Culture Under the Lens

Culture Under Lens

WHAT IS THE PROJECT ABOUT
Funded by Erasmus+ and run in cooperation with 5 countries: Sweden, Portugal, Lithuania, Greece and Spain, the "Culture Under the Lens" project seeks to address the challenges young people face in navigating media, pop culture, and disinformation, by equipping them with the necessary tools to overcome these challenges, and ensuring effective impact.

Its goals are:
- to equip young individuals with the skills to critically analyze media representations and pop culture;
- to foster cultural awareness and conduct intercultural dialogue;
- to promote creativity, multimedia skills, media literacy and digital competencies;
- to promote critical thinking and enhance creative problem-solving skills; to promote active citizenship and empower participants to take proactive stances on local and international challenges.

The project is comprised of two Youth Exchanges that will take place in Orrefors, Sweden, and an online mentoring program in between.

WHAT IS ALREADY DONE

First Youth exchange was successfully implemented and was so engaging from the very first minute.

We invite you to take a look and dive into topics, that our participants wanted to speak about.

Continuous Learning Through Mentorship Sessions

At Goodness of People, we believe that education should not stop when one project activity ends — it should evolve and grow alongside the participants. That’s why we are especially proud of the continuous educational process that connected our 1st and 2nd Youth Exchanges through a series of inspiring mentorship sessions.
These sessions, carefully designed by our mentor Mariana Matoso, offered participants a unique opportunity to stay engaged, motivated, and connected to the project’s mission. Each meeting was not only a learning moment but also a space for reflection, creativity, and collaboration.

The mentorship journey included dynamic sessions such as:

- Mountain Peak Exercise – a self-discovery and goal-setting activity helping participants visualize their personal and collective paths.
- Team Building Scavenger Hunt – a fun and interactive challenge that strengthened teamwork and trust within the group.
- Advocacy Campaigns – where participants explored how to raise awareness and promote social causes they truly care about.
- Digital Activism – an inspiring session led by our guest, Mariana Fonseca, introducing innovative ways to use online platforms for positive change.
- Design Thinking for Social Change – a creative workshop encouraging participants to find human-centered solutions to community challenges.

These mentorship sessions became a bridge between the two Youth Exchanges, maintaining the participants’ focus and enthusiasm while deepening their understanding of the project’s core themes. They proved that continuous education not only enhances learning outcomes but also builds stronger, more motivated teams ready to make a difference.
This ongoing process stands as one of the most unique and proud aspects of our initiative, showing that learning, when nurtured with passion and purpose, truly never stops.

But NOW let’s move to the last stage of the project - 2nd Youth exchange in Sweden !!!
Let’s GO !

From Screen to Action – The 2nd Youth Exchange in Sweden

In May 2025, the inspiring journey continued with the 2nd Youth Exchange, “From Screen to Action,” held in Orrefors, Sweden. This phase built upon everything the participants had learned during the mentorship sessions and the first exchange, transforming knowledge into real-life impact.

The main goals of the exchange focused on advocacy campaigns, creative problem-solving, identifying stakeholders, understanding cultural narratives, enhancing creativity and multimedia skills, and designing a booklet publication that reflects the collective outcomes of their work.

Participants from Sweden, Lithuania, Greece, Portugal, and Spain came together for an unforgettable experience of collaboration, creativity, and growth. Through non-formal education methods, they not only gained valuable knowledge and practical skills but also experienced deep personal development. They strengthened their leadership abilities, broke communication barriers, and discovered the power of teamwork and intercultural understanding.

Each day was filled with inspiration — from engaging workshops and group challenges to shared reflections and creative outputs. Beyond the sessions, participants explored the natural beauty and culture of Sweden, building new friendships and lasting memories that went far beyond the project itself.

This was not just a youth exchange; it was a transformative journey. Every participant took something meaningful from each session — new insights, inspiration, or confidence — and carried it home to continue creating positive change in their own communities.

Because at Goodness of People, we believe that such journeys never truly end. They live on through every young person who chooses to act, create, and inspire others — turning ideas into action, and screens into stories of real impact.

Final Chapter – Advocacy Campaigns Booklet

As the final work of our project “Culture Under Lens,” we are proud to present the Advocacy Campaigns Booklet — a vibrant collection of ideas, messages, and creative expressions designed by our participants. Isn’t it incredible that almost 50 young people from different countries worked together with one common goal: to speak louder, raise awareness, inspire others, and stand up for human rights?

This booklet is more than just a publication — it is a reflection of the passion, creativity, and courage of our participants. Through collaboration, they turned discussions into actions, ideas into campaigns, and personal beliefs into powerful messages for change. Each page tells a story of empowerment, unity, and the shared vision of building a more inclusive and understanding world.
Here you can explore how creative, thoughtful, and inspiring their ideas truly are — the result of months of teamwork, mentorship, and dedication. (PDF available below)

The completion of this booklet marks not the end, but a new beginning. The impact of Culture Under Lens continues to live on in every participant — in their voices, actions, and communities. Together, we have proven that when young people come together with open minds and hearts, they can create meaningful change and shape a brighter future.

The journey doesn’t stop here — it continues with each of us who dares to see, feel, and act for the goodness of people.

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