1. Introduction

This report presents a comprehensive overview of the SURCOD Malawi delegation's participation in the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange "Safe Spaces, Strong Voices." The exchange formed part of the wider Co-Creating Green Safe Spaces (CGSS) project — a Capacity Building initiative in the Field of Youth that unites four dynamic youth organizations from Denmark (Søholm 4H), Spain (Las Niñas del Tul), Zimbabwe (RETZ), and Malawi (SURCOD) in an equal and reciprocal Europe–Africa partnership.

The project brought together young people from four countries to explore social challenges, intercultural understanding, inclusion, youth participation, sustainability, and anti-polarization through non-formal education methods. The Malawi team consisted of six participants and one group leader who actively engaged in all project activities and represented Malawi throughout the exchange.

2. Project Background & Context

The CGSS project grew out of a bilateral collaboration between Søholm 4H (Denmark) and RETZ (Zimbabwe), where both organizations recognized a shared need to better support rural youth in gaining life skills in social inclusion and sustainability. Empowered by the success of their initial work, the partners invited Las Niñas del Tul (Spain) and SURCOD (Malawi) to join, building a transnational consortium that could strengthen youth organizations, create opportunities for young people across borders, and develop innovative ways to use non-formal education and youth-led action to address social and environmental challenges.

The project directly aligns with the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in the Field of Youth call, targeting Region 9 (Sub-Saharan Africa) and promoting international cooperation in youth work between the EU and partner countries. It contributes to the EU Youth Strategy (2019–2027) by prioritizing Inclusion & Diversity, Sustainability & Climate Action, and Participation & Engagement.

3. Objectives of the Exchange

The "Safe Spaces, Strong Voices" Youth Exchange operationalized the broader CGSS objectives at the participant level. Building on the project's specific objectives, the exchange pursued the following aims:

3.1 Exchange-Level Objectives

• Promote intercultural learning and dialogue between young people from Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Create safe spaces for young people — especially those with fewer opportunities — to express their views, share experiences, and engage in dialogue on inclusion and diversity.
• Encourage active youth participation and civic engagement through peer-to-peer learning and youth-led initiatives.
• Address social challenges such as discrimination, polarization, and exclusion through non-formal education.
• Foster inclusion and reduce polarization among communities by building empathy, critical thinking, and cross-cultural understanding.
• Build life skills in sustainability — including climate-smart practices, community building, and leadership — that young people can apply in their home communities.

3.2 Link to CGSS Project-Specific Objectives

CGSS Specific Objective	How the Youth Exchange Contributed
Strengthen the capacity of youth organizations to implement high-quality NFE and youth-led initiatives.	Youth workers and group leaders practiced facilitation, intercultural moderation, and inclusive methodologies that can be replicated in local work.
Provide young people with essential life skills in sustainability, leadership, and youth participation.	Workshops on sustainability, leadership, communication, and teamwork equipped participants with practical, transferable competences.
Create inclusive, youth-led spaces for social participation and sustainability action.	The exchange itself functioned as a "safe space," modelling the Green Safe Spaces approach that participants will pilot locally.
Develop and disseminate structured learning resources on inclusion and sustainability.	Insights and reflections from the exchange feed directly into the Toolbox on Life Skills and the Guidebook on Green Safe Spaces.

4. Methodology & Approach

The exchange was built on a youth-centred, experiential, and participatory approach, combining non-formal education (NFE), intercultural exchanges, and hands-on youth-led sustainability initiatives. This methodology ensures that young people are active agents in their own learning while strengthening the capacity of youth organizations to deliver inclusive, high-quality youth work.

Methods included interactive workshops, role-plays, simulations, problem-solving exercises, participatory discussions, team-building activities, intercultural learning exercises, collaborative projects, and cultural evenings where each country showcased its traditions, food, music, and customs. The learning process emphasized learning by doing, sharing experiences, teamwork, and daily reflection sessions.

5. Activities Undertaken

Across the eight-day programme, participants engaged in a structured series of activities designed to foster intercultural competence, critical thinking, and collaborative action:

• Name games, energizers, and team-building exercises to create group cohesion and a sense of safety.
• Workshops on discrimination, stereotypes, and anti-polarization using role-play and simulation methods.
• Sustainability sessions exploring climate-smart practices, agroecology principles, and water conservation — drawing on the expertise of Zimbabwean and Malawian participants.
• Intercultural learning exercises that allowed each delegation to present its culture, language, music, and cuisine.
• Reflection groups at the end of each day to consolidate learning and process emotions.
• Collaborative project work in mixed-nationality teams, designing ideas for local Green Safe Spaces.
• Intercultural evenings where each country showcased its traditions, food, music, and customs.

6. Intercultural Evening Highlights

The intercultural evenings were among the most vibrant and memorable moments of the exchange. Each country set up a desk displaying cultural artefacts, traditional attire, music, and — most popularly — national dishes. The evenings created a unique atmosphere of curiosity, appreciation, and shared joy that embodied the project's goals of inclusion and intercultural dialogue.

7. Malawi Team Contribution

The Malawi delegation actively contributed to all sessions by presenting Malawian culture and traditions, participating in discussions on discrimination, polarization, and inclusion, sharing youth perspectives from Malawi, contributing to group work, and building strong relationships with participants from partner countries.

Specifically, the Malawi team:

• Led a session on community-led development approaches, drawing on SURCOD's experience in village savings groups and sustainable agriculture.
• Presented the Malawian context of youth participation, gender equality, and rural development.
• Contributed practical knowledge on climate-smart practices relevant to the Green Safe Spaces model.
• Prepared and served traditional Malawian dishes (nsima, futali, and relish) during the intercultural evening, which were a highlight for many participants.
• Engaged actively in mixed-nationality teams to co-design ideas for local Green Safe Spaces initiatives to be piloted in Malawi.

8. Key Learning Outcomes

Consistent with the CGSS target of at least 80% of participating youth reporting increased thematic knowledge, life skills, and confidence, the Malawi team reported significant growth across multiple competence areas:

• Enhanced intercultural competence and appreciation of diversity through daily interaction with peers from Denmark, Spain, and Zimbabwe.
• Improved communication, teamwork, and leadership skills developed through collaborative project work and peer-to-peer facilitation.
• Greater understanding of inclusion and social cohesion, particularly regarding the experiences of marginalized youth and migrant communities in Europe.
• Increased critical thinking regarding stereotypes, discrimination, and polarization — and tools to address these in local communities.
• Improved knowledge of youth participation and community engagement, including practical models for Green Safe Spaces and youth-led sustainability initiatives.
• Practical sustainability skills in agroecology, water conservation, and eco-entrepreneurship, applicable to rural Malawian contexts.

9. Impact on the Malawi Team

The exchange increased participants' confidence, leadership abilities, and international networks. Team members returned with a broader understanding of global social issues, greater appreciation for cultural diversity, and new ideas for youth-led initiatives and community development activities in Malawi.

Several participants have already begun planning local follow-up activities, including awareness workshops in their communities and the establishment of a Green Safe Space pilot site supported by SURCOD. These local initiatives will reinforce the long-term impact of the project, ensuring that skills learned at the transnational level are anchored in local realities.

10. Challenges Encountered

While the exchange was highly successful, the Malawi delegation faced several significant challenges that tested the team's resilience:

10.1 Emotional Difficulties and Bereavement

The team experienced emotional difficulties following the loss of a brother and an uncle to two Malawian participants during the exchange. Receiving such heartbreaking news while away from home affected both the individuals concerned and the morale of the wider delegation. The team showed remarkable resilience and supported one another throughout this difficult period, with the partner organizations — particularly Las Niñas del Tul and Søholm 4H — offering emotional and logistical support.

10.2 Travel and Visa-Related Delays

The delegation faced travel and logistical challenges due to visa-related delays. The Group Leader and one participant arrived later than scheduled after experiencing visa difficulties, causing them to miss some initial activities and orientation sessions. This is a familiar risk in international mobilities involving Sub-Saharan African participants and aligns with risk #1 identified in the CGSS Risk Management Plan. Future exchanges will continue to advocate for earlier visa processing and clearer communication with consular authorities.

10.3 Intensive Daily Programme

Participants had to adapt to an intensive daily programme combining workshops, reflection sessions, and cultural activities. The pace was demanding, particularly for those adjusting to a new climate, language environment, and dietary regime. Despite these challenges, the team remained committed and actively engaged throughout the exchange.

11. Conclusion

The "Safe Spaces, Strong Voices" Youth Exchange was a highly enriching and transformative experience for the Malawi delegation. The programme successfully created an environment where young people could learn from one another, exchange ideas, and develop skills that promote inclusion, participation, sustainability, and social cohesion. By combining non-formal education, intercultural dialogue, and hands-on sustainability learning, the exchange delivered on the CGSS project's vision of empowering youth as agents of change in their communities.

The Malawi team returns home motivated to apply the knowledge and experiences gained to strengthen youth participation and community development initiatives in Malawi. The partnerships forged during this exchange — between SURCOD and its European and African counterparts — will continue to bear fruit through the upcoming youth exchange in Zimbabwe, the development of the Intellectual Outputs, and the piloting of Green Safe Spaces in the coming months.

12. Partner Organizations

The Co-Creating Green Safe Spaces (CGSS) project is implemented by four partner organizations across Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa:

This project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
Co-Creating Green Safe Spaces (CGSS) · ERASMUS-YOUTH-2025-CB