Yes for Cyber, No for Bullying

Our participants are currently in Agrigento, Italy. The first day of "Yes for Cyber, No for Bullying" Youth Exchange started with ice breakers and get to know eachother games with participants representing 6 other organisations.

The day continued with the presentation of the project, the topic, the programme of the YE and also with the participants sharing their expectations and what added value they are bringing to the group.

During the day, our members enjoyed Italian food, Sicilian sun/hospitality and a surprise birthday cake for one of the participants.

We kicked off Day 2 of "Yes for Cyber, No for Bullying" with the Croatian team leading some energizing activities to boost our energy and focus. They then guided us through an interactive session on cyberbullying, using a game where we ranked news articles on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the least harmful and 5 being the most harmful. Through discussion, we concluded that all articles deserved a rating of 5, as the impact of harmful content is subjective, we can never fully know the personal circumstances of those affected.

Following this, the Hungarian team introduced us to the different forms of cyberbullying, also through a game, making the session both engaging and educational.

In the afternoon, we bonded with one another through various team-building exercises. We wrapped up the day with an intercultural night where teams from Belgium, Italy, and Spain showcased their countries, sharing their unique cultures and food with the group.

Welcome to day 3 of the youth Exchange! Today we started out with the fishbone model to understand why people cyberbully, we found out that there are a lot of different external and internal reasons why somebody might bully someone. After a short break, we had an amazing session from the Dutch team where we acted out different bullying situation and how to solve them if we come across them.

After dinner, we did a few energizers to learn more about each other. Before the project started, we got a survey we had to share to gather information. More than half of the people that filled it in faced cyber bullying at least once in their life, showing that it is a significant issue. In this exercise, you could let your creativity lose! Some people made PowerPoints, and others made drawings to present the statistics of their country  . The last activity of the day was a cooperation game where we were put into teams and had to finish 20 little games as soon as possible. It was the perfect moment to let some energy lose and increase the team spirit.

We ended the day with an intercultural evening, where Romania, Hungary, the Netherlands and Croatia could represent their countries to us.

On Day 4, we started the morning with a visit to the stunning Scala dei Turchi, a breathtaking white cliff overlooking the Mediterranean. After days of rain and clouds, the sun and fresh sea air were more than welcome. We spent a relaxing few hours at the beach, soaking in the breathtaking views and recharging our spirits.

Our next adventure was a visit to the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Standing in front of these ancient ruins, surrounded by history, was awe-inspiring.

To wrap up our exploration of this beautiful region, we made our way to Agrigento’s city center. Here, we recharged with delicious gelato while taking in the sweeping views from the top of the city. The evening was made even more special by a unique sunset that painted the sky in breathtaking tones.

During the day, the participants had specific assignments to fulfill which made the day more adventurous.

We kicked off the 5th day with a fun music guessing game where everyone listened to songs chosen by their peers. After guessing who selected each track, participants shared the reasons behind their choices.

Next, the Romanian team led a workshop on cyberbullying. They started with energizing games, including a word-switching activity that made it challenging to follow instructions, and a playful version of rock-paper-scissors called "dragon, prince, princess." Following these activities, we broke into six small groups to discuss specific cyberbullying scenarios. Each group explored relevant terminology and then presented their findings to the larger group.

After a short break, the Spanish team took over with their workshop. They began with a lively game where participants had to keep an empty chair occupied, followed by a humorous chicken sound relay that encouraged laughter and quick movements. For the main part of their workshop, groups brainstormed ways to prevent cyberbullying, wrote their ideas on slips of paper, and engaged in a guessing game. Each group also illustrated their ideas through drawings.

In the afternoon, it was the Belgian team's turn to present our cyberbullying workshop. We started with games like tag and musical chairs, followed by a "web game" where participants tossed a ball of yarn to someone they cared about, sharing positive affirmations and support comments.

During our workshop, teams created support group concepts, outlining who they would support and the group's rules, then presented their ideas to everyone. We wrapped up with a debrief on the workshop experience.

To finish the day, we revisited the music guessing game and began creating a guide based on words generated through Mentimeter.

We kicked off the sixth day with energizers to boost our energy and focus. Next, we engaged in a communication game where one person described an image while the other had to draw it, helping us practice clear communication skills. We then shifted to working on the cyberbullying guide, dividing the group into seven teams. Each team was responsible for completing a different section of the guide, allowing everyone to contribute. To finish, we played a game to learn more about Erasmus, which was both fun and educational. It was a productive day filled with teamwork and learning!

Our final day began with yet another delicious breakfast, setting a positive tone for what was to come. We gathered for a morning meeting to discuss our upcoming journeys home, while also reflecting on the week that had passed. We shared our thoughts, feedback, and memories, marking the conclusion of an enriching experience.

Lunch was special, as it was our last meal together at this wonderful hotel, where the staff had been so welcoming. Afterwards, we enjoyed the secret friend activity, which brought laughter and warmth, followed by more reflection and feedback sessions that allowed us to appreciate the impact of the project.

The evening ended on a high note with an incredible event organized by FreeMinds in Action . During the 'Sicily Cultural Dialogue' the participants exhibited their shots from around Agrigento showcasing the Sicilian culture. We were treated to a fantastic buffet that served as a final celebration of our time together.