YOUTH-ful-GUIDES

11/09/2025

(ΕΛ)
✨ Την περασμένη Πέμπτη, λίγο πριν την έναρξη της συνάντησης του προγράμματος YOUTH-ful-GUIDES στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος Erasmus+, ο κ. Μιχάλης Πουσπουρίκας μοιράστηκε τον ενθουσιασμό του και τις προσδοκίες του για όσα επρόκειτο να ακολουθήσουν.

📍 Στο πλαίσιο αυτού του ευρωπαϊκού προγράμματος, συναντηθήκαμε με τους συνεργάτες μας από τη Λιθουανία Tavo Europa και την Ισπανία Inercia Digital για να ανταλλάξουμε ιδέες και να γιορτάσουμε μαζί αυτή την επιτυχία.

🎥 Δείτε το βίντεο και ξαναζήστε την ενέργεια της στιγμής μέσα από τα λόγια του co-founder της Actina.

(EN)
✨ Last Thursday, shortly before the start of the YOUTH-ful-GUIDES project meeting as part of the Erasmus+ program, Mr. Michalis Pouspourikas shared his enthusiasm and expectations for what was to come.

📍 As part of this European program, we met with our partners from Lithuania Tavo Europa and Spain Inercia Digital to exchange ideas and celebrate this success together.

🎥 Watch the video and relive the energy of the moment through the words of the co-founder of Actina.

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08/09/2025

(ΕΛ)
🎉 Δώρο με... μέλλον! 🎉
Στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος Erasmus+ Youthful Guides, χαρίσαμε στους συμμετέχοντες ένα 📱 tablet – όχι απλά ως υλικό αγαθό, αλλά ως εργαλείο δημιουργικότητας.💡🌍

Το ταξίδι της μάθησης γίνεται ακόμα πιο συναρπαστικό όταν συνδυάζεται με τεχνολογία, ευκαιρίες και... ένα δώρο που κάνει τη διαφορά!
Γιατί κάθε νέος/νέα οδηγός χρειάζεται τα σωστά "εργαλεία" για να χαράξει τον δικό του δρόμο! 🚀

🤝 Μαζί χτίζουμε γέφυρες, ανταλλάσσουμε εμπειρίες και ενισχύουμε την ενεργή συμμετοχή των νέων!

(EN)
🎉 A gift with... towards future! 🎉
As part of the Erasmus+ Youthful Guides program, we gave the participants a 📱 tablet—not just as a simple gift, but as a tool for creativity.💡🌍

The journey of learning becomes even more exciting when combined with technology, opportunities, and... a gift that makes a difference!
Because every new guide needs the right "tools" to chart their own course! 🚀

🤝 Together we build bridges, exchange experiences, and strengthen the active participation of young people!

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05/09/2025

(ΕΛ)
2η μέρα - Βιώσιμος τουρισμός και ανατροφοδότηση
Πέμπτη, 4 Σεπτεμβρίου, μια εξίσου εκπληκτική εμπειρία! 💯

😁Η μέρα μας ξεκίνησε με την περιήγηση που οργάνωσε η δεύτερη ομάδα των Youth-ful Guides. Ο Πύργος του Ρολογιού στην κεντρική πλατεία, η Εκκλησία του Αγίου Βλάσιου (με τη συμβολή του ιερέα της), το «Σπίτι του Πολιτισμού» μαζί με κάποιες πληροφορίες για την «Φιλοπρόοδη Ένωση Ξάνθης» (Φ.Ε.Ξ), το παλιό Δημαρχείο της Ξάνθης (1926-2013), το αρχοντικό της οικογένειας Καλούδη (1877) και έναν από τους σημαντικότερους πνευματικούς, θρησκευτικούς και πολιτιστικούς χώρους της Ξάνθης, την πλατεία Μητροπόλεως με το 1ο Δημοτικό Σχολείο, τον Μητροπολιτικό Ναό και το Μητροπολιτικό Μέγαρο. Οι Youth-ful Guides μας έδειξαν τι σημαίνει βαθιά κατανόηση της τοπικής κληρονομιάς και της πολιτιστικής σημασίας της.

📚Στη συνέχεια, προχωρήσαμε σε μια συνάντηση αναστοχασμού με τους τοπικούς φορείς, τους εκπαιδευόμενους και τους εταίρους του προγράμματος, που συγκεντρώθηκαν στα γραφεία μας στην actina, για να αξιολογήσουμε την πρόοδο, να μοιραστούμε ιδέες και να ενισχύσουμε τη συνεργασία μας. Η συνάντηση αποτέλεσε μια πολύτιμη ευκαιρία για να συζητήσουμε όσα επιτεύχθηκαν, να εξετάσουμε τον αντίκτυπο του προγράμματος και να σχεδιάσουμε μελλοντικές δράσεις. Μέσα από έναν ανοιχτό διάλογο και μια κοινή δέσμευση, οι συμμετέχοντες επιβεβαίωσαν την αφοσίωσή τους στους στόχους του προγράμματος και τον θετικό αντίκτυπο στην τοπική κοινότητα. Η παρουσία και η ενεργός συμμετοχή όλων των ενδιαφερόμενων μερών υπογράμμισαν τη σημασία της συνεργασίας για τη διασφάλιση της μακροπρόθεσμης επιτυχίας και βιωσιμότητας.

🔝Στο τέλος, πραγματοποιήθηκε μία συνάντηση με τους εταίρους, με στόχο την καλύτερη επικοινωνία μεταξύ μας και την επίτευξη καλύτερων αποτελεσμάτων σε κάθε μελλοντική δραστηριότητα.

👏Ιδιαίτερες ευχαριστίες στην Πρόεδρο του Εμπορικού Επιμελητηρίου Ξάνθης, κα Μαριάνθη Μαλλιαρούδακη , και στην Πρόεδρο της Ομοσπονδίας Επαγγελματιών και Εμπόρων της Περιφέρειας Ξάνθης, κα Μαίρη Τσιακιρογλού , για την παρουσία τους και τη συμβολή τους όχι μόνο στο πρόγραμμα Youth-ful Guides, αλλά και στις πολιτιστικές, κοινωνικές και επιχειρηματικές εκδηλώσεις της Ξάνθης καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια του έτους.

(EN)
Youth-ful GUIDES Tour-Exploration
Day 2 - Sustainable Tourism and Feedback
Thursday, September 4th, an equally amazing experience! 💯

😁Our day began with the tour organized by the second group of Youth-ful Guides. The Clock Tower in the central square, the Church of Saint Vlassios (with the contribution of its priest), the “House of Culture” alongside with some info about the “Progressive Association of Xanthi” (F.E.X.), Xanthi’s old Town Hall (1926-2013), Kaloudis Family Mansion (1877) and one of the most important spiritual, religious and cultural spaces of Xanthi, the Metropolitan square with the 1st Primary School, the Metropolitan Church and the Metropolitan Mansion. Our Youth-ful Guides showed us what is a deep understanding of local heritage and cultural importance.

📚Then, we proceeded with a reflection meeting with local institutions, youthful guides and project partners gathered, back at our offices at actina, to evaluate progress, share insights, and strengthen our collaboration. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to discuss achievements, address the impact of the project, and plan future actions. Through open dialogue and shared commitment, participants reaffirmed their dedication to the project's goals and the positive impact on the local community. The presence and active engagement of all stakeholders highlighted the importance of cooperation in ensuring long-term success and sustainability.

🔝At the end, a partner’s meeting took place, to ensure a better communication among us, and a finer result for every activity that follows.

👏A special thanks to the President of the Commercial Chamber of Xanthi, Mrs. Marianthi Malliaroudaki and to the President of the Federation of Professional Craftsmen and Traders of the Region of Xanthi, Mrs. Mairi Tsiakiroglou, for their attendance and their contribution not only to the Youth-ful Guides project, but also to Xanthi’s cultural, social and entrepreneurship events all year round.

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05/09/2025

(ΕΛ)
Η Τετάρτη, 3 Σεπτεμβρίου, ήταν φανταστική!💥

🌲Η μέρα μας ξεκίνησε με μια βόλτα και μια μικρή εξερεύνηση στις όχθες του Νέστου. Κατά τη διάρκεια αυτής της επίσκεψης, μας γοήτευσε η γαλήνια ομορφιά και η άγρια γοητεία του ποταμού. Καθώς περπατούσαμε, τα κρυστάλλινα νερά έλαμπαν κάτω από τον ήλιο, αντανακλώντας το όμορφο δάσος και τα βουνά γύρω μας. Η γνώση ιστορικών δεδομένων σχετικά με τον Νέστο και την παλιά σιδηροδρομική γραμμή (1896) αποτέλεσε τον τέλειο συνδυασμό της μαγείας της φύσης και μιας βαθιάς αίσθησης της επιμονής του χρόνου έναντι του χώρου!

👀Αργότερα το απόγευμα, ακολουθήσαμε την πρώτη ομάδα των Youth-ful Guides μέσα στις παλιές συνοικίες της πόλης. Μεταξύ των πολλών στάσεων ήταν ο Πολυχώρος Τέχνης και Σκέψης (Οικία Μάνου Χατζιδάκι), το «Σπίτι της Σκιάς» (ένας καινοτόμος χώρος τέχνης), η Δημοτική Πινακοθήκη, το Ιστορικό και Λαογραφικό Μουσείο Ξάνθης (επίσης αρχοντικό μιας πλούσιας οικογένειας εμπόρων καπνού) και ο ποταμός Κοσύνθος (ως φυσικό ορόσημο με μυθολογικό ενδιαφέρον και ιστορικά γεγονότα σχετικά με την επέκταση της πόλης).

Το βράδυ, μια άλλη έκπληξη περίμενε τους εταίρους του προγράμματος, ακολουθώντας τον παραδοσιακό τρόπο διασκέδασης στις Γιορτές της Παλιάς Πόλης. Τοπικά φαγητά και ποτά, καθώς και μια παραδοσιακή & λαϊκή μπάντα έπαιξαν στον Πολιτιστικό Σύλλογο «Νέα Γενιά».🎷🎸

👏Ιδιαίτερες ευχαριστίες στον Αντιδήμαρχο Πολιτισμού, κ. Μιχάλη Τσεπέλη, για την παρουσία του και τη συμβολή του όχι μόνο στο έργο Youth-ful Guides, αλλά και στις πολιτιστικές εκδηλώσεις της Ξάνθης καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια του έτους.

(EN)
🎉 Day 1 - Showcasing Cultural Richness
Just this Wednesday, September 3rd, was a blast!💥

🌲Our day began with a walk and mini exploration of Nestos Riverbanks. During this visit we were captivated by its serene beauty and untamed charm. As we walked, the crystal-clear waters glistened under the sun, mirroring the vibrant forests and towering cliffs around us. Knowledge of historical facts about Nestos and the old railway route (1896) made up the perfect combination of natural magic and a deep sense of time vs space perseverance!

👀Later in the evening, we followed the first group of Youth-ful Guides inside the old town districts. Among the many stops were the Mutliplex of Art and Thought (Manos Hadjidakis Mansion), the “House of Shadow” (an innovative art space), the Municipal Art Gallery, the Historical and Folklore Museum of Xanthi (also a mansion of a wealthy to***co trading family) and Kosynthos River (as a natural landmark both with mythological interest and historical facts about the expansion of the city).

By night, another surprise was waiting the project partners, following the traditional way of having fun at the Old Town Festivities. Local food and drinks, as well as a traditional & folk greek band performed in the Cultural Association “Nea Genia” (New Generation).🎷🎸

👏A special thanks to the Deputy Mayor of Culture, Mr. Michalis Tsepelis, for his attendance and his contribution not only to the Youth-ful Guides project, but also to Xanthi’s cultural events all year round.

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29/08/2025

Youth-ful GUIDES Tour-Exploration soon begins in Greece!

🎉 September marks an exciting experience, both for the Youth-ful GUIDES project and for Xanthi in total. Hosted in Xanthi by actina, this two day tour-exploration orchestrated by the young participants will bring a colorful touch to what it means to be a tourism ambassador and a cultural actor.

👣 We will follow them inside the Old Town of Xanthi and with them a journey towards their true passion will unfold. The stories to be told and the points of interest chosen by these young individuals will provide us with the opportunity to get to know better our heritage, our culture and all that is the meaning of a true passion in preserving and remembering.

🧭 The two day tour-exploration will take place during the festivities of the Old Town of Xanthi, in 3rd & 4th of September, showcasing the skills and practices taught in the Training Program (July 1st-7th).

🏛 Drawing inspiration from the historical landmarks, hidden gems and diverse neighborhoods of Xanthi, these well trained guides are ready to share with us their point of view of Xanthi. Are you?
Stay tuned for updates and moments from our journey!

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08/07/2025

🎉 Our YOUTH-ful-GUIDES Training Program in Xanthi, Greece has officially come to an end – and what a journey it has been!

From getting to know each other and dreaming about becoming cultural guides, to field sessions, real tour rehearsals, and testing the YouthfulGuides app — our 15 young participants showed incredible enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication every step of the way.

Over 5 exciting days, they learned about guiding techniques, tourist profiles, non-verbal communication, sustainability, and storytelling. They explored the Old Town of Xanthi, researched key landmarks, created team-based tours, and even delivered full presentations as a final rehearsal for their public tours in September.

The final day took place at actina’s offices, where participants reflected on their journey, created their profiles in the YouthfulGuides app, and offered valuable feedback for improvement. They also completed their evaluation forms and wrapped up the Post-it challenge, celebrating the goals they had achieved!

📲 Are you passionate about travel or heritage? You can now join our app too — as a traveler looking for authentic tours or as an amateur guide who wants to share their love for their city!
👉 Visit www.youthfulguides.app and create your profile today!

🎯 We are so proud of our new generation of young guides and can’t wait to see them again during our Final Event on September 3–4!

07/07/2025

07/07/2025

🇬🇷 Youth-ful GUIDES in Action – Training in the Old City of Xanthi, Greece!

During the third and fourth day of our training, the Youth-ful GUIDES left the classroom behind and stepped into the city itself to gain hands-on experience as local tour guides!

🗓️ Day 3: Exploring the City's Heritage
Our group followed a guided tour through the charming alleys of Xanthi’s Old Town, visiting key historical and cultural landmarks such as:
🕰️ The Clock Tower
🏛️ The Hadjidakis Residence
⛪ Saint George Church
🏛️ The Old Town Hall
🏺 The Folk and History Museum of Xanthi
⛪ The Metropolis of Xanthi

Each participant was paired with a teammate, and together they adopted one of these sites, conducted their own research, and began preparing their personalized guided presentation for the next day.

Special thanks to FEX (Folkloric and Historical Center of Xanthi) and George Kyriakides for the insightful and welcoming tour of the museum – a key stop in understanding the city’s cultural depth.

🗓️ Day 4: The Rehearsal Tour
This day was all about presentation. Each pair took turns delivering a mini-tour at their assigned location – applying the techniques they’ve learned so far: from storytelling, voice projection, and eye contact to structuring a tour and handling the audience.

One of the highlights of the day was our visit to the House of Shadow, one of the top-rated tourist attractions in Xanthi.
We warmly thank Mr. Triantafyllos Vaitsis for offering us a short guided experience and allowing our young participants to connect with this unique piece of contemporary art and cultural creativity.

The day concluded at the Metropolis of Xanthi, where the final presentations took place and the trainer offered feedback and tips to each pair – helping them refine their skills in view of the official tour in September.

🖥️ Coming next: Going Digital!
On the final day of the training, participants will be introduced to the custom-made Youth-ful GUIDES digital application. They’ll learn how to use it, explore its features, and create their own personal profiles — embracing their role as digital-native local ambassadors!

03/07/2025

🇬🇷 Youth-ful GUIDES Training in Xanthi, Greece!

Our training kicked off with two powerful and engaging sessions hosted at actina (formerly FM-EPICHEIREIN) in the heart of Xanthi. Here's what happened:

🗓️ Day 1: Getting to Know Each Other & Building Foundations
We started the day with a short presentation of the Youth-ful GUIDES project and the impact of the Erasmus+ programme, to ensure that all participants fully understand the broader context and purpose of their training — because a great guide also knows the story behind their journey.

We then welcomed our 15 selected participants, who introduced themselves, shared why they want to become tour guides, and reflected on what they hope to gain from the program.
✨ Through a creative post-it activity, they visualized their personal goals for this experience.

The session then explored:
🔹 What it means to be a tour guide
🔹 The different types of tourists and how to adapt to each
🔹 Professional ethics, communication strategies, and body language
🔹 The importance of public speaking – tone, eye contact, pauses, storytelling
🔹 How digital tools can enhance modern guiding

🎤 We closed with a fun challenge: each participant had one minute to present themselves and their future tour to the group – and they did amazing!

🗓️ Day 2: Designing the Perfect Tour
The group dove into how to plan and organize a guided tour, using Xanthi as their reference point.
They discussed key elements such as:
🗺️ Balanced and attractive routes
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Audience needs (we even designed a family-friendly tour!)
🚶‍♀️ Smooth flow, accessibility, buffer time, and flexibility
🗣️ Clear communication, group dynamics, and tour energy

It was a day of open dialogue, creative thinking, and peer collaboration, laying the groundwork for practical field experiences.

📍 Next stop: the city of Xanthi itself!
Over the next two days, our guides-in-training will step outside and apply their knowledge in the field, discovering their city with new eyes and skills.

Stay tuned!

27/06/2025

🇬🇷 Youth-ful-GUIDES Training Program Begins in Greece!

July marks an exciting milestone for the Youth-ful-GUIDES project as the training program officially kicks off in Greece! Hosted in Xanthi by FM-EPICHEIREIN, the sessions bring together a passionate group of young participants ready to explore the intersection of culture, sustainable tourism, and digital innovation.

Following a highly competitive application process, 15 participants have been carefully selected to represent a diverse group of young people aged 16–30. Among them are high school students, university students, and individuals from vulnerable backgrounds — all chosen from many enthusiastic applicants who expressed great interest in joining the initiative.

📅 The training will take place during the first week of July (1st–7th July) and will offer a unique hands-on experience designed to equip participants with the tools and knowledge to become youth ambassadors of their local heritage. From storytelling techniques to sustainable tourism practices and digital tools, this program will help them turn passion into action.

📍Drawing inspiration from the cultural landmarks, hidden gems, and diverse neighborhoods of Xanthi, these future guides are ready to begin their journey — stay tuned for updates and moments from their learning experience!

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27/06/2025

🇱🇹 Youth-ful-GUIDES Events Kick Off in Lithuania!

Earlier this June, two engaging awareness events took place at Šiaurės Licėjus school in Vilnius, where our Lithuanian partner Tavo Europa invited students to discover the Youth-ful-GUIDES project — a European initiative that brings together tourism, culture, sustainability, and digital innovation.

During the sessions, students explored the goals of the project, learned about the training program that will soon begin, and reflected on the role young people can play in shaping the future of tourism in their communities. A fun quiz helped challenge common myths about tourism, while a lively brainstorming session encouraged students to share ideas about promoting Vilnius through youth-led storytelling.

These interactive events sparked great interest among the participants and marked an important step in building our local guide team in Lithuania!

📚 The training program is just around the corner, and we’re excited to welcome the selected participants soon.
📅 Plus, another awareness and recruitment event is coming in late August — stay tuned!

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24/06/2025

🌍📘 Big News from the YOUTH-ful-GUIDES project!

The training materials are now available in Greek, Spanish, Lithuanian, and English! 🇬🇷🇪🇸🇱🇹🇬🇧

These guides are at the heart of our project, helping young people become local tour guides who are passionate about culture, sustainability, and digital innovation. They are especially important for participants of our training program, but they’re also freely available to anyone interested in youth-led tourism and heritage promotion!

🔗 Download them here: https://youthfulguides.eu/?page_id=394

Let’s build a new generation of youth ambassadors for local culture and green tourism! 🌿✨

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