From 17 to 21 May 2026, participants and partner organisations of the Erasmus+ project RE.W.I.N.D. Women gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece, for the second international mobility of the project, hosted by Pylon One. Following the successful learning activities carried out in Viterbo, Italy, this mobility represented another important step in the project’s journey, bringing together women, youth workers, educators, and project partners from different European countries to collaborate, learn, and contribute to the development of innovative educational tools promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The mobility involved representatives from partner organisations including Pylon One, Skillhub, L’Isola Che C’è, KEHSIA, and DCTR, all united by the common goal of challenging gender stereotypes and creating opportunities for reflection, dialogue, and personal growth through non-formal education methodologies.
Exploring Gender Equality Through Creativity and Storytelling
One of the central themes of the mobility was the use of storytelling as a powerful educational tool. During a series of workshops facilitated by Skillhub, participants explored the role that narratives, media representation, and creative expression play in shaping perceptions of women and gender roles within society.
The sessions focused on the development and finalisation of the graphic novels created within the RE.W.I.N.D. Women project. These graphic novels are designed to address issues such as discrimination, resilience, inclusion, self-awareness, empowerment, and social expectations placed on women. Through collaborative activities, discussions, and creative exercises, participants reflected on their own experiences and cultural backgrounds while contributing ideas and perspectives that enriched the final educational resources.
A particularly engaging activity involved taking the stories beyond the classroom environment. Participants moved around the city of Thessaloniki, recreating scenes from their graphic novels through photography and role-play. This interactive exercise encouraged teamwork, creativity, and communication while allowing participants to become more familiar with the city and strengthen relationships within their international groups.
The process of transforming ideas into visual stories demonstrated how artistic expression can help make complex social issues more accessible, encouraging reflection and dialogue among diverse audiences. By combining images and narratives, the graphic novels developed within RE.W.I.N.D. Women aim to inspire readers, challenge stereotypes, and promote positive social change.
Testing Innovative Learning Methodologies: The LARP Experience
Another major highlight of the mobility was the pilot testing of the LARP (Live Action Role-Playing) game developed as part of the project.
After months of collaborative planning and development, participants finally had the opportunity to experience the role-playing activity in practice. Each participant was assigned a character complete with personal history, motivations, relationships, challenges, and objectives. Throughout the activity, participants stepped outside their own perspectives and immersed themselves in entirely different realities.
The LARP created a safe and engaging environment in which participants could explore issues connected to gender inequality, social expectations, power dynamics, personal identity, and decision-making. Through interaction, negotiation, collaboration, and conflict resolution, participants experienced first-hand how immersive educational methods can encourage empathy, critical thinking, and emotional engagement.
The testing phase provided valuable feedback for the project partners, helping refine the activity and ensuring that it can become an effective educational resource for future users. The debriefing sessions that followed allowed participants to share their feelings, discuss the challenges they encountered, reflect on their experiences, and suggest improvements.
The enthusiasm generated by the LARP confirmed the potential of experiential learning methodologies to address sensitive social topics in meaningful and impactful ways.
Learning Beyond the Workshops
While the workshops and project activities formed the core of the mobility, an equally important aspect was the opportunity for intercultural exchange.
Participants spent several days working, learning, and socialising together, creating an environment that encouraged openness, dialogue, and mutual understanding. Informal moments, social dinners, and shared experiences allowed participants to learn about different cultures, traditions, and perspectives while building friendships that extended beyond the duration of the project.
The international dimension of Erasmus+ once again demonstrated its value by creating connections among people from different countries who share common values and aspirations. Through collaboration and exchange, participants strengthened not only their professional competences but also their sense of belonging to a wider European community committed to equality, inclusion, and active citizenship.
Discovering Thessaloniki
The city of Thessaloniki provided an inspiring backdrop for the mobility. Known for its rich history, multicultural heritage, vibrant atmosphere, and beautiful waterfront, the city offered participants numerous opportunities to discover Greek culture while participating in project activities.
Walking through its historic streets, enjoying the views of the Thermaic Gulf, and experiencing the local hospitality contributed to making the mobility a memorable and enriching experience. For many participants, discovering a new city while engaging in meaningful educational activities added another valuable dimension to the project.
Participants’ Voices
The impact of the mobility is best reflected in the words of those who took part in it.
“The workshops on graphic novels and storytelling showed us how powerful stories can be in challenging gender stereotypes and promoting equality. Through creative activities and discussions, we explored themes such as empowerment, inclusion, resilience, and identity. Participating in the LARP activity was equally inspiring because it demonstrated how interactive learning can foster empathy, communication, and critical thinking while encouraging meaningful conversations about social issues.”
– Maryam
“One of the most memorable moments was recreating scenes from our graphic novel around the city of Thessaloniki. This activity helped us work closely together, exchange ideas, and discover the city at the same time. The LARP experience was particularly exciting because everyone fully immersed themselves in their characters and brought the story to life. It was fascinating to observe how different people interpreted their roles and contributed to creating a dynamic and thought-provoking learning experience.”
– Corinne
“This mobility was much more than an opportunity to work on project activities. It was a chance to meet inspiring people from different countries, exchange experiences, and learn from one another in a supportive and creative environment. Seeing the graphic novels take shape after months of work and testing the LARP activities was incredibly rewarding. I return home with new skills, meaningful friendships, and a deeper understanding of the power of non-formal education and international cooperation.”
– Claudia
“The mobility in Thessaloniki highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared learning. Working with participants from different cultural backgrounds allowed us to broaden our perspectives, challenge assumptions, and contribute to educational tools that can have a positive impact on women across Europe. The combination of creativity, teamwork, and intercultural dialogue made this experience both enriching and inspiring.”
– Gabriela
Looking Ahead
The Thessaloniki mobility represented a significant milestone for the RE.W.I.N.D. Women project. Not only did it allow participants to finalise important project outputs such as the graphic novels and the LARP methodology, but it also reinforced the project’s wider mission of empowering women through education, creativity, and international cooperation.
The educational resources developed throughout the project will continue to be shared and disseminated among organisations, educators, youth workers, and communities across Europe, ensuring that the knowledge, experiences, and stories generated through RE.W.I.N.D. Women reach a wider audience.
More importantly, the mobility demonstrated that when creativity, dialogue, and collaboration come together, they can become powerful tools for personal growth, social awareness, and positive change. Participants returned home not only with new competences and project outcomes but also with renewed motivation to promote gender equality, inclusion, and empowerment within their own communities.
The experience in Thessaloniki will remain an important chapter in the RE.W.I.N.D. Women journey and a reminder of the value of learning together across borders, cultures, and experiences.