Women on the Field! – Strengthening Equality, Awareness, and Intercultural Dialogue

The “Women on the Field!” Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project (2025-1-HU01-KA152-YOU-000298234), hosted by Fiatalok a Pályán Egyesület in Budapest, Hungary, took place between 15–21 September 2025 and brought together young participants from Croatia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Türkiye. The project was designed to promote gender equality in sports, challenge stereotypes surrounding female athletes, and empower young people to become active advocates for inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities through non-formal education and international cooperation.

Throughout the project, participants engaged in a wide range of interactive activities that combined personal development, awareness-raising, and intercultural learning. Team-building exercises and energizers helped participants strengthen their communication, reflexes, self-confidence, and social skills while fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere. Reflection sessions based on the Youthpass framework encouraged young people to evaluate their learning journey, recognize their strengths, identify areas for improvement, and better understand the skills and competences they had developed during the exchange.

A major focus of the project was addressing gender inequality in sports and increasing the visibility of women athletes. Through presentations, discussions, interviews with female athletes, awareness campaigns, and creative dissemination activities, participants explored how stereotypes and media representation continue to affect women’s participation in sport. They examined practical ways to promote equality, challenged sexist narratives, and developed campaigns aimed at encouraging more inclusive attitudes within sports communities. These activities strengthened participants’ critical thinking, media literacy, advocacy, teamwork, and communication skills while inspiring them to become agents of positive change in their local communities.

The project also provided valuable opportunities for cultural exchange and international networking. Participants visited important locations in Budapest, engaged with local stakeholders, exchanged ideas with sports organizations, and shared their own cultural traditions during intercultural evenings featuring traditional food, music, and stories. By learning from one another’s experiences and perspectives, participants deepened their understanding of cultural diversity, built lasting friendships, and reinforced the values of mutual respect, solidarity, and equality that lie at the heart of the Erasmus+ programme.