About the Exchange

A key aim of the project was to build digital agency among young people. By raising awareness and fostering critical thinking, participants were empowered to take back control over their relationship with technology. Instead of automatically reaching for their “glowing rectangles,” they learned to make conscious, intentional choices about their digital behavior.

The project also introduced practices of digital detox and mindfulness. Through guided activities, participants experienced the benefits of disconnecting from screens and reconnecting with themselves and their surroundings. Offline tools, such as outdoor Forest Power Cards (“Forest Meditations”), were used to strengthen authentic peer connections, support stress management, and encourage presence in the “here and now.”

In today’s digitally saturated world, young people were increasingly exposed to technologies that shaped not only their habits, but also their physical and mental well-being. The project explored the impact of technology on the body and mind, with a particular focus on how app algorithms were designed to trigger dopamine-driven feedback loops, encouraging prolonged and often unconscious smartphone use. Participants reflected on how these patterns influenced their health, including issues such as “text neck,” sensory overload, and closed body posture.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

Understanding the impact of technology on body and mind. 

Raising participants’ awareness of how app algorithms trigger dopamine loops and how excessive smartphone use affects physical health (e.g., „text neck”, sensory overload, closed body posture).

Building digital agency.

Day 1
Intro & Team Building. We kicked off the project by getting to know each other, learning names, and diving into the meaning behind the „Glowing Rectangles” title. Participants wrote letters to their future selves and created analog „paper accounts” (envelopes) to exchange positive messages throughout the week. The highlight of the day was the „Olympic Tree Games”. A creative, outdoor team-building competition set among the trees that successfully broke the ice and integrated the group.

Day 3
Reconnection with Nature and Us We shifted our focus to wellbeing, exploring how green spaces and authentic relationships are crucial for our mental health. We traveled to the Hel Peninsula, where we wandered through calm pine forests to rediscover nature and its positive impact on the brain. Through various outdoor pair activities, participants experienced firsthand that mutual trust and offline human connections are irreplaceable.

Day 2
Digital Traps This day was dedicated to understanding the dark side of our screens. We started by discussing the physical consequences of smartphone usage, particularly how „text neck” and bad posture affect our bodies. In the next session, participants took on the role of „Evil Developers.” Their task was to design the most addictive mobile app possible. A powerful roleplay that revealed exactly how app creators manipulate our brain chemistry. We concluded with a blended indoor and outdoor session exploring how social media exploits our primal genetic mechanisms, such as FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).

Day 4 and 5  Exploring. Participants were assigned an individual creative task centered on the theme of the “glowing rectangle.” Throughout this time, each participant was asked to observe and document how rectangular light sources (e.g., phone screens, windows, signs, reflections) appear in different environments. It was time to appreciate the „bright side” of the screen. We highlighted what an incredible device the smartphone actually is, listing the countless physical tools it replaces and the benefits it brings. Then, participants transformed into film directors and actors. Their mission was to shoot a short video using a universal language (no spoken words) that anyone in the world could understand. The films beautifully captured the core contrast of the project: the phone as a dangerous trap versus the phone as an amazing tool.

Day 6. Closing & YouthPass Our final day focused on the future and how to implement what we learned. Participants created personal action plans to use their phones mindfully once they returned home. We also discussed further opportunities provided by EU mobility programs. Finally, we wrapped up the project with a unique YouthPass ceremony: a „Late Night Show” where every participant received their certificate during a fun, personalized interview on the hot seat.

It was a week full of learnings and reconnection with nature, and everyone was really kind! It also allowed me to recognize that I want to keep working in the field of international non-formal education. From the facilitation perspective, it was fulfilling to see the participants becoming more confident on their skills, and befriending each other!

The atmosphere during the exchange was friendly from the beginning. Thanks to many team activities and games, we became close very quickly. I improved my English communication skills, met interesting people from different countries, and learned a lot about healthy habits and life without constantly being online.

It was my first experience with international group. At first, I felt a bit stressed about the first meeting and the journey. However, when the time came, it turned out my worries were unnecessary, because from the very first day I felt comfortable, like at home, and respected by everyone. What surprised me the most was the understanding and honesty of the facilitators, thanks to whom I felt heard, accepted, and important during the exchange. 

Before my first exchange, I was worried about getting lost during the journey and that the classes would be awkward or boring. My concerns were unnecessary, thank to the organisers help. the journey turned out to be very simple, and the classes were highly engaging and interesting. What surprised me the most was how cohesive, warm, and understanding we turned out to be as a group. It’s rare for a group of nearly thirty strangers of different ages to have no conflicts or feelings of exclusion.

This project is a team effort bringing together a passionate network of partners:

– Evergreen Association,
– EYCB,
– United Societies of Balkans (USB),
– and Municipality La Pobla de Duc.
Together, we’re tackling the challenge of digital burnout and screen dependency among young people today. By bringing participants from all over Europe to the beautiful Baltic coast, we’re bridging the gap between local action and international impact. Our goal is to create a safe, supportive space where young people can trade passive scrolling for real, face-to-face connections. This collaboration isn’t just about one youth exchange; it’s about a long-term commitment to digital wellbeing and making sure everyone feels included. By joining forces, our five organizations ensure that every participant heads home with practical tools to stay balanced and healthy in an always-connected world.