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Stage for Inclusion

An international Erasmus+ youth exchange in Berlin where theatre becomes a tool for exploring identity, stereotypes, discrimination, belonging and the power of young people's voices.
Funded by EU
The group is full
More about the project
Stage for Inclusion
Young people aged 18–30
13–21 November 2026
Funded by EU
Table of contents

What is Stage for Inclusion?

Stage for Inclusion is an Erasmus+ youth exchange in Berlin bringing together young people from Germany, Serbia, Poland, Lithuania and North Macedonia.

The project is designed for participants aged 18–30 who are interested in creativity, inclusion, theatre, intercultural learning and youth participation.

It combines creative expression, international learning and social issues. Participants explore inclusion, diversity, stereotypes, discrimination and active participation through theatre and other non-formal education methods. The aim is to create a supportive space where young people can express themselves, learn from one another and discover creative ways to address important social questions.

When the stage becomes a place for difficult conversations

Theatre is at the centre of Stage for Inclusion, but the project is not about turning everyone into actors.

The stage creates a different way to approach experiences and questions that can be difficult to express in ordinary conversation.

Through storytelling, body language, improvisation and perspective-taking, participants transform personal experiences, emotions and social questions into shared reflection and creative action.

The project invites participants to ask what a situation looks like from another person's position, how stereotypes develop, when someone becomes excluded and what could be changed.

Inclusion beyond theory

Young people across Europe grow up in very different circumstances, and discrimination and social exclusion affect some groups more strongly than others.

The project materials specifically recognise marginalised groups including Roma youth, LGBTQI+ young people, young people from rural areas and those from low-income families. Stage for Inclusion aims to create meaningful access to international learning and a space where different voices are not merely accepted but genuinely heard.

Inclusion is therefore not only something participants discuss. It is something the group practises through how it communicates, shares space and creates opportunities for participation.

How does the exchange work?

Stage for Inclusion is based on non-formal education, participation and learning by doing.

The programme uses team-building, storytelling, guided reflection, group dialogue, improvisation, role play, forum theatre, creative group work, performance preparation, intercultural exchange and daily reflection circles.

Participants actively shape the process. They interpret the themes, create scenes, propose ideas and decide what messages they want to communicate.

Building trust before taking the stage

Before exploring discrimination, identity or personal experiences, the group first needs to become a place where people can trust one another.

The opening part of the programme therefore focuses on getting to know each other, team-building and jointly creating a safe-space agreement based on respect, inclusion and shared responsibility.

Only then does the programme move deeper into identity, stereotypes, discrimination, privilege, empathy and belonging.

Forum theatre and real-life situations

In the middle of the exchange, theatre becomes the main learning tool.

Participants work with improvisation, role play and forum theatre. In mixed international groups, they transform social experiences and real-life issues into scenes, ideas and performances.

Forum theatre allows a group not only to observe a problem but to experiment with alternatives. What might change if someone acted differently? Who has power in the situation? Who is left outside? Where could someone intervene?

The stage becomes a place to rehearse possible social change.

The final performance is not about perfect acting

Participants co-create short performances and visual elements connected to the project's themes.

A final performance and public sharing moment allows their work and messages to reach people beyond the immediate exchange group.

The objective is not a technically perfect theatre production. It is learning how creative expression can communicate a position, raise questions and start a dialogue.

Finding and using your voice

Stage for Inclusion aims to leave participants with much more than knowledge about inclusion.

Creative work strengthens communication, self-expression, body language, public speaking, teamwork, problem-solving and intercultural communication.

The project also seeks to develop empathy, confidence in one's own voice, solidarity, respect for diversity and a greater willingness to challenge stereotypes and exclusion in everyday life.

A supportive space for sensitive topics

Because the programme deals with identity, discrimination and personal experience, emotional safety is built into the project.

Participants are never expected to share more than they feel comfortable sharing. Reflection spaces are provided regularly, and organisers and group leaders remain available for individual support when someone feels overwhelmed or wants a private conversation.

This allows difficult themes to be explored without removing participants' boundaries or choice.

Five countries, five perspectives

Stage for Inclusion brings together young people from five European countries.

Working in mixed international groups allows participants to see how questions of identity, stereotypes, discrimination and belonging may look very different across societies.

At the same time, the project connects these experiences with shared European values including equality, human rights, dignity and respect for diversity.

The international group becomes an opportunity not just to present one's country, but to understand how another person interprets the same social question.

Berlin and Wannsee

The exchange takes place at Jugendherberge Berlin – Am Wannsee Youth Hostel.

The venue is located directly by the lake in Berlin's green Wannsee area, approximately 30 minutes from Berlin and Potsdam. This gives the project both a calm environment for group connection, creative work and reflection and access to one of Europe's most diverse cities.

The hostel provides activity spaces, a terrace, relaxation lawn, football field, beach-volleyball area and table tennis, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Youthpass and what happens afterwards

Reflection is part of the project throughout the exchange.

Youthpass is treated not simply as a certificate given at the end, but as a process that helps participants recognise and describe what they have learned.

After the exchange, participants are encouraged to share their experience locally, contribute to presentations, community workshops or theatre-based actions and explore future Erasmus+ and youth opportunities.

Who can participate?

Stage for Inclusion is designed for young people aged 18–30 who are interested in creativity, theatre, inclusion, intercultural learning and active participation.

It is especially relevant for participants who want to express themselves, develop confidence and communication skills, are open to diversity and want to take part in an active, respectful and participant-centred learning environment.

Previous theatre experience is not required. Curiosity, openness and willingness to participate matter much more.

Project partnership

Stage for Inclusion is coordinated and hosted by Impact Grid e.V., a Berlin-based non-profit organisation.

Impact Grid works in sustainability, social innovation, responsible management, digital responsibility and educational development. Within the project, the organisation contributes experience in project development, education and participatory learning processes.

🇩🇪 Impact Grid e.V. – project coordinator and host organisation
🇱🇹 Anglų kalbos studija – Lithuanian partner and sending organisation

The project is co-funded by the European Union.

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.