ERASMUS+, Key action 1: youth exchange
Dates: 27 December 2025—4 January 2026
Venue: Klaffer am Hochficht, Austria
Czech team: 5 participants + 1 group leader
Please read the info-pack.
Hosting organisation: Österreichische Kinderfreunde
Project report:
We spent the end of December in an unconventional way. Instead of enjoying quiet days at home, we set off on December 27 to the Austrian town of Klaffer am Hochficht, where the international youth exchange Designing the Future: Creativity in Action took place. For one week, we stayed at the Mühl-Fun-Viertel complex, surrounded by nature near the borders of Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
The exchange brought together 40 young people from seven European countries. The main goal of the project was to develop creative thinking, cooperation, and communication skills in an international environment. The program was based on active participation – most activities were created directly by the participants themselves. Each morning started with short physical games that helped energize the whole group, followed by thematic workshops.
The individual workshops differed in focus and format. Some concentrated on working with materials and attention to detail, while others encouraged creative thinking and the search for new ideas. Collages, models, and visual outputs representing visions of the future were created. Cooperation in international groups and learning from one another played a key role.
A large part of the project was also dedicated to intercultural exchange. Evenings were spent tasting traditional foods, sharing customs, and taking part in joint activities. Participants introduced their cultures through games, dances, and short performances. Thanks to different time zones, we celebrated the New Year several times, which became one of the most memorable experiences of the entire stay.
After the New Year, the program continued in an active spirit. It included outdoor movement games, team competitions, and problem-solving tasks that required creativity and cooperation. There was also space for spontaneous fun and informal socializing.
A highlight of the stay was a trip to Linz. Despite the winter weather, the city had a pleasant atmosphere. We walked through the historic city center, visited a viewpoint near the castle, and some participants even found time to go ice skating.
We returned home on January 4 full of impressions and inspiration. The week spent in an international environment showed that creativity and openness can connect people across cultures and languages and create strong shared experiences.
Terezie J.
