Women on the Field! Project Kicked Off in Budapest

The Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project “Women on the Field!” (2025-1-HU01-KA152-YOU-000298234) was held in Budapest, Hungary, from 15 to 21 September 2025, hosted by Fiatalok a Pályán Egyesület. The project brought together young participants from Hungary, Türkiye, Finland, Italy, and Croatia with the aim of promoting gender equality in sports, raising awareness about the challenges women face in the sporting world, and encouraging the exchange of experiences and good practices among young people from different countries.

The first activities focused on helping participants get to know one another and build a strong sense of teamwork. Through interactive ice-breaking sessions, young people had the opportunity to connect with peers from different cultural backgrounds while developing their creativity, self-confidence, and communication skills. Orientation activities also enabled participants to become familiar with their accommodation and the city of Budapest, while strengthening their problem-solving abilities, sense of responsibility, and capacity for cooperation.

During the Youthpass and Erasmus+ information sessions, participants gained valuable insights into non-formal learning, the opportunities offered by the Youthpass Certificate, and the benefits of Erasmus+ programmes for young people. These activities helped participants better understand how the competences and skills acquired throughout the project could contribute to their personal and professional development. In addition, a self-assessment activity on gender equality in sports encouraged participants to reflect on women's participation in sports, their representation in leadership positions, and the stereotypes and barriers that still exist within the sporting sector.

As part of the cultural sharing activity, Hungarian participants introduced their traditional food, drinks, and music to the international group. This experience promoted intercultural understanding and provided participants with the opportunity to learn more about different traditions and lifestyles. The activities carried out on the first day successfully strengthened cultural awareness, fostered new friendships, and established a shared understanding of the importance of gender equality in sports among all participants.