In December 2025, young people from France, Germany, Romania, Italy and Saint Martin met in Bușteni, Romania, for Pop It Up: Debunk Populism, Stop Hate Speech, an Erasmus+ youth exchange focused on how populism, hate speech and polarising narratives show up in everyday life.
Over the course of the exchange, participants looked at topics such as fake news, manipulation, radicalisation and online hate, while discussing how these affect the way people think, communicate and take part in society. Through workshops, debates, group activities and other non-formal learning methods, they worked on strengthening their critical thinking and media literacy, and on becoming more confident in recognising and questioning harmful narratives.
There was also plenty of space for reflection and exchange. Activities touched on active citizenship, diversity and personal values, giving participants the chance to compare experiences from different countries and challenge some of their own assumptions along the way.
More than anything, Pop It Up created a space where young people could talk openly, learn from one another and think about how to respond to hate and polarisation both online and offline.
By the end of the week, participants left with new tools, new perspectives and a stronger sense of how they can take these conversations back into their own communities.
