Our Impact

Measuring Our Impact

Tracking participation, skills development, intercultural engagement, and collaborative outcomes throughout the V-EXCHANGE project lifecycle.

By the Numbers

V-EXCHANGE in Numbers

Data collected across all cohorts and partner organisations.

1800+

Young Participants

Young people who took part in V-EXCHANGE exchanges across all cohorts.

80+

Facilitators Trained

Youth workers and educators certified as V-EXCHANGE facilitators.

Partner Countries

North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, and Bulgaria.

92%

Would Recommend

Participants who said they would recommend V-EXCHANGE to a friend.

Geographic Reach

Participating Countries

Four countries in the Western Balkans, united through virtual exchange.

North Macedonia

Skopje

560+

participants

All Three Themes

Albania

Tirana

420+

participants

Sustainability & Democracy

Kosovo

Pristina

380+

participants

Democracy & Digital

Bulgaria

Sofia

440+

participants

Digital Transformation

Skills Improvement

Before & After V-EXCHANGE

Self-reported skills improvement from 800+ participants who completed a full exchange cycle.

Digital Skills

Online Collaboration Before: 48% → After: 81%

Digital Content Creation Before: 35% → After: 74%

Online Safety Awareness Before: 52% → After: 88%

AI Literacy Before: 22% → After: 67%

Intercultural & Civic Skills

Intercultural Empathy Before: 61% → After: 91%

Active Citizenship Confidence Before: 39% → After: 76%

English Communication Before: 55% → After: 82%

Critical Thinking Before: 47% → After: 79%

Data from participant self-assessment surveys, n=823, Jan–May 2025. Percentage reflects “confident” or “very confident” ratings.

Case Studies

Success Stories

Real stories from young people whose perspectives, skills, and lives were shaped by V-EXCHANGE.

Green Futures Exchange

Elena, 22

North Macedonia

"Before V-EXCHANGE, I thought climate action was something for scientists and politicians. During the Green Futures exchange, I worked alongside young people from Albania and Kosovo on a real urban greening proposal for our city. The week after it ended, I organised our neighbourhood's first community garden."

What happened after

Launched a community garden project · Joined a local youth climate network · Now volunteers as a V-EXCHANGE peer facilitator

Digital Democracy Exchange

Artan, 24

Kosovo

"I used to scroll through social media and believe almost everything I read. Digital Democracy was a completely different experience. We did real fact-checking exercises with young people from Bulgaria and North Macedonia, and shared how disinformation spreads differently in our countries."

What happened after

Created a media literacy workshop for peers · Shared findings with his university journalism class · Ongoing connection with participants from Bulgaria

Digital Transformation Exchange

Milena, 19

Bulgaria

"The AI tools and digital storytelling sessions were unlike anything I'd experienced in school. We used AI to co-write a short story about migration with participants from Albania, each of us adding our own cultural perspective. I never thought I'd be creating something meaningful with someone I had never met."

What happened after

Published the collaborative AI story in a youth magazine · Started a digital arts club at her university · Applied for the V-EXCHANGE facilitator training programme

Looking Ahead

Long-Term Vision

The V-EXCHANGE project aims to create lasting change beyond its three-year lifecycle, building foundations for a more connected, inclusive, and digitally ready generation.

Stronger Intercultural Dialogue

Building lasting cross-cultural understanding and empathy between youth across Europe and beyond.

Digital Readiness

Equipping young people and educators with the digital skills needed to thrive in an interconnected world.

Regional Cooperation

Sustaining collaborative networks between organisations, educators, and institutions across the Western Balkans.

Inclusive Participation

Ensuring all young people, regardless of background, ability, or location, can access and benefit from Virtual Exchange.

Future VE Networks

Establishing self-sustaining Virtual Exchange communities that continue to grow and connect after the project ends.