Stories Beyond Borders is a virtual exchange project that empowers young people (13–30) from Europe (Greece, Italy) and Sub-Saharan Africa (Cabo Verde, Kenya, and Madagascar) to collaboratively explore civic, social, and environmental themes through creative digital storytelling. Using cinema, podcasting, and narration, youth will co-create digital stories reflecting their realities and aspirations, strengthening intercultural dialogue, active
citizenship, and digital competences. The project addresses the urgent need for new forms of youth engagement, civic participation, and inclusion, particularly in light of digital divides and democratic challenges highlighted by European and African institutions.
Activities include capacity building for youth workers, synchronous and asynchronous virtual exchanges, collaborative creative labs, and the launch of a Digital Story Hub and Virtual Festival to showcase youth productions. Through a structured Design Thinking approach, participants will empathize, define, ideate, prototype, create, and reflect collectively, leading to over 80 digital outputs (films, podcasts, comics).
Stories Beyond Borders valorises the results of successful Erasmus+ projects such as PODJECT, DEMPOD, Cinematomedia, and Window Youth, adapting and transferring proven practices to new geographical and socio-cultural contexts. It directly contributes to Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange objectives by promoting intercultural dialogue, critical thinking, digital inclusion, and EU values of democracy and human dignity.
By fostering youth-led storytelling, strengthening youth workers’ capacities, and establishing sustainable platforms for cross-border dialogue, Stories Beyond Borders builds a long-lasting bridge between Europe and Africa, creating a generation of digitally skilled, civically active, and interculturally competent young citizens

PROJECT PARTNERS
Academy of Entrepreneurship (AKEP-Greece)-Coordinator
Action Synergy (Greece)-Partner
DREAMY (Italy)-Partner
Universal Humanitarian Development Program (UHDP-Kenya)-Partner
Youth First (Madagascar)-Partner
Universidade De Cabo Verde (Cabo Verde)-Partner