1 participant per country
๐ October - November 2026: preparation phase
๐ค 18-26 November 2026: Youth Exchange in Bฤile Felix
๐ฃ November 2026 - January 2027: dissemination phase
How to Apply
๐ Read the infopack before you apply
๐ Fill in the online application form, where you indicate your country and your sending organisation
โ Wait for the selection, which is carried out by the host organisation
If you are applying close to the deadline, our guide to last-minute Erasmus+ opportunities can help you prepare your application quickly. Find more exchanges and training courses in the Erasmus+ opportunities on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to Empowered Youth, Stronger Communities?
Young people aged 16-25 who live in Romania, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Bulgaria or Poland can apply. Each national group also includes team leaders aged 18 or over.
Is this Youth Exchange free?
Accommodation and meals are covered, and travel costs are reimbursed up to the maximum budget for each country. The highest travel limit is โฌ309, for non-green travel from North Macedonia.
Where does the exchange take place?
The exchange takes place at Hotel Metropol in Bฤile Felix, next to Oradea in Romania. Bฤile Felix is known for its thermal springs.
When do I need to arrive?
The exchange runs from 18 to 26 November 2026. Participants should reach Oradea by 19:00 at the latest on 18 November.
What topics does the project cover?
The programme focuses on social sustainability and inclusion, bullying prevention, self-advocacy and empowerment, and intercultural learning. Participants work through workshops, team challenges, discussions and creative activities.
Can 16-year-olds take part?
Yes. Teenagers from the age of 16 can apply, and they take part together with the group leaders of their national team.
Should I buy my travel tickets right away?
No. Before buying anything, contact the organisers or your sending organisation. Try to buy your travel documents online, and if that is not possible, bring the original tickets with you.
How do I apply?
Read the infopack first, then complete the online application form linked at the end of this page. The host organisation selects the participants.
When is the application deadline?
Applications close on 11 November 2026.
Project Snapshot
๐ Type: Youth Exchange
๐ Location: Hotel Metropol, Bฤile Felix (Oradea), Romania
๐๏ธ Activity Dates: 18-26 November 2026 (arrival in Oradea by 19:00 on 18 November)
๐ Countries: Romania, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland
๐ Age: 16-25 (team leaders 18+)
Deadline
โณ 11 November 2026
Links
๐ Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYuaV-huk9EsELxNaEPVQMif5f9p3Rq1JpXG9u_aALjEicBw/viewform
๐ Infopack: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGPzOfxEXM/KnMVK0qhkm5Ow3uUl1odVQ/view
๐ฉ Contact e-mail for Romania (Asociaศia Prisma): somogyibeata90@gmail.com
๐ง Contact e-mail for Slovakia (SZMISZ): anagyteo@gmail.com
โ๏ธ Contact e-mail for Bulgaria (BFree): projects@bfreefoundation.com
๐จ Contact e-mail for North Macedonia (GO GREEN Skopje): dejanvasilevski@bidizelen.org
๐ Contact e-mail for Poland (Stowarzyszenie Sororitas): sororitas.ngo@gmail.com
๐จ Hotel Metropol website: https://aquametropol.ro/
