Croatia

Harmony in Diversity

1. Team members of the presentation: Danijel, Dora, Nina, Paola

2. Country: Croatia

3. Date: June 24, 2026. Wednesday

4. Location (place where the activity was organised): Kreaktiva, Srijemska 124B, Osijek, Croatia

5. Target group and number of participants: 

Young people aged 15–18. Number of participants: 15

6. Short description of the activity, reactions of the people who took part
Our follow-up activity, "Rhythm Connections – Discover Yourself Through Music," was organized at Kreaktiva, Srijemska 124B, Osijek. The workshop used music as a tool to encourage self-expression, strengthen self-confidence, and create meaningful connections among young people in a relaxed, safe and inclusive environment. The workshop began with an interactive energizer designed to help participants get to know one another and feel comfortable within the group. Each participant introduced themselves by singing their name using different tones, rhythms and melodies. As the activity developed, participants gradually added movements and body percussion, using clapping, stomping, tapping their chest, turning around and other creative sounds produced with their own bodies. By combining names, rhythm and movement, the group quickly built trust, improved communication and created a positive atmosphere where everyone felt included from the very beginning. The first main activity focused on self-reflection through music. Participants created a collective mind map where, in the center, they placed a song that held personal meaning or represented an important period of their lives. They then explored the emotions connected to that song and reflected on how listening to it made them feel. By sharing their stories and emotions, participants discovered common experiences while recognizing and appreciating the uniqueness of each individual's personal journey. The activity encouraged empathy, active listening and deeper understanding among the group. The second workshop encouraged participants to explore the sounds around them. They first listened carefully to different sounds from nature, identifying and recording what they could hear. Afterwards, working in small groups, they recreated these sounds using body percussion as well as everyday objects such as plastic bottles, wooden spoons and other simple materials. This creative exercise promoted teamwork, imagination and problem-solving while demonstrating that music can be created from ordinary objects and shared experiences. Throughout the workshop, participants worked individually, in pairs and in groups, gradually becoming more confident in expressing themselves. The activities promoted creativity, cooperation, communication and mutual respect while showing that every individual contributes something valuable to the group. Reflection moments at the end of the session encouraged participants to recognize their own strengths, appreciate diversity and understand how music can connect people beyond words. The feedback was extremely positive. Participants described the workshop as engaging, inspiring and enjoyable. Even those who were initially shy became more open and actively involved as the activities progressed. Many participants shared that they express themselves with greater confidence and experience how music can build genuine connections between individuals from different backgrounds. Overall, the workshop successfully promoted inclusion, creativity, self-expression and social interaction while demonstrating that music is a universal language capable of bringing people together. As facilitators, we ensured that every participant had the opportunity to contribute, creating a welcoming environment where everyone felt respected, heard and valued.

7. Links of online dissemination and visibility of the project:
Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaF32tPsoIx/?igsh=MTZydTVyZWt2ZTZjOA%3D%3D 

and Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1028591539526950/?share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fr%2F18zc7GATCc%2F&rdid=gWbZcw20cfYT1orw 

 Links to the posts on social media:

Participants' impressions from the project

Dora Matinac: 

Paola Ondrašek: 

Danijel Buzina:

Participating in the Harmony in Diversitey project was a truly valuable and inspiring experience for me. The project focused on the power of music as a universal language that connects people regardless of their cultural or national backgrounds. Throughout the project, I had the opportunity to meet amazing participants from different countries, exchange ideas, and learn about their cultures, traditions, and perspectives.

One of the greatest benefits of this experience was improving my English communication skills. Speaking and working with people from different backgrounds every day helped me become more confident in expressing myself and communicating in an international environment. At the same time, I discovered new and creative ways of using music to promote inclusion, teamwork, and intercultural understanding.

What I enjoyed the most was the friendly international atmosphere and the strong sense of cooperation among all participants. Everyone was open-minded, supportive, and willing to share their knowledge and experiences. Working together on musical activities showed me how music can bring people closer, overcome language barriers, and create meaningful connections.

The most memorable part of the project was participating in musical workshops and performances with people from different cultures. Sharing our songs, rhythms, and traditions allowed us to learn from one another while creating unforgettable memories together. These moments reminded me that, despite our differences, we can communicate and build friendships through music.

Overall, the Harmony in Diversity project helped me grow both personally and professionally. It strengthened my communication, teamwork, and intercultural skills while increasing my confidence and broadening my perspective. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this project, and I will always remember the people I met, the experiences we shared, and the valuable lessons I learned.

Nina Huđik:

Organization and Coordination of the Project

The organisation of the project was excellent. We were very well hosted, accommodation and logistics were organised smoothly, and the partner organisations were supportive throughout the whole process. A special mention goes to Bobi, who was always available for questions, explained the projects and opportunities in detail, and shared his personal experience, which gave us additional insight and motivation. The first day was one of the strongest parts of the training. The introduction to the project goals, the badge activity, and the tasks connected with competences helped participants better understand the purpose of the training and reflect on their own learning process from the beginning. However, after the training, one question remained: how can we practically apply what we learned in our local communities and youth work?

Implementation of the PDA

The programme was well planned and the facilitators created a positive learning environment. The activities encouraged participation and connection between participants, and music was successfully used as a tool for communication and interaction. At the same time, I feel that there could have been a stronger focus on the connection between music and youth work. Some activities were more focused on experiencing music itself rather than exploring concrete methods of how to use music with different groups of young people.

Learning Outcomes and Personal Impact

The project was a valuable personal experience. I enjoyed meeting new people, exchanging experiences with participants from different countries, and being part of an international environment. The idea of using music as a tool for diversity and inclusion was very interesting, but I believe the topic could have been explored on a deeper level. Some activities, such as repeating the same energiser and the same singing activity every day, did not fully contribute to achieving this goal. Additionally, I personally participated less in this part because I have some hearing difficulties and certain tones were challenging for me. However, even from the outside, it felt that the group was often struggling to stay in rhythm and the final result did not always support the intended purpose of the activity.

Positive Aspects and Challenges

The biggest strengths of the project were the organisation, the hosts, the international networking opportunities, and the safe space created for participants. The natural surroundings were also effectively used and contributed to a more creative learning experience. The main challenge was that some parts of the training required a certain level of musical background, which not all participants had. More guidance and adaptation for participants without musical experience would make the activities more inclusive.

Suggestions for Improvement

For future editions, I would suggest including more practical examples of how to transfer musical activities into youth work. More workshops focused on adapting activities for different age groups and skill levels, as well as providing ready-to-use materials and guidelines, would help participants apply the knowledge after the project. It would also be beneficial to include more variety in activities, reduce repetitive elements, and create more space for reflection on how music can support diversity, inclusion, and community work.