Erasmus+, Key action 1: youth exchange
Dates: 3—9 February 2026
Venue: Bursa, Turkey
Czech team: 4 participants + 1 group leader
Please read the info-pack.
Hosting organisation: Küresel Girişimci Engelliler Derneği
Project report:
From 3 to 9 February 2026, I had the opportunity to participate in the international project Social Mobility Through Inclusive Learning and Engagement, organised by Küresel Girişimci Engelliler Derneği in Bursa, Turkey. The project brought together young people from six countries: Czechia, Turkey, Albania, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, and Tunisia. Each country was represented by five participants and one group leader. Importantly, the project actively included participants with disabilities, creating a truly inclusive and enriching international environment.
Throughout the week, we explored inclusion through shared activities and experiential learning. Sports played a key role. Under the guidance of local professional athletes, we tried wheelchair basketball, experienced goalball, a Paralympic sport for athletes with vision impairment, practiced archery, and joined a salsa workshop that included a wheelchair-adapted showcase.
Educational workshops focused on climate justice, advocacy, and civic engagement, encouraging us to reflect on social inequalities and the role of young people in promoting more inclusive societies. The program also emphasized cultural exchange and community building. During Country Presentation Night, each country presented its traditions, food, dances, and quizzes, while a traditional Turkish henna night simulation introduced us to local wedding customs. We explored Bursa’s historical heritage and visited two local daily care centres, where we engaged in art activities such as wood burning and tote bag decoration.
I believe that each of us tried activities that we would not normally have access to, and many (including me) found a new hobby to pursue. Most importantly, however, all these activities helped us challenge stereotypes and highlighted the importance of accessibility, equal participation and respect. We learned to recognize the obstacles that people with disabilities face in life and gained insight into the tools available to overcome them. All of this is the first step toward being able to draw attention to these problems ourselves and advocate for change in our communities to make space welcoming for everybody.
Hana S.
