Futurize: Youth Shaping Tomorrow

My name is Erij, and today, I’m excited to share an incredible experience I had while volunteering at INPRO. During the last week of September, we hosted a group of young individuals from Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine for our youth exchange program, “Futurize.” The workshops during this week were facilitated by our long-term volunteers, Mariem from Tunisia and Mariami from Georgia. 

Our program began with different icebreakers and activities to help everyone get to know each other better. Participants also had a 2-hours city tour of Rzeszów, setting the stage for a week full of activities about Artificial Intelligence (AI) ethics, sustainability, and European opportunities.

On the second day of our program, we focused on the ethical aspects of AI. Mariem and Mariami started the day with energisers to create a positive and engaging atmosphere. Participants were divided into groups to define AI, trace its historical origins, and discuss how to develop it ethically to minimise its harm. 

The highlight of the day was an activity called “Ethical Dilemma Scenarios.” In this activity, we discussed real-life problems involving AI and tried to find solutions. After that, we had a fun activity where we acted out humorous skits about AI. It was a delightful way to end the day while learning something important at the same time

We shifted our focus towards AI’s role in future job markets on the third day. Participants formed groups and selected essential professions for survival. We worked together to think about how AI might affect our jobs and why it’s important for AI and people to work together. At the end of the day, each group shared what they had discussed in front of everyone. This helped us understand more about what the future of work might look like with AI.

The fourth day of our program focused on sustainability and environmental awareness. We kicked off the day with a fun game to learn some Polish words and share our cultures. In small groups, we brainstormed ideas for solving environmental problems and discussed how each of us can contribute to helping the environment. We wrapped up the activities with a more creative project, where participants expressed their visions of a sustainable future through art. 

The last day of our program started with a discussion about Erasmus Plus and YouthPass, where we learned about exciting opportunities for young people in Europe. Our participants gained a deeper understanding of how they could engage in international experiences to further their personal and professional development. As the program came to a close, participants engaged in evaluation and heartfelt goodbyes. 

The project is financed by Erasmus+. If you want to learn more about INPRO’s programs, follow our social media channels or check our website constantly: https://www.goinpro.org/.