Active Life, Active Future

The “Active Life, Active Future” Youth Exchange project (2023-3-AT01-KA152-YOU-000177084), implemented by FI Gesundheits- und Sportverein in Klagenfurt, Austria between 02.05.2024 and 08.05.2024, brought together young participants from Austria, Türkiye, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Italy. The main aim of the project was to raise awareness of healthy lifestyles among young people, strengthen the role of sports in personal and social development, and support intercultural interaction. The process, carried out with active participation of young people, focused on improving both their physical and social skills.

The socialization and ice-breaking activities carried out within the project enabled participants to establish safe communication with each other and develop a sense of team spirit. Through movement-based activities and group games, young people experienced that sport is not only a physical activity but also a tool that develops communication, cooperation, and problem-solving skills. This process facilitated participants’ adaptation to the project and increased active engagement.

In creativity-enhancing activities, young participants designed imaginary sports, discussed the impact of sports on individuals, and developed different perspectives. In addition, role-playing and field activities allowed them to observe society’s attitudes towards sports and physical activity, which increased their social awareness. These practices also strengthened the participants’ critical thinking and analytical skills.

Within the scope of cultural interaction and group work, national sports of participating countries were presented, and map-based activities and short promotional videos were prepared. In this way, participants had the opportunity both to express their own cultures and to learn about others. Furthermore, discussion, analysis, and evaluation sessions throughout the project improved their self-expression and feedback-giving skills.

At the end of the project, evaluation processes, non-formal learning methods, and the Youthpass procedure enabled participants to clearly recognize the skills they had gained. Analyses conducted by leaders and participants showed that the impact of the project was significant, revealing that sport-based activities had a strong effect on young people’s motivation, social cohesion, and personal development. Thus, the project contributed to encouraging young people to adopt a more active and healthy lifestyle.