Intercultural Quality

The Intercultural Quality seminar was organized in Topola, Serbia, with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. It brought together youth workers, leaders, teachers, and social workers from across Europe to explore how intercultural competence and sensitivity can strengthen youth work and social inclusion.

In today’s world, interculturality is part of everyday life. Young people and those who work with them face challenges linked to cultural differences, misunderstandings, and ambiguity in communication. This seminar focused on building the competences of youth workers to recognize, understand, and adapt to cultural diversity in their communities and projects.

Objectives

The seminar aimed to:

• Introduce and apply Milton J. Bennett’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity.

• Strengthen participants’ ability to understand, accept, and appreciate cultural differences.

• Provide practical tools for using intercultural sensitivity in youth work with young people from diverse backgrounds.

• Support the creation of new Erasmus+ projects, including youth exchanges, training courses, and volunteering opportunities, based on intercultural learning.

Participants

The seminar gathered youth workers, leaders, volunteers, and educators who:

• Work directly with young people from multicultural environments.

• Are active in non-formal education and youth initiatives.

• Want to improve their competences in intercultural sensitivity.

• Have experience in intercultural learning and youth work.

Participants came from more than ten European countries, creating a diverse group that reflected the values of inclusion, tolerance, and cooperation.

Venue

The activities were hosted in Topola, a town in the heart of Serbia’s Šumadija region, known for its cultural and historical heritage. The group stayed at Hotel Oplenac, surrounded by greenery and offering a setting that encouraged reflection, teamwork, and intercultural dialogue.

Support and Funding

The seminar was co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union and the German National Agency. The project budget covered travel, accommodation, meals, and all planned activities.

Impact

Intercultural Quality provided participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical tools to apply intercultural sensitivity in their daily work. By strengthening the competences of youth workers, the seminar contributed to greater understanding, respect, and cooperation among young people from diverse backgrounds, leaving a lasting impact on local communities and future international projects.