UNITED WE STAND – Youth Exchange & Digital Exhibition

Between 21 March – 2 April 2025, a group of 7 participants from the ATDD were part of an amazing journey in Les Trois Îlets, Martinique, together with young people from Italy, Martinique and Serbia. The mobility, called UNITED WE STAND – Culture and nature, brought together 28 participants who discovered, celebrated, and shared the richness of European cultures through creative and non-formal methods. This project was hosted by the local youth NGO, Koba Sport Association, and was co-funded by the European Union.
At its core, the project had a simple but powerful idea: to unite youngsters beyond differences of culture, education, and background, and to create a deeper understanding of European diversity.

What were our goals?
European awareness & diversity – helping participants understand and accept other cultures while strengthening their European identity.
Promoting tolerance through creativity – reaching not only the 28 participants directly involved, but also over 900 young people in local communities, through a digital exhibition.
Inclusion – supporting 8 participants with fewer opportunities (from cultural minorities or disadvantaged backgrounds), offering them a chance to grow through non-formal activities.

The Method: PhotoVoice and Beyond
To tell our stories, we used PhotoVoice, a method where images and messages become a powerful way of expression.We explored different creative twists of the method and discovered a truly new perspective to digital photography:
We used photography as a mirror of diversity, culture, and traditions. Then we tried using selfies for self-expression and identity, and, later on, storytelling through comics, mixing humor and deep messages.
These tools gave participants the freedom to express themselves, share their perspectives, and connect across cultures.

The Digital Exhibition
The photos, comics, and messages created during UNITED WE STAND are now part of a Digital Exhibition, available online for everyone to explore. This exhibition is not just a gallery of images, but a collection of voices, identities, and cultures that reflect what it means to be young in today’s Europe.
The exhibition highlights three main themes:
✨ European Diversity
✨ Culture & Traditions
✨ Youth for Culture
And because your voice matters too, this exhibition invites the public to engage, vote, and share their favorite stories.

Why does it matter?
Today, many young people across Europe still struggle with accepting diversity and understanding cultural differences, especially those coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Through UNITED WE STAND, we created a safe space where everyone could express themselves, learn from one another, and grow together.
We wanted the impact of the project to go beyond the 10 days in Martinique and so, this way, it continues through this Digital Exhibition, reaching hundreds of young people across Europe, spreading tolerance, creativity, and the message that:
United we stand!No matter the culture, background or identity.

Thoughts on what multiculturality means for each participant. All unique. All valid.
Check out the Digital Exhibition and let us know which one you think captured the essence of European diversity the best!
Last but not least, if you want to see a part of Martinique`s culture and nature through the eyes of our participants take a look at these!