Future Voices - Learner Mobility to Barcelona

Future Voices Erasmus+ Storytelling Exchange | 19–23 January 2026

From 19–23 January 2026, seven learners travelled to Barcelona with Blackwater Training as part of the Future Voices Erasmus+ Storytelling Exchange Programme, funded by Léargas.

The mobility combined cultural exploration with structured learning activities focused on storytelling, communication and community engagement. Learners had the opportunity to meet social cooperatives working with migrant communities in Catalonia, practise English in real-life settings and take part in creative digital workshops.

This trip reflects the type of learning experiences available through Blackwater programmes - practical, social and rooted in real communities.

Day 1 – Arrival and Storm Harry

Our group arrived in Barcelona during Storm Harry, with strong winds and heavy rain greeting them on their first day. Despite travel delays and challenging weather, everyone was in good spirits and ready to begin the week.

After settling in, learners had time to get familiar with their surroundings and prepare for the programme ahead.

Day 2 – Exploring the City and Visiting Fede Latina

On Day 2, learners explored some of Barcelona's most well-known landmarks, including:

• Casa Batlló

• Las Ramblas

• The Old City (Barri Gòtic)

• Plaça Catalunya

The city walk was an important part of the learning experience, helping learners practice English together while discovering a new place.

In the afternoon, our group visited Fede Latina, a social cooperative supporting migrants from Latin America.

During the visit, learners:

• toured the organisation's offices and community spaces

• visited their podcasting studio

• met learners from their Catalan language programme

• shared their own stories and experiences from Ireland

This exchange allowed both groups to learn from one another and see how storytelling and language learning can support integration and community building in different European contexts.

Day 3 – Community Advocacy and Montjuïc

Day 3 focused on understanding how community organisations communicate challenges and create positive change at local level.

The group visited Espai Cultural Cooperatiu, a social cooperative working across a range of social issues. Learners took part in a workshop on:

• identifying challenges in their own communities

• communicating these challenges clearly

• using personal stories to advocate for change

These discussions encouraged reflection on life in Ireland and highlighted similarities between communities across Europe.

In the afternoon, learners visited Plaça España and the former bullring before walking up to Montjuïc. From there, they enjoyed panoramic views across the city and time to reflect on the week's learning.

Day 4 – Digital Storytelling Workshops

Day 4 was dedicated to creative workshops and digital storytelling.

Learners worked in small groups to create short videos about:

• their personal journeys

• their experience of the Future Voices programme

• what the mobility meant to them

These sessions helped build confidence in speaking English, develop teamwork skills and strengthen digital literacy. For many participants, this was their first experience speaking on camera in English and sharing their story publicly.

Some learners also managed a late visit to the Sagrada Família, making the most of their final evening in the city.

Day 5 – Journey Home

On the final day, the group travelled home to Ireland, bringing with them new skills, shared experiences and memories from the week.

Blackwater Training would like to sincerely thank Back to the Roots for hosting the mobility and creating such a welcoming and supportive environment for our learners.

Future Voices and Blackwater Programmes

This mobility is one example of the learning opportunities available through Blackwater Training's programmes. The Future Voices project combines language learning with creative expression and community engagement, helping learners develop practical skills while connecting with others across Europe.

Experiences like this allow learners to step outside their local area, meet new people and take part in meaningful learning beyond the classroom.

We look forward to sharing the videos and stories created during the week in the coming weeks.