From 30 October to 1 November 2026, the Association "Center for Projects Plovdiv" (CPP) took part in the kick-off meeting of Creative Labs, a new Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in the field of youth, held in Kaunas, Lithuania. The CPP team was represented by [NAMES].
Creative Labs (project № 2026-1-LT02-KA220-YOU-000453752) is an 18-month Erasmus+ KA220-YOU partnership coordinated by the Lithuanian organisation Kūrybinių iniciatyvų centras. It brings together four organisations from four countries: CPP (Bulgaria), Cooperativa Sociale Immaginaria (Italy) and Embaixada da Juventude (Portugal). The partnership aims to develop creative spaces where young people can experiment, build new skills and take an active role in their communities.
The kick-off meeting brought the partners together for the first time to set the foundations for the project's implementation. The first day was devoted to governance and strategy. The consortium reviewed the project objectives, work packages and 18-month roadmap, presented the Project Management Handbook, and formally appointed the Steering Committee, financial leads and work package leaders. The partners also adopted the monitoring and quality assurance framework, presented the project's visual identity and approved the Communication and Dissemination Plan, including target audiences and indicators.
The second day focused on the core results of the project. The partners defined the methodology, structure and selection criteria for the Creative Labs case studies and began developing the international training programme, including its curriculum, participant profile and learning outcomes. They also agreed a unified framework for the national and international multiplier events. The day closed with a review of financial management and reporting rules and an action plan for the first 30, 60 and 90 days of the project.
The CPP delegation in Lithuania during the Creative Labs kick-off meeting.
Beyond the working sessions, the meeting gave the partners time to get to know one another, exchange experience and build the trust that every successful European partnership relies on.
For CPP and for Plovdiv, an important milestone is that the project's international training activity will take place in Plovdiv. CPP will welcome partner organisations and young participants from Lithuania, Italy and Portugal and will contribute its long-standing experience in youth work, volunteering and cultural participation.
CPP extends its sincere thanks to Daine and Jonas and the whole team of Kūrybinių iniciatyvų centras for their excellent organisation and warm hospitality in Kaunas, and to all partners for an open, productive and inspiring start to the project.
Updates on the project's progress, the Creative Labs case studies and the upcoming training in Plovdiv will be published on our website and social media channels.
Creative Labs is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Lithuanian National Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.