🗣️ Stand Up Against Hate, Populism & Division – Join the “Pop It Up” Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Romania! 🇷🇴

💡 Project Overview

Are you ready to challenge hate speech, decode populism, and stand up for empathy and critical thinking? 💬✨

“Pop It Up” is an international Erasmus+ Youth Exchange bringing together young people from France 🇫🇷, Germany 🇩🇪, Italy 🇮🇹, and Romania 🇷🇴 to explore how populist narratives and hate speech shape our societies — and how we can respond with understanding, solidarity, and creativity.

Hosted in the beautiful mountain town of Bușteni, Romania, this project gives participants aged 18–30 the chance to experience intercultural learning through non-formal education, debates, and workshops designed to strengthen digital literacy, critical thinking, and active citizenship. 🌍

🧭 About the Project

Pop It Up tackles the rise of populism and online/offline hate speech, empowering youth to recognise and analyse polarising rhetoric while promoting inclusion and respect.

Through interactive sessions, group discussions, and creative activities, participants will:
💡 Understand how populism and extremist narratives spread.
🧠 Develop skills in media literacy, critical analysis, and communication.
🎭 Use non-formal tools to respond to hate speech and radicalisation.
🤝 Strengthen European dialogue and peer learning through collaboration.

By the end, participants will not only gain valuable competences but also become agents of change — ready to bring empathy and reason back into digital and real-life conversations.

🏡 Location & Venue

📍 Bușteni, Romania 🇷🇴
Nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, Bușteni offers the perfect environment for learning, reflection, and intercultural exchange. Participants will stay in shared accommodation with full meals provided, creating a close-knit, creative community for the entire duration of the exchange.

👥 Participant Profile

We’re looking for motivated young people who are:
✅ Aged 18–30 (group leaders can be 30+)
✅ Residents of France 🇫🇷, Germany 🇩🇪, Italy 🇮🇹, or Romania 🇷🇴
✅ Interested in the topics of hate speech, populism, and media literacy
✅ Open-minded, collaborative, and eager to learn
✅ Able to communicate in English

🎁 What’s Included

💰 Fully funded by the Erasmus+ Programme
🏡 Accommodation and meals provided
✈️ Travel costs reimbursed according to Erasmus+ rules
🎓 Certificate of participation (YouthPass)