What happens when a group of international artists decides to transform a gym or a school classroom into a laboratory of brotherhood? The answer is not found in their tour statistics, but in the eyes of young people who, after just a few days of working together, rediscover a self-confidence they thought they had lost. Gen Verde conducts various types of workshops around the world, where art serves as a means to break down the walls of insecurity and prejudice.
However, some stories of young people leave a lasting impression more than others. These stories have been collected in this article, with the understanding that each encounter with the youth during these activities spiritually and culturally enriches every member of Gen Verde, laying a small brick toward achieving universal brotherhood.
“The value of being yourself”: the experience in Hungary
During a journey between Timisoara and Bratislava, Gen Verde stopped at SZTE Kossuth Zsuzsanna, a technical and vocational institute in Szeged, Hungary. The group was invited by the school’s director, Attila Levente Horváth, who, taking advantage of Gen Verde’s proximity to the city, wanted to organize some workshops at the center.
Here, the setting was not that of an arts school, but rather a vocational training institute where many young people struggled to believe in their own talent. Regina and Lilla, two of the participants, described the impact of those days as an explosion of joy: although they were initially afraid, they ended up dancing to Latin American rhythms, discovering that the diversity of the band members was not an obstacle but an invitation to openness.
The result was a performance by the students followed by a concert by Gen Verde, creating a moment of communion and happiness between those on stage and those in the audience.
Many young people today suffer from low self-esteem, leading them to show disinterest in various daily school activities. During the workshops, however, Gen Verde does not seek technical perfection but rather creates a safe, family-like environment where young people feel free to “take risks” without fear of being judged, transforming the school gym into a space of freedom and exchange.
Beyond borders: voices from Slovakia
In Slovakia, specifically in Prešov, Gen Verde decided to spend an entire week with young people, bringing together 160 participants from many countries around the world.
Mikolaj, a 17-year-old who traveled from Poland to participate, recounted how this experience changed his perception of others. In an often divided world, working side by side with peers of different nationalities and with the artists of the group led him to conclude that all young people share similar relationships and desires; a thought as simple as it is powerful, reinforcing the concept of brotherhood without distinctions. For him, witnessing the artists’ “contagious” positivity was proof that a different way of being together is possible.
The stories of transformation also touch on intimate personal challenges, such as that of Sara, a fifteen-year-old girl from Florence who took part in one of the dance workshops. Her story is one shared by many teenagers: the fear of not being good enough and the anxiety of facing professionals in the sector. However, the environment created by Gen Verde, based on constant encouragement and a family atmosphere, allowed her to overcome her initial block. Sara described how the instructors’ joy was key to releasing her tension, transforming dance from a source of anxiety into a tool for pure personal expression.
Among the participants were also those experiencing firsthand the absence of the values that Gen Verde seeks to promote. The meeting in Slovakia took place in August 2022, and during the workshop, the group also met young Ukrainians who were there to escape, at least temporarily, from the oppression their country was enduring. Despite this, each young person of Ukrainian origin tried to spread joy to those around them, singing, dancing, and clapping, momentarily forgetting their problems.
A lasting social impact
These stories are not isolated cases. In Braga, Portugal, thanks to a collaboration with Erasmus+ and on the eve of World Youth Day, Gen Verde brought its workshops to the city, integrating them into social projects aimed at preventing risky behavior. This demonstrates that Gen Verde’s method goes beyond music: it is an educational journey that uses singing, theater, and percussion to teach young people how to build community.
It is precisely these stories that motivate us to expand the Start Now Workshop Project, along with artistic and choral workshops, to as many places around the world as possible. At the end of each project, when the young people take to the stage for the final performance, they present not only a choreography or a song but also the awareness of having built something great together. The feeling of joy and “sunshine” that these young people take home with them after the workshops does not fade quickly; it remains as a seed of hope for their future.
If you would like to organise events, concerts and/or artistic workshops with Gen Verde, please send an e-mail to info@genverde.it with your question, info and contact details.
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