There was a fantastic atmosphere at the Nutgrove Centre as young people from Crosscare’s Dundrum Rathdown Youth Service hosted a special dissemination evening to share what they learned from their first Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Romania.
Erasmus+ is a European Union programme that gives young people opportunities to travel, learn, and work together with peers from other countries through educational and cultural exchanges.
Friends, family members and community guests gathered for the event, which celebrated the group’s experiences exploring inclusion and diversity through the Erasmus+ programme. The young people were delighted to welcome several special guests on the night, including Jack Swift (TikTok influencer), Karl Duff, Principal Officer with responsibility for the Youth Affairs Unit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Deputy Shay Brennan, who came along to support and hear about the group’s international learning experience.
The event was organised in a relaxed youth café-style setting, creating a friendly space where guests could move between small groups and hear directly from the young people themselves.
Each group shared a different part of their exchange experience in Romania, including:
- The activities and workshops they took part in
- The trips and places they visited
- The food and local culture they experienced
- The lessons they learned about inclusion and diversity
- The lively culture nights, where both Irish and Romanian participants shared music, traditions and stories from their countries
A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of the group’s first Youthpass certificates. These certificates recognise the learning, personal development and active participation of young people in Erasmus+ projects.
Receiving their Youthpass marked an important milestone for the group, celebrating not only their international experience but also the confidence, skills and friendships they developed along the way.
The evening was a proud moment for the young people and the team at Crosscare Dundrum Rathdown Youth Service, highlighting the powerful impact of youth exchanges. By sharing their stories, the group inspired others in the community and showed how international programmes like Erasmus+ help young people broaden their horizons, build understanding and grow together.
