Throwback: He for She – Empowering Young People to Build a More Equal Future

He for She was an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project organized by Artemis Women's Power MTÜ under project number 2023-1-EE01-KA152-YOU-000113609. Hosted in Saaremaa, Estonia, between 9 and 16 December 2023, the project brought together participants from Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Romania, and Turkey. Throughout the exchange, young people explored gender equality, intercultural dialogue, active citizenship, and social inclusion through a wide range of non-formal learning activities designed to inspire long-term personal and social development.

The project combined interactive workshops, conferences, awareness campaigns, role-playing activities, cultural visits, public festivals, artistic performances, surveys, and teamwork exercises to challenge stereotypes and encourage meaningful discussions about equal opportunities. Participants explored the achievements of inspiring women such as Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo, examined unconscious biases, and reflected on the importance of creating societies where everyone has equal opportunities regardless of gender.

One of the project's greatest strengths was its emphasis on experiential learning. Through teamwork, public awareness campaigns, Flash Mob performances, intercultural festivals, stakeholder meetings, city activities, and cultural nights, participants developed leadership, communication, problem-solving, presentation, and organizational skills. Working together in multicultural teams helped them build lasting friendships while strengthening empathy, cooperation, and mutual respect.

Continuous reflection was integrated into every stage of the project through evaluation sessions, Youthpass activities, self-assessment exercises, and collaborative discussions. Participants regularly analyzed their learning process, identified their personal growth, and explored how they could transfer the knowledge and competences gained into their future education, careers, and local communities. This process reinforced the value of non-formal education and lifelong learning.

Looking back, He for She became much more than an international youth exchange. It created a safe and inspiring environment where young people challenged stereotypes, celebrated cultural diversity, strengthened their confidence, and discovered the power of cooperation. The friendships, experiences, and skills gained throughout the project continue to encourage participants to become active ambassadors of equality, inclusion, and positive social change within their own communities and beyond.