🇬🇷 Youth-ful GUIDES Training in Xanthi, Greece!

Our training kicked off with two powerful and engaging sessions hosted at actina (formerly FM-EPICHEIREIN) in the heart of Xanthi. Here’s what happened:

Day 1: Getting to Know Each Other & Building Foundations

We started the day with a short presentation of the Youth-ful GUIDES project and the impact of the Erasmus+ programme, to ensure that all participants fully understand the broader context and purpose of their training — because a great guide also knows the story behind their journey.

We then welcomed our 15 selected participants, who introduced themselves, shared why they want to become tour guides, and reflected on what they hope to gain from the program.

Through a creative post-it activity, they visualized their personal goals for this experience.

The session then explored:

What it means to be a tour guide

The different types of tourists and how to adapt to each

Professional ethics, communication strategies, and body language

The importance of public speaking – tone, eye contact, pauses, storytelling

How digital tools can enhance modern guiding

We closed with a fun challenge: each participant had one minute to present themselves and their future tour to the group – and they did amazing!

Day 2: Designing the Perfect Tour

The group dove into how to plan and organize a guided tour, using Xanthi as their reference point.

They discussed key elements such as:

Balanced and attractive routes

Audience needs (we even designed a family-friendly tour!)

Smooth flow, accessibility, buffer time, and flexibility

Clear communication, group dynamics, and tour energy

It was a day of open dialogue, creative thinking, and peer collaboration, laying the groundwork for practical field experiences.

Next stop: the city of Xanthi itself!

Over the next two days, our guides-in-training will step outside and apply their knowledge in the field, discovering their city with new eyes and skills.

Stay tuned!