1000 Voices: making the impact of Erasmus+ visible
A campaign developed in Meppel to collect real youth-mobility stories and bring their value into the debate on the next EU budget.
The Erasmus+ Visibility Meeting in Meppel focused on a question that is both practical and political: how can we make the impact of youth mobility visible while decisions are being made about the next EU long-term budget?
Programmes such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps create life-changing opportunities, but their value is sometimes reduced to figures, policy language, or institutional reports. During the meeting, we developed a campaign that starts somewhere else—with the people who took part.
1000 voices: 1000 real stories
We are collecting 1,000 real stories on a shared Padlet map. Each contribution combines a name, a photograph or video, and a short testimony explaining how Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps made a concrete difference.
The purpose is to show decision-makers what youth mobility looks like in real life: the confidence gained, the skills developed, the friendships built, the opportunities discovered, and the decisions people made afterwards.
How to contribute
- Open the Padlet map and add a new post.
- Select the place you are from, rather than the destination of your mobility.
- Title the post “Your name to destination country”.
- Add a photograph or video of yourself during the activity. If other people appear, make sure you have their consent.
- Tell a specific story: what changed, what you gained, and why the experience matters.
Add your story to the 1000 Voices map
Why individual stories matter
Large budget decisions can feel distant, but they determine whether future participants and grassroots youth organisations will still be able to access these opportunities. A personal story can make that impact understandable in a way that an abstract budget line cannot.
The collected voices are intended to support conversations with politicians, decision-makers, and key stakeholders. The message is direct: protect and strengthen Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, and keep youth mobility accessible to the people and communities it is meant to serve.