MY BACKPACK: an international Erasmus+ youth exchange in Bernāti

From 25 June to 3 July 2026 in Bernāti, South Kurzeme, the association Keep the Change successfully implemented the Erasmus+ youth exchange project "MY BACKPACK", organised within the organisation's Erasmus+ youth accreditation (project No. 2026-1-LV02-KA151-YOU-000390742).

The project brought together 27 participants — 21 young people and 6 group leaders and facilitators from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Spain. Over nine days, Bernāti became a place where young people not only got to know each other and different cultures, but also set out on a journey towards themselves.

At the heart of the project was the metaphor of the invisible backpack that each of us carries every day. It holds not only our experiences, emotions, fears and challenges, but also our strength, values, dreams and inner resources. Step by step, participants explored what is inside their own backpack and how to take care of their emotional wellbeing.

Across seven activity days, young people took part in a wide range of non-formal education activities. The programme included sessions on recognising and expressing emotions, personal values and needs, strengthening inner resources or "batteries", finding balance in life, personal development planning, self-awareness, and communication and cooperation skills. Participants created their own wellbeing journal, wrote a personal "user manual" for themselves, and built a personal wellbeing toolkit to keep using after the project ended.

Alongside the learning activities, intercultural learning was an important part of the project. Young people discovered the cultures, traditions and everyday life of other countries, took part in cultural evenings, team challenges and shared discussions, building new friendships and international contacts.

The project evaluation confirms that "MY BACKPACK" gave participants far more than an international experience. Most young people said they had learned to better understand their emotions, become more confident and gained practical tools they plan to use in everyday life back home. Many noted that it was the first time they had spoken so openly about their feelings, learned to accept emotions as a natural part of life and understood how important it is to care for their mental health. Several said they would regularly use self-awareness tools such as the Wheel of Life balance exercise, reflection notes and other wellbeing instruments introduced during the project.

One participant shared: "This project helped me see what I had ignored for a long time — my own needs and wishes. I finally stopped feeling guilty for wanting to take care of myself and give myself new experiences. Now I know I want to stop self-destructive habits, reflect more often and live more consciously."

Andra Štāle, head of Keep the Change, emphasised: "We often think Erasmus+ projects are about travelling, but in truth they are about people. Over these nine days we saw young people gradually become braver, more open and more confident. Many admitted that for the first time they had truly paused to listen to themselves and understand what really matters in their lives. Changes like these are the greatest value international projects can offer."

"MY BACKPACK" is the first of several international youth mobility projects that Keep the Change will implement within its Erasmus+ youth accreditation. The organisation will continue creating opportunities for young people from Latvia and other European countries to develop skills, build international cooperation and strengthen their personal growth.

About Keep the Change: for more than nine years the association has been implementing Erasmus+ projects in Latvia and internationally, giving young people and adults the chance to develop competences, build international contacts and become more active members of society. Its aim is to foster personal growth, mental wellbeing and active participation through non-formal education methods.

Co-funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ programme. The views expressed are those of the authors only and do not reflect the official position of the European Union or the Agency for International Programs for Youth.