Stichting yEUth proudly took part in the Erasmus+ Seminar “Transforming Narratives”, hosted by Waves to Home and Utøya on the island of Utøya, Norway, from 10/08/2025 to 15/08/2025. This international program brought together young people from Norway, Ukraine, Sweden, Spain, Jordan, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Palestine, Estonia, the USA and Lebanon to explore and address storytelling as a tool for reframing personal and collective stories and strengthening democratic resilience, democratic engagement, social cohesion and active citizenship.

The seminar aimed to raise awareness about democratic resilience and storytelling, while equipping participants with hands-on skills and critical thinking tools. Interactive activities included a walk within the island, a kintsugi workshop where we looked inside ourselves and through creativity learned to not hide the damage but to highlight and embrace our own history and what makes us unique and strong, storytelling sessions where we learned more about the stories other participants and their communities hold, a film screening highlighting hope and resilience in times of war and displacement, a storytelling session where we connected deeper with nature and with ourselves.

The island of Utøya brought an extra dimension to this seminar, by being a place filled with such rich history of democracy and youth engagement. The commitment of the community to build Utøya back up after the 22nd of July 2011 is tangible in the air, as well as hope. Having this seminar on the topic of transforming narratives and storytelling on the island of Utøya, blended non-formal education with immersive cultural experiences. This intercultural space encouraged not only skill development but also empathy, creativity, and lasting friendships across borders.

Stichting yEUth is proud to contribute to meaningful projects that connect youth through learning, action, and shared values. We thank Waves to Home, Utøya and all participants for their collaboration and positive energy.

Stay tuned for future Erasmus+ opportunities where we continue to foster inclusion, sustainability,
and empowered youth leadership.

This article was written by Mariska, a volunteer at Stichting yEUth and representative during this Youth Seminar.