ReFab – ReWear

17.08.2026 – 24.08.2026

Ronda, Spain

Event summary

In a world shaped by growing waste and relentless consumerism, it’s easy to overlook the potential in what we discard. Upcycling invites a shift in perspective, transforming broken, or seemingly invaluable items into meaningful, one-of-a-kind creations. By repairing, redesigning, or deconstructing objects, it blends creativity with purpose, turning waste into something to cherish for life.

Spend your time in Benaoján, a small village in the Andalusian mountains, where you’ll be based for the exchange. The setting offers a calm environment, making it easy to focus on group activities, sharing ideas, and enjoying time together. You’ll also have a town day in nearby Ronda to visit local artisan shops, second-hand stores, and enjoy the historic setting of the town.

Over eight eventful days, including two travel days (August 17-24, 2026), the ReFab ReWear youth exchange will guide 29 young people (18-30) from Spain, Estonia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Greece through a non-formal education journey. Starting with ice-breakers and team-building activities to build a group vibe, you’ll kick off with introductory sessions on the environmental impact of fast fashion and your own footprint. Throughout the exchange we will dive into hands-on workshops providing you with practical mending, crafting and upcycling skills split between textile based techniques and focusing more on household items in the second half.

Ready to upgrade your handicrafting skills and make new international connections? Apply now and join us in bringing sustainability closer to youth!

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission Erasmus+ programme. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Attention!
Just a heads-up, folks! August in the south of Spain can be extremely sunny and warm. Be prepared!

International Youth Exchange

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Where you'll be staying

Venue & Location

You will share spacious and comfortable rooms with 2-4 other participants in one of the two old wineries that are part of our complex. Each includes showers and toilets, and towels are provided.

Venue includes:

Swimming pool
Basketball and football field
Indoor seminar room
Possibility of hiking in the beautiful forests
Yes, there’s Internet access (Wi-Fi).

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served on-site every day, also providing vegetarian options with previous notice.

Discover non-formal learning!

What can you expect?

Creative textiles, fashion awareness & household repairs

The project will help you start or expand your experience in creative textile work and enable you to collaborate with others in activities such as printing, mending, crafting, and exploring different ways of expressing ideas through clothing and design. This project’s goal is to highlight issues connected to fast fashion, materials, clothing history, and cultural identity, while promoting creative, and sustainable alternatives. Through hands-on workshops, group activities, and intercultural exchange, you will develop creativity, learn practical techniques, and explore new ways to connect art, fashion, and self-expression. In the second part of the project, the focus will also expand to everyday household creativity, giving you the chance to make useful items such as soap and musical instruments from common materials found at home, encouraging resourcefulness and showing how ordinary objects can be transformed in imaginative and practical ways. At the end you can show off your work in a theatre play with newly made friends!

Making New Friends

By bringing together youth from diverse backgrounds and cultures, we aim to build an environment where making new friends is a natural part of the experience. Through collaborative activities, group discussions, and adventures shared in the beautiful Spanish landscape, participants will bond over common interests and goals. This shared journey will help to build community, encouraging participants to support and learn from one another and bringing people together in a meaningful and lasting way.

Exploration & Adventure

During this project, we will have some hikes and exploring activities in nature where we will discover the surroundings of the beautiful area of Benaoján. One of the days is also planned to go to Ronda, the town close to the venue, which is one of Andalusia’s most famous historic “white villages” located in the province of Málaga in the South of Spain, known for its picturesque location, situated on the edge of the deep El Tajo gorge, For all these reasons, Serranía de Ronda is one of the premier destinations for hiking and adventure sports, and to immerse yourself in the cultural and natural beauty of Andalusia.

Have fun while developing yourself!

Social program

In addition to daily activities, we’ve designed an engaging social program for each evening. One of the highlights is our intercultural dinner, where you will get a chance to learn a bit about other countries’ cuisine. The participants from each country bring typical snacks, foods and drinks and we all get together to get a taste of the different countries. Another one is a theatre play you will prepare using things that you make during the project.
While we aim to foster new friendships and mutual understanding, we also recognise that social situations can feel overwhelming for some. Please know that we’re committed to making these activities as comfortable as possible for everyone. Each activity is meant to be enjoyable and inclusive, providing a warm and relaxed environment where you can connect with others at your own pace.

How to get to the event?

Travel

You must arrive before late evening on August 17 at the venue and have to participate in the entire duration of the event. You can get to Ronda by flying to Málaga and taking a direct train to Benaoján. We will provide more travelling information once you have been selected to join the project. If you need more details, please feel free to contact us. We will cover your travel costs up to a certain limit. You will receive your reimbursement after you have provided us with all the documents within a month after the event. If you’re economical, it’s possible to get you full travel expenses covered! Selected participants need to contact the organiser and send their travel info before buying the tickets. It is really important not to buy anything before receiving the green light from us. We will, of course, assist you in every way possible!

The travel reimbursement limit depends on the travel distance. The upper limit per country is:

Estonia: 395€ (2000-2999km)
Slovakia: 300€ (499-1999km)
Sweden: 395€ (2000-2999km)
Greece: 300€ (499-1999km)
Spain: 0€ (0-9km)

Meet the people behind Youth Europa!

Organisers

Since every project that we are carrying out is based on actual needs of the youth field you can expect us to be highly motivated and energetic. Our extensive experience makes us more flexible and helps us make meaningful adjustments to the program. Come and meet some of the awesome people behind Youth Europa and who knows, maybe you’ll join us one day!

Proof of participation

YouthPass Certificate

As a participant of this event, you will receive YouthPass – a certificate of non-formal education recognized all across Europe that allows you to describe what you have done and learned. On top of that, it can be a great way to stand out at a job interview or when applying to a university, not to mention the part where you get to show off to your friends:)

Send your application!

Deadline: 13.05.2026

Contact us

Ask us anything!

Frequently Asked Questions

How the heck is this so cheap?

This project is supported by Erasmus+ program. This enables us to keep the participation fee very low and even remove it for people who are in financial difficulties. We know it sounds too good to be true, feel free to check out the reviews:)

Not at all. We try to focus on non-formal learning methods. This means that all activities are interactive and you will usually work in groups.

What are the participation requirements?

Everyone who comes from the eligible countries and is 18 to 30 years old is welcome to apply. There are no prerequisites, we actually welcome people who have no prior experience at all. Also, this event is not political. We don’t care if you hold conservative or more liberal views. Just be friendly and cooperative, we’re all here to learn, make friends & have fun!

How do I sign up?

Click the “apply now” button below if the deadline has not passed. Fill the form and answer all the questions as sincerely as possible. We will get in touch with you if you have been selected. Make sure that @youtheuropa.org mails don’t go to your spam!:)

How are participants selected?

The participants are selected based on their motivation and interest in the topic. There is no catch, you just need to be sincere and honest in your application. Also, if you’re not selected in this project, it’s more likely that you get selected for the next ones.

How do I buy the tickets and plan my trip?

Questions such as this one will be answered by the organisers or your group leader. Don’t worry, we will help you find the best possible option!

What kind of travel cost will be covered?

We will cover your trip to and from the project destination. There are some limits that apply, this is based on your travel distance. These limits are mentioned in the information above. If you buy the tickets early enough, it’s common to get your travel 100% covered.

How & When do I get my travel reimbursement?

After the event, all participants will fill the reimbursement form where you will be asked to upload the travel cost documents (itinerary, boarding passes, invoices etc.). The reimbursement process usually takes between 1-2 months. Remember that we will help you on every step of the way.

Do I have to speak in front of a group or lead workshops?

Nope. You will not be forced to do anything that you’re not comfortable with. But it’s definitely a great place to step our of your comfort zone. This is going to be a journey in your personal development:)

I still have some questions

No problem, get in touch with us and we will do our best to provide you some answers. You can do so by heading over to the contact page.

ReFab – ReWear