A life changing youth exchange in Kaunas

A Feeling That Something Unique Had Begun

I think… and I just know it… that what happened during this exchange was unique and will never be repeated again. So am I just dreaming, or did I come with a new mindset and a head full of ideas that will bloom in the future?

We met all together, forty young people from different countries, diverse cultures, and very dynamic stages of life.

And for us, it began: a small period of our lives, just 10 days of…

Generating new ideas, bold visions, and creative strategies,
Learning new skills, new words, and new business models,
Overcoming fears, stereotypes, and language barriers,
Building strong relationships, connections, and friendships,
Enjoying each moment of growth, each discovery, and each step we take together

The first steps

We began our 10-day journey, held from 06.11 to 17.11 in Kaunas, Lithuania, by getting to know each other through team-building exercises and icebreaker activities. This was an excellent opportunity for participants from Romania, Greece, Poland, Lithuania, and Italy to show their enthusiasm, curiosity, and openness.

Learning together

The following days became increasingly content-focused. We started by discovering our passions and strengths using the IKIGAI method, a new and inspiring tool for many of us. It helped us reflect on passion, purpose, values, and work, and it also encouraged deeper group collaboration and personal self-reflection.

As we moved further into the project theme, we explored the SCAMPER model for business idea development and learned about the meaning and analysis of business branding. We discussed the difference between marketing and branding, how to create a logo and motto, and how to present a business identity. Through group work, several impressive business ideas were developed. With creativity and artistic spirit, we transformed theory into practice by designing branding and marketing materials. It was time to put our knowledge into action!

We also had the opportunity to visit the Tech Park in Kaunas, where we learned about start-ups, technological innovation, and new business ecosystems. Our group welcomed guest speaker Mr. Edgar, a successful Lithuanian entrepreneur and owner of multiple businesses, including NT Paieška, who shared valuable insights from his professional experience.

Expressing our creativity

The next days were full of team building, creativity, and hands-on tasks. We performed short sketches about real-life business challenges and created advertisements for imaginary products—an excellent exercise in prototyping, marketing planning, and storytelling

We explored financial funding options and entrepreneurial possibilities, learning how businesses grow and how ideas can meet real market needs. Each participant developed a personal business concept, turning individual passions into potential solutions. Later, we formed teams based on shared interests—IT, food, retail, services—and refined our ideas together. These projects were presented in a “Baby Sharks” pitch session, showcasing creative apps, products, and services designed to answer real demands. This experience showed how our passion and teamwork can transform ideas into meaningful and practical solutions.

During the final days, we reflected on the entire exchange, summarized our achievements, promoted the Youth Exchange program, completed the final workshops, and spent time exploring Kaunas.

We also worked on real case studies in entrepreneurship and were given a hands-on challenge to find and interview a local worker or entrepreneur. Using the Business Model Canvas, we asked them about their business structure, strategy, and everyday challenges, a valuable real-world learning experience.

Beyond the classroom

Every evening, participants from each country presented their culture in a unique way. We learned about history, traditions, and important cultural symbols through sketches, videos, presentations, and games. The highlight was always the national cuisine tasting; food brought everyone together, and we often stayed longer to learn traditional dances and songs. Additionally, each country presented successful start-ups and inspiring entrepreneurs from their homeland who had significantly influenced the market.

More than a simple exchange

Overall, this Youth Exchange offered a rich combination of learning, creativity, cultural exchange, and personal growth. We strengthened our entrepreneurial skills, transformed passions into real ideas, learned to collaborate across cultures, and gained insights from professionals and real-world case studies. Beyond the workshops, the cultural evenings, shared meals, and time spent together in Kaunas helped us build strong connections and unforgettable memories. The experience inspired us, empowered us, and showed us how capable we can be when we learn, create, and grow together.