From 8 to 17 June, I had the opportunity to support the youth exchange Digital Equality, held in Rome within the Erasmus+ programme.
This project brought together four international groups — Spain, Portugal, Italy and Türkiye — to live together for ten days with a shared goal: developing the skills needed to become active promoters of gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights, learning how to use social media as tools for awareness-raising, countering hate speech and debunking fake news.
It was my sixth Erasmus+ project, but this time it felt different. I experienced it from the inside, through the organisation where I am currently carrying out my European Solidarity Corps volunteering: SCI Italy. Thanks to them, I was not only able to participate, but also to facilitate some activities and support the project’s logistics and coordination.
At a time when hate speech is intensifying and threatening peace and human rights, spaces like this are more necessary than ever. Having the chance to question misinformation, develop critical thinking and design communication campaigns led by young people is essential. For this reason, we split into five groups and created our own campaigns from scratch. My group, for example, designed a campaign called Queerness and Monsters, exploring LGBTQ+ representations within mythological narratives.
But the project went far beyond communication work. We explored deep and powerful topics such as gender decolonisation and Jineolojî (women’s science from a Kurdish perspective), thanks to a Kurdish participant who shared a rich and eye-opening presentation.
We also discussed LGBTQ+ collective memory and the challenges faced by older people within the community. I facilitated a workshop based on my bachelor’s thesis, which came to life through real testimonies and lived experiences.
The programme also included a session with local activists from Famiglie Arcobaleno and Rete Lenford, who explained the legal and social situation of LGBTQ+ families in Italy. I was genuinely surprised: I believed Spain, Portugal and Italy were in similar positions regarding LGBTQ+ rights, but I realised that Spain currently has more advanced legislation — progress that must be actively protected against the rising tide of hate speech.
Another powerful moment was listening to the testimonies of Kurdish participants, who shared the real difficulties faced by LGBTQ+ people in Türkiye. Their stories were painful, courageous, and made me appreciate my own freedoms even more.
The most unforgettable moment came on the day of Roma Pride. In the morning, we prepared signs, glitter and plenty of enthusiasm. In the afternoon, the group split to join two different events: Roma Pride and Priot Pride — two distinct ways of celebrating pride, but united by the same message: the freedom to be who we are.
I will never forget what a Turkish colleague said the following day, reflecting on Pride:
“It’s the first time I see people in the streets with rainbows, dancing, fighting and enjoying who they are without fear. In my country, we have to hide if we want to protest for our rights.”
Her words struck me deeply. They made me reflect not only on my privilege, but also on the value of sharing, listening and connecting face-to-face with realities that too often remain invisible. For ten days, I encountered stories that inspire me to keep striving for change.
And this, for me, is the true magic of Erasmus+: building real connections with young people from other countries, understanding different realities and contributing, step by step, to a Europe strengthened by intercultural cooperation and the active participation of its youth.
Testimony by Alejandro de la Cruz, European Solidarity Corps volunteer at SCI Italy.