The “Stage of Change” youth exchange was designed to empower young people through the transformative power of Forum Theater, fostering their self-expression and civic engagement. We wanted to create a safe, creative, and inclusive space where youth – especially those from marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds (rural areas, migrant/refugee backgrounds, LGBTQ+ youth, etc.) – could critically reflect on social issues affecting them and their communities. By bringing together participants from different countries and cultures, the project aimed to amplify young voices, encourage active citizenship, and nurture solidarity across borders. Project Objectives: From the outset, we defined clear objectives to guide the project’s impact: Empower Youth Voices: Provide a platform for participants to explore sensitive social issues through theatre, thereby encouraging self-expression and agency. We sought to help young people voice their concerns, feelings, and ideas in a supportive environment where they feel heard and valued. Promote Civic Engagement: Foster a sense of active citizenship by increasing participants’ awareness of issues like discrimination, social injustice, and environmental challenges. The project encouraged youth to understand their role in society and gain confidence to advocate for human rights, inclusion, and environmental responsibility in their communities. Build Critical Thinking: Use interactive and artistic methods to challenge stereotypes and provoke critical reflection. By engaging with Forum Theater (an inherently reflective process), participants would examine societal norms and power dynamics, improving their empathy and perspective-taking skills. Facilitate Intercultural Dialogue: Bring together a diverse group of young people to promote intercultural understanding, solidarity, and tolerance. Through daily interaction and teamwork, the exchange intended to break down prejudices and build friendships between participants of different nationalities, languages, and social backgrounds. Encourage Teamwork and Personal Growth: Cultivate communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities among participants. The project used collaborative tasks and challenges to help youth develop soft skills, resilience, and leadership in an enjoyable non-formal learning setting. Inspire Positive Action: Ultimately, inspire participants to become “multipliers” of change in their own circles. We hoped that after this experience, they would return home motivated to implement follow-up activities (workshops, performances, campaigns) and continue cooperating with each other and their organizations on initiatives that drive positive social change. In summary, our vision was to harness an artistic, participatory approach (Forum Theater) to empower young Europeans as changemakers. By giving them tools to express themselves and engage others, we aimed to spark personal growth and community impact. International Volda, as the coordinating organization, ensured that these objectives aligned with Erasmus+ values of inclusion, active participation, and intercultural dialogue. We also recognized from the beginning the broader context: many young people today struggle to find a constructive outlet to discuss issues (especially post-pandemic, amid echo chambers on social media). This exchange addressed that need by creating a physical space for dialogue, creativity, and collective problem-solving. All objectives were interlinked in service of the main goal – to help youth realize their potential as active, empathetic citizens ready to make a change.