Change Starts Now: From Awareness to Social Impact

The Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project “Change Starts Now” was implemented in Riga, Latvia, from 18–25 April 2025 by Venus Women's Rights Association under the reference number 2024-3-LV02-KA152-YOU-000266537. Bringing together young people from Latvia, Romania, Türkiye, Spain, and Austria, the project aimed to raise awareness about violence against women and femicide, promote gender equality, and strengthen young people's sense of social responsibility regarding these issues. Throughout the project, participants gained valuable experience in becoming active agents of social change through knowledge sharing, creative activities, and intercultural interaction.

Participants engaged in interactive team-building games designed to improve concentration, focus, and quick decision-making skills. Conducted in a fun and dynamic atmosphere, these activities strengthened communication within the group while encouraging participants to work more effectively toward common goals. The collaborative nature of the games, which emphasized participation and teamwork rather than competition, helped reinforce the spirit of cooperation that characterized the entire project.

Idea-development activities focusing on the question of which social actors hold the greatest responsibility in preventing violence against women encouraged participants to think critically about social issues. Discussions explored the roles of the media, educators, families, legal professionals, and security forces, with each group presenting and defending its perspective through reasoned arguments. This process allowed participants to experience democratic debate while developing the ability to approach complex social challenges from multiple perspectives.

Informative brochures based on real-life cases and research related to femicide became one of the key outcomes of the awareness-raising efforts. Using knowledge and data gathered from previous sessions, participants created materials highlighting the causes and consequences of violence against women and femicide. By reviewing and discussing one another’s work, participants from different countries exchanged ideas and strengthened the collective learning process.

A theatre performance demonstrating the power of art as a tool for social awareness became one of the most remarkable activities of the project. Participants staged a performance inspired by Federico García Lorca’s play “Blood Wedding,” addressing social pressure and gender inequality through artistic expression. Posters, brochures, and visual materials prepared during previous activities were exhibited before the performance, drawing the attention of the local community to the project’s themes. Conversations and exchanges that followed the performance created a meaningful space for social dialogue between participants and local residents. Reflection sessions and cultural exchange preparations further enabled young people to evaluate their personal growth while gaining a deeper understanding of different cultures and perspectives.