Travelling exhibition Experience Europe

Creative Youth Information Award category

Travelling exhibition Experience Europe

Organisation

Eurocentrum Brno

Country

Czech Republic

WEBSITE

https://tvorimevropu.cz/brno/

Project link

https://www.facebook.com/EurocentrumBrno/posts/pfbid0LAcTzHKf8YUCnBUuEZvDwU5BY1gfhMKjLzhJAQK2JaV4KitncRSostdjM2edtNo8l?cft%5B0%5D=AZXub7hZ4mF8tPZ1OW7A6it_liq7NLJbwUpRfjPY2eskzsEzoqGPfHjKFpTt31rczE4QgebrQi-A_e6ahrhs1YAP4BnZmu9lOeYtZgXYroZ5iZYAL7AqMy86b3HelEZS1_FJ01vVbZdmFkaP2Ixsrpfu7J-7zzYcNYATvI74Lqz_3lY-o7rzGVk2TPxuzytIgFg&tn=%2CO%2CP-R

General Overview

In connection with the European Week of Youth 2024, our Eurocentre launched the travelling exhibition called “Experience Europe” (“Zažij Evropu” in Czech), which presented various types of opportunities and projects within European programmes that young people can participate in, such as youth exchanges, Discover EU, the European Solidarity Corps, solidarity projects, and internships in the EU. It also presented stories of young people from the South Moravian Region who have already taken advantage of these opportunities and shared their experiences and insights.

The target audience was young people from high schools and universities located in the South Moravian Region who had not been previously informed about their opportunities across the European Union. The aim of the exhibition was therefore to inform young people about the various possibilities that EU programmes offer and to motivate them via the stories of other young people from their region.

The first phase of the project involved getting in contact with young people from the South Moravian Region who had already experienced any type of exchange, study, travel programme, or traineeship linked to the EU. We then gathered all the information from our respondents and created informative canvases/panels about the EU opportunities, along with their stories. All logos of the partners, including Eurodesk, were mentioned on the exhibition panels.

The panels were subsequently installed in high schools in the South Moravian Region and travelled from one school to another to achieve the greatest possible impact. The exhibition was opened in Tišnov, where we also invited young Discover EU travellers who presented their experiences on site. After the opening, the exhibition travelled to other high schools and universities in South Moravia.

Thematic Category Correspondence

(50 points max)

How does this initiative (project, event, material) correspond to the thematic category

In line with the Creative Youth Information Award, our project informed young people about the opportunities through an exhibition and examples from other young people in the South Moravian Region, who shared their experiences from European trips, projects, and internships. We chose this approach because we believe that stories from young people’s peers are effective and motivating examples to promote European opportunities.

When we were considering how to convey this information to young people, we realised that such possibilities are usually disseminated via online materials or small leaflets and brochures, which are often not very effective. Therefore, we decided to be creative and make something that is big, visible, and not easy to overlook. The visual designs were prepared by the students of a graphics school in Brno. The students, together with their teachers, created the visual design of the exhibition and also printed (and manufactured) the exhibition panels at their school.

The aim was to make the exhibition colourful and fun to engage young people and encourage them to actively explore the exhibition panels. We ensured that the exhibition also travelled to different parts of the region because, in our largest city—Brno—the awareness of opportunities is much better compared to other parts of the region. Therefore, the exhibition also travelled to Tišnov, Hustopeče, and Znojmo. We also promoted this exhibition through our social media channels.

Impact

(30 points max)

How did your project impact young people / your community?

The “Experience Europe” exhibition brought opportunities offered by the European Union closer to young people. They had the chance to see real-life examples from their peers and learn how these opportunities work in practice. We ensured that the stories shared were those of young people from their region so that they would see these opportunities are open not only to students from big cities but to everyone, whether you come from Prague or a small village in South Moravia. They were also provided with support, including contacts and further links, where they can find more detailed information about specific projects they might be interested in.

At each stop, accompanying materials, such as brochures and posters, were provided alongside the exhibition panels. Each exhibition panel also contained a QR code that guided observers to the website of the specific opportunity presented. Young people were also involved in the process by sharing their personal stories and experiences. Many of the exhibition stops were also accompanied by presentations from our Eurocentre, highlighting possibilities abroad, and the first stop in Tišnov even included a PowerPoint presentation by young Discover EU travellers.

Throughout the year, the exhibition was displayed in five high schools and one university. During the summer, we showcased it in the Moravian Library in Brno. The total reach so far is estimated to be 950 students.

Green Focus

(10 points max)

Did your project have any green focus and/or did you implement any eco-friendly measures when organising it?

The exhibition was prepared with the aim of reusing it in as many schools as possible. We ensured that the materials used were ecological (paper cardboard) and of good quality so that it will last for a long time. During the year, the exhibition was held in five high schools and one university. During the summer, we placed it in the Moravian Library in Brno, where young people had the chance to view it during the summer break when the schools were closed. In 2025, we are planning to reuse it and continue its journey around the schools in our region. We also made sure that the transfers of the exhibition are planned in advance and in a logical sequence so that no unnecessary emissions were involved.

Creative Youth Information Award category