🌍 Youth Exchange in Italy on Minority Identity and Cultural Belonging 🎭🗣️ “ARbëreshë, ARnavut, ARvanites” Reuniting Voices Across Borders! 🇮🇹

This September in Sicily, young people from four countries will come together to rediscover their cultural roots, reconnect scattered minority identities, and affirm the right to stay. Join this Erasmus+ youth exchange where Arbëreshë, Arnavut, Arvanites, and Albanians gather to celebrate heritage, language, and self-determination!

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💡 Activity Type: Youth Exchange
🏢 Host Organization: To be announced in the infopack
📍 Location: Piana degli Albanesi, Palermo, Sicily – Italy
📆 Period: 01/09/2025 – 10/09/2025
⏳ Duration: 10 days
📚 Fields: Minority Rights, Cultural Identity, Intercultural Dialogue, Youth Empowerment, Heritage Preservation
💬 Language(s): English (basic level)
🎯 Eligibility criteria (Who can apply?):
Open to young people from Albania, Greece, Italy, and Türkiye.

• Participants: Preferably aged 18–24
• Group Leaders: Preferably aged 25–30
• Must have basic English skills
• Must be motivated to explore identity, cultural history, and collective memory
• Should show interest in contributing to youth and community-led preservation efforts

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🧪 Responsibilities / tasks:

• Participate in daily workshops, intercultural activities, and cultural mapping
• Share and explore stories of the Arbëreshë, Arvanites, and Arnavut communities
• Discuss challenges of brain drain, cultural loss, and generational disconnection
• Co-create solutions to foster inclusion, solidarity, and youth leadership
• Join reflection sessions on the “right to stay” and rural youth resilience

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🌟 Why to join?
Because minority cultures matter.
Because belonging is powerful.
Because identity can be shared across borders.
This youth exchange will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet others from similar roots, co-create a cross-national network, and strengthen the role of youth in sustaining language and identity.

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📩 Application Info:
🔗 Info Pack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12Z-ugXkWL0zBAGpMnwrFxWDLIx1afYFI/view?usp=share_link
📝 Application Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqSOiCEBYCK0GG63vYQvqs-zdvDRZaoDiJzszP2-t-pldZxQ/viewform?usp=header
📅 Application Deadline: Not specified

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💰 Compensation:
✅ 100% of travel, food, and accommodation costs are covered by Erasmus+
🏡 Participants will stay in shared accommodation in Piana degli Albanesi
🍽️ Local cuisine and cultural meals will be provided throughout the project

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🌐 Official link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12Z-ugXkWL0zBAGpMnwrFxWDLIx1afYFI/view?usp=share_link

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Eligible countries for application:
🇮🇹 Italy, 🇦🇱 Albania, 🇹🇷 Türkiye, 🇬🇷 Greece

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