Lead you Life: Grow & Glow!
The Youth Exchange “Lead Your Life: Grow & Glow!” took place in Iași, Romania, between May 5th and 9th, 2025, hosted by Gamma Institute in collaboration with partners from Italy, Greece, and Spain. The project brought together young participants and leaders to explore self-awareness, communication, leadership, and personal growth through experiential learning.
Day 1 – Knowing Each Other
The first day focused on welcoming the group and building trust among participants. After arrival and check-in, the facilitators from Gamma Institute introduced the project and the hosting organization. Through interactive icebreakers and “knowing each other” games, participants began to connect across cultures.
Team-building activities encouraged collaboration and active participation. During the afternoon session, the group explored the “Life Map” exercise — reflecting on what each person wants to lead in their life — followed by sharing in small groups.
The day concluded with reflection groups and a lively Welcome Evening, where each country shared traditional games, songs, and cultural elements.
Day 2 – Knowing Yourself
The second day aimed to enhance self-awareness and communication. Participants took part in PCM (Personal Communication Map) exercises to discover their communication styles and strengths.
Using interactive role-plays, they learned how personality and emotions influence communication and leadership. The facilitators guided discussions on how self-knowledge helps in taking conscious decisions and building healthy relationships.
In the afternoon, reflection groups helped participants connect the experience with personal goals and values.
Day 3 – Leading Others
This day was dedicated to leadership, empathy, and cooperation. Through simulations and cooperative games, participants explored what it means to lead and to be led.
They practiced active listening, group decision-making, and conflict resolution using non-formal methods such as “Leader in Rotation” and “The Blind Path.”
Discussions emphasized leadership as a shared, inclusive process rather than authority. The day ended with an intercultural night organized by the national teams.
Day 4 – From Me to Community
The focus shifted to community engagement and social responsibility. Participants designed small-scale project ideas addressing local community issues, using creative brainstorming and “Project Canvas” tools.
They worked in multicultural teams to transform ideas into action plans for youth initiatives.
In the afternoon, reflection circles and open discussions highlighted how young people can take initiative and inspire others.
Day 5 – Integration and Future Steps
The final day centered on integration and future planning. During the Evaluation Workshop, participants revisited their learning journey, identified key competences developed (communication, collaboration, leadership, creativity), and expressed feedback through visual and movement-based methods.
They completed their Youthpass reflections, summarizing what they had learned throughout the exchange.
The programme closed with a Final Sharing Circle, celebrating the collective achievements and friendships formed during the week.