“Diplomacy starts with a simple ability to talk.” This idea became a living principle during the Erasmus+ youth exchange “From Local to Global: Youth Diplomacy in Action” held in April 2026 in Batumi, Georgia. Young people from different European and neighbouring countries came together to better understand the role of diplomacy in today’s world.
What are Erasmus+ youth exchanges?
Erasmus+ youth exchanges are non-formal education projects where young people aged 13 to 30 learn through experience. They use methods such as discussions, creative activities, role play, and simulations. It is a space where different cultures, ideas, and experiences meet. Most importantly, it is where dialogue begins. The project in Batumi focused on one key idea. How to move from local thinking to global action.
Diplomacy in practice
The seven day exchange brought together 48 young people from Lithuania, Poland, Turkiye, Greece, Armenia, and Georgia. During the project, they explored different forms of diplomacy and their relevance today.
Learning happened through practice. Not theory. Participants:
- analysed the impact of social media and learned to identify disinformation;
- joined a beach clean up activity and connected it to climate diplomacy;
- took part in peace and conflict resolution sessions and tested mediation methods to solve disagreements constructively.
These activities showed that diplomacy is not limited to high level meetings. It happens in everyday situations when people choose to listen, understand, and cooperate.
Breaking stereotypes
Youth exchanges create a unique space for people who might never meet in daily life. In this project, young people from Armenia and Turkiye worked together. These countries have a complex history. Such experiences help participants understand each other better. They challenge assumptions. When people talk face to face instead of through headlines, they see more nuance, fewer stereotypes, and more human connection.
The voice of youth today
The project had a strong impact on participants from Georgia. One of them, Diana Kotrikadze, highlighted its importance in the current context: Living in a country where political tension and social division are present, projects like this become very important. They help young people learn how to talk, hear different opinions, and look for common solutions. For me, it was a practical experience that showed how important it is to keep respectful dialogue even when opinions differ.
This reflection shows a wider context. Diplomatic skills are needed not only in international relations, but also in everyday civic life.
Why invest in youth diplomacy?
The head of the European Diplomacy Institute, Tomas Jenkelevič, emphasises the importance of such initiatives: Youth diplomacy is an investment in a more peaceful future. If we want a strong society based on dialogue, we must give young people the tools to communicate, resolve conflicts, and act responsibly. This is especially important in Eastern Europe, where democratic processes still face challenges.
He notes that projects like this help young people gain not only knowledge, but also values that shape how they see the world.
More than a week abroad
“From Local to Global: Youth Diplomacy in Action” became a space for both learning and personal growth. Participants built confidence, improved teamwork skills, and created connections that go beyond borders. These projects show that change starts small. With a conversation. With a willingness to understand. With the courage to engage. This youth exchange was organised by the European Diplomacy Institute (Lithuania) and funded by the European Union.
