In 2020, the Multicultural Club “Alliance” from Ireland decided to develop international cooperation with organisations of compatriots living across Europe. It was agreed to base this work on the cultural heritage of European countries, as learning about the host country’s culture is one of the key criteria for the successful integration of our compatriots. A unique platform for implementing such projects is the European Erasmus+ programme. The MCC “Alliance” placed its bet on this programme—and it proved to be the right choice.
The first project took place in 2022 in Ireland. The theme, “Differences in Cultural Heritage,” focused on studying rituals, traditions, folk games, proverbs and sayings, as well as getting acquainted with significant historical sites in different countries. Young people aged 13–18 from Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Portugal, and Malta visited the Irish participants. The programme was very intensive. Living conditions included cleaning rooms, washing dishes, tidying the dining area, and preparing traditional dishes on designated days. Despite the rainy Irish weather, everyone enjoyed the project format, and it was decided to continue the series of cultural heritage projects.
In 2023, the Bulgarian city of Blagoevgrad hosted the participants. The project was titled “Heritage Created by People” and focused on folk festivals. Each team presented its national holidays and traditions using non-formal education methods. There were many national dances, and the “Bulgarian Rose” dance became a particular favourite—so much so that the Irish team even performed it at an airport in Switzerland while waiting for a connecting flight back to Ireland.
In 2024, the Greek team joined the partnership and hosted the project. This time, all teams “brought to life” the legends of their countries in an interactive format. The Irish team presented the legend “The Children of King Lir.” Greece, rich in legends, presented several of them, incorporating interactive games. One of the most memorable activities was the “Labyrinth of the Minotaur,” where participants, answering questions about Greek myths, tried to find their way out of a thread labyrinth. Correct answers brought teams closer to the finish.
The Lithuanian team proposed that participants create an animated film based on the Lithuanian Legend of Amber, also known as the Legend of Jūratė and Kastytis, as well as a puppet theatre and a board game on the same theme. The Swedish team taught everyone the Celtic alphabet and invited participants to write a message to future generations in Celtic. The Bulgarian team taught traditional embroidery and helped everyone create a pendant with their own embroidered design. Surprisingly, many boys completed the embroidery faster and more neatly than the girls.
This year, the partners organised their fourth youth project on cultural heritage in Spain, titled “A Journey Through Forgotten Customs and Rituals.” Over four years, the partnership team has evolved, and in Spain, participants came from Ireland, Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania, and Sweden. Two new teams joined—from Finland and Croatia—along with the host Spanish team. The participants met warmly in Madrid before travelling to Salamanca, where the project took place. The programme lasted ten very active days, during which the participants became close friends, gained many new impressions and emotions, and made new friendships.
In Spain, all participants worked as a single team, actively engaging in all activities and demonstrating initiative and creativity. Group leaders mainly observed from the side. A key principle of the project is full involvement in interactive activities. After presentations and workshops, each participant received a role and a task related to the day’s theme, followed by 1.5–2 hours of rehearsals and costume and prop preparation.
Thus, the Bulgarian wedding ritual was joyfully reenacted, with special attention to customs related to the birth of a child and upbringing during the first year of life. No one was surprised that the role of a newborn Bulgarian girl was played by Stepan from the Croatian team, who was fifteen years older than the “baby.” In a workshop, Bulgarians taught participants how to mint a symbolic coin traditionally given by the husband’s family to the mother of the newborn as a sign of gratitude.
The Croatian team also presented wedding traditions, focusing on regional customs. Everyone was deeply impressed by the soulful and professional singing of Elizabeth and Renata. As a souvenir, participants made traditional Licitar hearts in a workshop, symbolising love.
The Spanish team presented Ash Wednesday and the “Burial of the Sardine.” This procession, involving the whole town, symbolises the farewell to festivities and the beginning of Lent. Participants painted a sardine, made “horses” for the performance, and created costumes. The ritual was performed with soldiers, devils, a priest, and mourners so convincing that they evoked real sympathy.
The Greek team presented the rituals of Brumalia (in honour of Dionysus), Saturnalia, Vota, the Great Panathenaea, Kalends, and Rosalia. Participants made “Satyr Masks” and, of course, learned the energetic Sirtaki dance.
The Swedish team introduced Michaelmas traditions and taught bracelet-making and folk dances. The Lithuanian team presented pre-Christmas and Christmas rituals, teaching participants to make masks, decorations, play fortune-telling games, and sing traditional songs. The Finnish team presented Midsummer (Juhannus) customs and taught everyone the folk game Mölkky. The highlight was building a large “boat” in which the “villagers” sailed to church, singing “Katyusha” along the way.
The Irish team chose to celebrate Samhain, the festival of life’s triumph over death, often confused with Halloween. In Celtic paganism, connection with ancestors and spirits of the land was central. Samhain was dedicated to the union of the tribal god with the goddess of sovereignty, Morrigan. The programme included games, rituals, and mystical dances of Druids and spirits.
Each day, participants evaluated the programme using pink (“excellent”) and yellow (“not so good”) stickers. On the final day, everyone received certificates and completed a feedback questionnaire.
Participant Feedback (selected):
Greta, Lithuania: “I learned many new facts about different countries, made new connections, and gained wonderful memories and experience.”
Taisa, Croatia: “I am a reserved person, but here I learned to communicate more and made lasting friendships.”
Katerina, Finland: “I learned to communicate in Russian and perform in public.”
Alexander, Finland: “It felt like visiting seven countries in one project. I gained incredible experience and many friends.”
Renata, Croatia: “I discovered that I can be a leader.”
Vlad, Ireland: “I learned traditions, dances, and songs of different cultures and made new friends.”
William, Sweden: “I gained knowledge about many cultures and experience in theatre.”
…and many others.
Parents’ Feedback:
Parents from Spain and Greece expressed deep gratitude for the Erasmus+ project, noting its positive impact on their children’s confidence, independence, cultural awareness, and creativity.
In conclusion, the project partners and organisations were:
Coordinator: Elena Steshenko, with Inessa Skornyakova and Yuri Fefilov, MCC “Alliance” (Ireland).
Spain: Svetlana Kartunova, Director of the “Maska” Theatre.
Bulgaria: Viktoria Bogdanska, Russian Cultural and Information Centre, Blagoevgrad; Olga Voroshilova, facilitator and psychologist.
Lithuania: Marite Puzaitė, teacher at Gabija Gymnasium, Vilnius.
Greece: Svetlana Kostyuk, MIR Russian Language and Culture Centre.
Finland: Elena Anokhina, Head of the Russian Cultural Centre, Tampere.
Sweden: Alexandra Bistrem, Russian-Swedish Society “Sputnik.”
Croatia: Tatiana Mikolai, Head of the “Kalinka” Association.
Elena Steshenko
Project Manager
Director, MCC “Alliance”
Galway, Ireland