From 23 to 30 April, an Erasmus+ youth exchange titled “Bridges for Peace” took place in Škocjan near Lake Klopeiner See. The exchange brought together young people from Austria, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovenia.

The first day was dedicated to getting to know each other—games, energizers, and teamwork activities helped participants connect and build relationships. This created a very pleasant atmosphere, which formed the foundation of our exchange. The main aim was to explore different religions and cultures and to discover important social topics, but throughout the process the young participants gained much more than just theoretical knowledge.

The program was filled with a variety of activities: presentations of religions (Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), including the celebration of religious rituals such as a Holy Mass in Šentprimož and evening prayers at the Srebrenica Mosque in Klagenfurt; a cultural evening with music, food, and dance; sports in free time; personal reflection time called “MyTime”; a visit to the Slovene Gymnasium and various religious communities in Klagenfurt; an interreligious prayer for peace and a flash mob in Old Square; a talent evening; and the “Rock4Angola” concert featuring the band LADJA and a solo performance by Matakustix.

The most valuable part of the exchange, however, was the connection and friendship among the young participants. They returned home full of memories and with a new understanding that building bridges for peace is possible despite differences and diverse perspectives.