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Less Display, More Milky Way

An international Erasmus+ youth exchange in Poland inviting young people to spend less time looking at screens and more time looking at the night sky, connecting with others and noticing what happens in their own minds.
Funded by EU
Registration is open
More about the project
Less Display, More Milky Way
Young people aged 16–19
Provisionally 9–18 October 2026
Funded by EU
Table of contents

Registration is open.

What is Less Display, More Milky Way?

Less Display, More Milky Way is an international Erasmus+ youth project in Poland combining two themes that may seem very different at first: our relationship with technology and the night sky.

The exchange invites young people to examine where their time and attention go, how FOMO, social media and constant connectivity affect everyday life, and at the same time to quite literally look up from their screens – towards the stars, space and the people around them.

This is not a project built around the idea that phones or the internet are inherently bad.

The more interesting question is: are we still controlling our technology, or is it increasingly controlling our attention and time?

Less screen, more choice

One of the main project themes is digital wellbeing and more conscious use of technology.

Participants explore how social media competes for attention, how FOMO develops and why we sometimes pick up a phone almost automatically. Activities also address time management, planning, work-life balance and practical ways of regaining more control over everyday routines.

The aim is not to complete a temporary “digital detox” and then return to exactly the same habits.

It is about noticing those habits and discovering a few realistic ways to use technology more deliberately.

What happens when the screen goes dark?

This is where the Milky Way part begins.

Stargazing and space science are more than decoration for the project title. The night sky becomes a different kind of space for attention – one that offers a dramatic contrast to the constant flow of messages, feeds and notifications.

The project connects observing the night sky with self-awareness, communicating personal needs more clearly and understanding the people around us better.

Sometimes the best alternative to another hour on a screen is simply a dark sky and a group of people willing to look at it together.

Stress, breathing and learning to stop

Emotional wellbeing is another important part of the exchange.

Participants explore what stress is, why we experience it and how we can respond to stressful or unexpected situations. The programme introduces meditation and breathing techniques that can be used in ordinary everyday situations.

This is not therapy and it does not promise that ten days will remove stress from anybody's life.

The goal is more practical: to give young people additional ways to notice their reactions and decide how they want to respond.

Where does our time actually go?

Less Display, More Milky Way also places significant emphasis on time management.

Participants look at how they organise their days, how much time they consciously choose to give to work, rest or relationships and how much can quietly disappear into screens.

The project's own materials frame the objective clearly: young people should learn not only to manage their time more effectively, but to regain a stronger sense of control over it.

Speaking with more confidence

An international exchange naturally creates opportunities to practise communication.

One of the project's objectives focuses specifically on confidence in speaking, public communication and constructive conversations. Participants use a foreign language in real situations and have opportunities to become more comfortable expressing themselves in front of others.

Perfect English is not the objective.

A much more useful outcome is reaching the point where you speak more because you are thinking less about whether every sentence is flawless.

Learning through experience

Less Display, More Milky Way is built around non-formal education and learning through practice.

The infopack emphasises experiential learning through workshops, international interaction, stargazing, meditation and other practical activities rather than passive classroom-style teaching.

The project is planned to last around ten days, plus travel days. Participants receive the detailed agenda approximately 2–3 weeks before the mobility, and the programme also includes a cultural trip to Warsaw.

An international group and everyday life together

A substantial part of the learning happens outside the formal sessions.

Participants live, eat, spend free time and deal with everyday situations alongside young people from other countries. This naturally develops communication, flexibility and intercultural understanding.

The project also explicitly emphasises respect across different nationalities, genders and sexual orientations and states that discrimination is not tolerated.

Where does the project take place?

The exchange takes place in Jedlnia-Letnisko, a small Polish town close to Radom and surrounded by nature and lakes.

Participants stay at the Pod Różami hotel in rooms for 2–5 people. Rooms include private bathrooms, linen, towels and internet access, while shared spaces and a garden are also available.

Radom is around 20 minutes away by public transport, and a separate programme trip to Warsaw is also planned.

Travel and funding

The project is funded through Erasmus+.

Travel is either organised by the partner organisations or reimbursed according to the Erasmus+ travel limits and project reimbursement rules. Exact arrangements for the Lithuanian group will be provided to selected participants.

Accommodation, meals and project activities are provided during the exchange. Participants receive three meals per day, and allergies or dietary preferences need to be communicated to the organisers in advance.

Intergalactic Alien Gala

Yes, the space theme stays until the end.

The final day includes an Intergalactic Alien Gala, with certificates, activities prepared by the different national groups, a shared dinner and an invitation to bring something that fits the intergalactic theme.

That actually sums up the project rather well: serious questions about everyday habits, some astronomy and enough weirdness to stop it becoming another generic seminar.

Preparation starts before travelling

Around 2–3 weeks before the exchange, participants receive access to an interactive Padlet.

There they can complete the mandatory pre-project survey, see the programme, meet other participants and leaders, introduce themselves, find preparation information, ask questions and join the project's communication group.

So the international group starts forming before anyone arrives in Poland.

Applications are already open

The project is provisionally planned for 9–18 October 2026, but the dates have not yet been finally confirmed and may still change.

Applications for the Lithuanian group are already open, so young people can apply before the final dates are announced. Selected participants will receive the confirmed project and travel dates as soon as they are available.

Register here.

Project partnership

The project is coordinated by:

🇵🇱 My Future – Poland

The Lithuanian group is sent by:

🇱🇹 Anglų kalbos studija – Lithuania

The exchange will bring together young people from several European countries. The final international partner composition is still being confirmed.

The project is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme.

Frequently asked questions

What is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange?
An Erasmus+ Youth Exchange brings young people from several countries together to live, learn, discuss, create and take part in a programme built around a common theme. It is not simply a trip abroad, a language course or a summer camp with an EU logo. Each project has a clear educational focus – from inclusion, mental wellbeing and nature to theatre, culture or social issues – and uses non-formal education rather than traditional classroom teaching. A large part of the learning comes from international life itself: communicating, making decisions, working in mixed groups and sharing everyday life with people whose experiences may be very different from your own.
Who can take part in AKS Erasmus+ projects?
It depends on the individual project. Some of our youth exchanges are designed for teenagers aged 13–17 or 14–17, others for young people aged 16–19 or 18–30. Every project page therefore includes its specific age range and participant profile. Age is not the only criterion. We are looking for participants who are genuinely interested in the topic, ready to take part in the full programme and understand that a Youth Exchange is a shared group experience rather than simply an inexpensive week abroad.
Do I need to speak very good English?
No. English is the common communication language in most international youth exchanges, but it is not an exam. Nobody is grading your grammar or expecting perfect sentences. You need enough English – and enough willingness – to try to understand others, ask questions, contribute to group activities and communicate in everyday situations. For many participants, an Erasmus+ project is the first time English stops feeling like a school subject and starts functioning as what it really is: a way to meet people, joke, disagree, solve problems and create something together.
Is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange free?
Most of the main project costs are covered by Erasmus+ funding. Accommodation, meals and programme activities are normally funded, while travel costs are reimbursed up to the limit allocated to the participant's country and project. However, “funded” does not mean that any flight or travel option can be booked and automatically reimbursed. Every project has its own travel limits, rules and documentation requirements. For that reason, participants should always follow the travel instructions provided for the specific project before purchasing tickets.
How are participants selected?
When AKS sends a Lithuanian group to a partner project, we announce a separate selection process for that particular exchange. We usually ask participants to tell us about themselves, their motivation and why the topic interests them. Some projects may also include a short conversation or a preparatory meeting. We do not select people simply according to who registers fastest. Our aim is to create a group of participants who genuinely want to take part and for whom the particular project is a good match.
Can I join if I do not know anyone?
Yes. That is completely normal. Many participants do not know either their Lithuanian group or anybody from the other countries before the project begins. We prepare the national group before travelling, give participants a chance to meet one another and discuss the project, journey and expectations. The first part of a Youth Exchange is also deliberately designed to help the international group connect.
How is a Youth Exchange different from an ordinary trip abroad?
On a tourist trip, the destination is usually the main event. On a Youth Exchange, people are. You can visit Berlin, Italy or Spain without ever really getting to know somebody who lives there. During an Erasmus+ project, you share daily life, activities, conversations and challenges with people from other countries. You may return with fewer stories about “12 attractions I visited” and more stories like “I now have a friend in Slovenia, understand Czech humour and am no longer afraid to speak English.” We consider that a pretty good trade.
What does the programme look like? Are there lessons?
Usually, there are no traditional lessons. Youth Exchanges use non-formal education: group challenges, discussions, creative methods, games, reflection, practical activities, nature-based learning, theatre, photography and many other approaches depending on the topic. It is still an educational project, which means the programme matters. Erasmus+ is not a format where participants spend the day doing their own thing and only join the group for sightseeing in the evening.
Do I have to participate in the whole programme?
Yes. A Youth Exchange is one continuous group process. Of course, people get tired. Sometimes somebody needs a break, some quiet time or a lighter level of participation, and a well-designed project should have room for that. However, when you apply, the expectation is that you actually want to be part of the exchange rather than selecting only the trips and entertaining activities. If your plan is “I will skip the workshops but come for the travel”, a Youth Exchange is probably not the right format.
Are Erasmus+ projects suitable for shy, sensitive or neurodivergent young people?
They can be – sometimes extremely so – but the answer depends on both the participant and the project. AKS pays particular attention to safer and more inclusive environments and to young people who do not always find large groups easy. Our work often addresses neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, emotional wellbeing and different ways of participating. At the same time, an international exchange still means a new country, new people, shared accommodation, a different routine and a great deal of communication. If a participant needs specific support, the best approach is to discuss it openly with us during the selection process. The goal is not to say yes to everybody at any cost, but to determine whether the particular project can genuinely be a positive experience.
Who is responsible for participants during the journey and the exchange?
Each national group travels with a group leader or leaders who support the participants throughout the mobility. The host organisation is responsible for the programme, venue, overall organisation and safety arrangements, while the sending organisation selects and prepares its national group and communicates with participants before the exchange. For projects involving minors, parental consent, emergency contacts, relevant health information and other required documents are collected before travel.
What is Youthpass?
Youthpass is the Erasmus+ youth programme's tool for recognising learning and the certificate participants receive after the project. Throughout the exchange, participants reflect on what they are actually learning: perhaps leading an activity in English for the first time, working in an international team, becoming more confident speaking in front of people, understanding their own reactions better or seeing a social issue from another perspective. Youthpass helps turn those experiences into words and recognise that “a really good week abroad” can also represent a substantial learning process.