Admin I Tuesday, April 28.26
LAGOS, Nigeria – The SYNAPSE Virtual Exchange Project is officially here, a bold three-year international.
initiative connecting young people across Italy, Spain, Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Ethiopia, and
Malawi to co-create solutions for today’s most pressing global challenges. Co-funded by the
European Union under the Erasmus+ programme, SYNAPSE aims to empower 2,500 young
people, facilitators and participants, including women, youth from rural areas, and youth living
with disabilities, equipping them with the skills to lead, innovate, and transform their
communities.
SYNAPSE goes beyond conversation. It equips young people and educators with the mindset
and tools to think differently, applying systems thinking to address complex issues such as
climate change, inequality, and digital transformation. Through virtual exchanges and digital
learning experiences, participants will collaborate across borders, building competencies for
sustainable and inclusive solutions.
The project officially kicked off with a two-day virtual meeting held on 25–26 March 2026,
bringing together all partners to align on vision, strategy, and implementation. This milestone
marked the beginning of a collaborative journey toward empowering youth across continents.
The project is led by IUL – Università Telematica degli Studi as Project Coordinator, in
partnership with: Apodissi, Mundus, Science Horizons Kenya, Blue Sapphire Hub
Foundation, National Youth Climate Action Network Association, Centre for Humanity and
Sustainable Development, Ethiopian Catholic Church Salesians of Don Bosco, System
Dynamics Italian Chapter, The Technical University of Kenya, Pan-Atlantic University,
and Universidad de Almería.
Universities will work closely with SMEs and youth organisations to strengthen grassroots
engagement and impact, including: Italian Youth Forum, Consejo de la Juventud de
España, Not Too Young To Run, Kenya Youth Climate Network,YOUTH4CAN, Ethiopian Youth
Federation, and National Youth Council of Malawi.