Alejandro experience co-coordinating Digital Equality

‎Voice of Volunteer written by Alejandro

From June 8 to 16, I had the opportunity to participate as Co-Coordinator and participant in a Youth Exchange called Digital Equality, which took place in Rome as part of the Erasmus+ program. This project brought together four international groups, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Turkey, to live together for ten days while training with a common goal: to develop skills that enable us to be active promoters of gender equality and LGBTQI+ rights, learning to use social media as tools to raise awareness, counter hate speech, and debunk fake news. This was my sixth Erasmus+ project, but this time it was different. I experienced it from the inside, with the organization where I am currently doing my European Solidarity Corps: SCI Italia. Thanks to them, I was not only able to participate, but also facilitate some activities and collaborate with the logistics and organization of the project.

At a time when hate speech is intensifying and threatening peace and human rights, spaces like this are more necessary than ever. Having the opportunity to question fake news, generate critical awareness, and build campaigns led by youth is essential. For this, we divided into five different groups and created our own campaign from scratch. The group I was part of, for example, created a campaign called “Queerness and Monsters”, where we explored LGBTQI+ representations in mythical narratives.

But the project was much more than that. We tackled deep topics such as the decolonization of gender and Jineolojî (the science of women from a Kurdish perspective), thanks to a Kurdish colleague who shared this approach with a very comprehensive presentation that sparked reflection among us.

We also discussed LGBTQI+ collective memory and the challenges faced by elderly people within the community. I facilitated this workshop based on my bachelor’s thesis, which came to life through the testimonies of real people.

In addition, we had local activists from Famiglie Arcobaleno and Rete Lenford, who spoke to us about the legal and social situation of LGBTQ+ families in Italy. I was truly surprised: I assumed Spain, Portugal, and Italy would be on similar levels regarding LGBTQ+ rights, but I realized that Spain has advanced legislation that we must actively protect against hate speech that seeks to reverse the progress made.

Another powerful moment was hearing the testimonies of Kurdish people who shared the real difficulties the community faces in Turkey. Harsh, brave stories that made me value my own freedoms even more.

The most magical moment came on the day of Roma Pride. In the morning, we prepared with posters, glitter, and excitement. In the afternoon, the group split to participate in two different demonstrations: Roma Pride and Prior Pride, two different ways of experiencing Pride, but with the same message: the freedom to be who we are.

I’ll never forget what a Turkish participant said the next day during our reflection on Pride: “It’s the first time I’ve seen people on the streets with rainbows, dancing, fighting, and enjoying who we are without fear. In my country, we have to hide to protest for our rights.” That sentence deeply moved me. It made me aware not only of my privilege but also of the importance of sharing, listening, and connecting face to face with realities that are often invisible. For ten days, I heard stories that inspire me to keep moving forward and believing in change. And that, to me, is the magic of Erasmus+: creating real bonds with young people from other countries, understanding different realities, and building, step by step, a stronger Europe through intercultural cooperation and the active participation of its youth.