“I never felt like I was in a youth exchange. It felt like I was at home, talking with my brothers and sisters.” — Douae, participant That quote summed up the experience pretty well. By the end of Lost in Marrakech, what had started with 20 young people from Morocco and Finland had grown into a close-knit group, brought together through shared meals, activities, conversations and plenty of time spent discovering Marrakech together. Throughout the week, participants explored culture through food: markets, street food, home-cooked meals, celebrations, spices and cooking techniques. Food became a way to understand not only what people eat, but the traditions, habits and stories behind it. One of the highlights was creating four original recipes combining Moroccan and Finnish food traditions: LihaShuka, Msemen-Pirraka, Lohi Sahara and Salmon Tajine. But the exchange went well beyond food. Participants left with a greater openness towards cultural differences, a deeper appreciation of one another’s backgrounds and new friendships.

Earlier this year, Morocco and Finland came together around the same table in Marrakech ❤️ We welcomed 20 young participants for Lost in Marrakech, an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange built around cultural discovery, everyday life and identity. Food was at the heart of the exchange 🍲, giving participants a hands-on way to explore the similarities and differences between Moroccan and Finnish cultures. Over the course of the programme, they:🌟 Got to know each other and built connections across cultures🌟 Explored traditions, daily practices and different ways of life🌟 Compared everyday meals and culinary traditions🌟 Used food as a starting point for deeper conversations about culture and identity It was a week full of exchange, curiosity and plenty of shared meals along the way 🍽️ In partnership with Helsinki International Youth Work.