What do young people really think about one another across borders? How are cultural identities shaped by assumptions, bias, or the stories we’ve been told? These were the guiding questions behind “Are You Biased?”, a survey-based initiative launched as part of the Erasmus+ project Cultural Storytelling Canvas: Crafting Narratives for Inclusion, Democracy, and the Environment.

As part of the project’s outreach and dissemination, young participants took to the streets of Uden, the Netherlands, and extended their efforts online to explore cultural stereotypes and challenge unconscious bias. Through spontaneous street interviews and digital forms, they invited both locals and international peers to reflect on how they perceive countries like Greece, Spain, Türkiye, and Slovakia.

The responses were open-ended—funny, thoughtful, sometimes uncomfortable—and they sparked deeper conversations within the project community. The survey wasn’t designed to prove a point but to hold up a mirror: to help young people recognize the power of their perceptions, question inherited narratives, and build empathy through active listening.

In Uden, the street interviews offered something special: real-time dialogue. Local residents shared opinions with curiosity and candor, and participants not only gathered data but also introduced the Erasmus+ program and its values to the wider public. The experience became more than a research activity; it was a two-way exchange of stories, perspectives, and awareness.

The online component widened the reach. Submissions came from across Europe, each adding another layer of insight to the final report. The results revealed recurring patterns—such as stereotypes linking Slovakia with alcohol culture, Spain with partying, Greece with financial instability, and Türkiye with hospitality and mistrust. Many responses resisted categorization, showing just how nuanced and personal our biases can be.

What the youth team uncovered wasn’t just a set of labels—but the tension between perception and identity. The survey served as a platform for reflection and as a call to do better—to go beyond surface impressions and engage with one another more openly.

The full report includes categorized data, cross-country comparisons, and honest interpretations written by the participants themselves. It’s a tool for anyone who believes in the value of intercultural understanding—and a reminder that unlearning bias is a collective journey.

Want to explore the findings?
Click below to read the full “Are You Biased?” survey report and analysis.