The Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO has an Erasmus accreditation since 2022 for an organisation that will implement learning mobility activities in the field of youth on a regular basis. This tool gives the opportunity to open-up the Centre’s activities to cross-border exchange and cooperation in the countries of South-East Europe. The main objectives that the Regional Centre intends to attain are:

• Introduce the concept of intangible cultural heritage to the widest possible range of young people;
• Raise awareness among young people about the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage and its importance for sustainable development;
• Enhance intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding;
• Proactive involvement of young people in the decision-making processes regarding heritage, as well as in its safeguarding and its use for the purposes of sustainable development;
• Promotion of local entrepreneurship based on intangible cultural heritage.

In 2024 the Regional Centre Sofia has implemented two youth exchanges on the topic ‘Youth and intangible cultural heritage’.

The first youth seminar was organized in the town of Bansko, in the period 13-20 May 2024 with the support of the Bansko Municipality, Yakoruda Municipality and two local cultural community centers (chitalishte). 25 young people from Bulgaria, Greece, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia had the opportunity to participate in the seminar and exchange experience and practices from their countries in the field of living heritage.

The second Youth exchange on the topic ‘Youth and intangible cultural heritage’ took place in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, in the period 24 June – 1st July 2024. The Regional Centre Sofia invited 25 people between the ages of 18 – 30 from the countries Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Croatia, Türkiye to take part in it. During the Traditional Crafts Week, organized by the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv, young participants had the opportunity to learn and experience traditional crafts such as cutlery, jewellery making, candle making, pastoral carving, musical instrument making, basketry, pottery, weaving and more.

The programme of the two seminars was filled with interesting activities based on non-formal and informal educational methods aimed at learning and exchanging knowledge about intangible cultural heritage in the region of South-East Europe. Interactive workshops, discussions and debates, ice-breakers and team building games, fieldwork, presentations of intangible cultural heritage and intercultural evenings were part of the programme.

The Regional Centre Sofia – UNESCO organizes two youth exchanges under Erasmus+ programme in the town of Plovdiv, Bulgaria this spring. The topic of the two seminars is ‘Youth and intangible cultural heritage’ and is aimed at people aged between 18 to 30 from 5 countries – Bulgaria, Lithuania, Greece, Romania and Slovenia.

The Regional Centre is an accredited organization under Erasmus+ Programme and for a second year in a row organizes this initiative.

For more information about the dates and registration:

6-11 April 2025 – more information: https://bit.ly/4kPZB0D

18-23 May 2025 – more information: https://bit.ly/4bQCO0x

#youthlivingheritage #Erasmus #youthexchange

Application form for Youth exchange in Bansko

Application form for Youth exchange in Plovdiv

Presentation: attached or on the link: https://shortlurl.com/664f1a3ed3987

Gallery Bansko

Gallery Plovdiv

Youth Seminar

Memorandum of Cooperation

Youth and intangible cultural heritage

Intangible cultural heritage is a testament to cultural diversity

Week of Traditional Crafts in Plovdiv

University Network for ICH

Living Heritage through the eyes of your students of photography