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DISCOVERE+R

Explore with Purpose​

 

Welcome aboard DISCOVE+Rer, ICDET’s signature framework for cultural exploration, intercultural learning, and human-centred travel.

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DISCOVE+Rer is more than a program — it is a philosophy of travel that sees every journey as an opportunity to connect, reflect, and grow. It invites young people, volunteers, and partners to look beyond the surface of destinations and explore the real stories, traditions, and people who shape them.

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Instead of being tourists who take pictures, DISCOVE+Rer participants become explorers, storytellers, and learners. They walk through Bulgarian towns not just to see the architecture, but to listen to market sellers tell their stories.​

​They join local families for meals, not just to try the food, but to understand the values, rituals, and traditions behind it. They meet peers from across Europe not just in a classroom, but while working side-by-side in a project, cooking, or dancing together.

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This framework uses non-formal education methods such as journaling, storytelling, cultural mapping, and dialogue circles to help participants process their experiences. Every encounter is designed not only to bring new knowledge but to spark curiosity, empathy, and critical reflection.

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In DISCOVE+Rer, travel is not about crossing borders. It’s about opening hearts and discovering yourself through others.

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Discovery Journeys​

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Short-term group experiences where young people explore cultures together by learning, working, and sharing daily life. These journeys are built around immersion and connection, not formal project structures.

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Examples:

  • A discovery week exploring cultural heritage in Sofia with guided reflection sessions.

  • Cross-cultural visits where participants explore education, work, and traditions in different communities.

Cultural Immersion Camps​

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Deep cultural dives where participants live like locals, explore traditions, and reflect on values and identities.

  • Daily routines include cooking, joining community events, or learning crafts.

  • Reflection circles help participants analyse stereotypes and shared values.

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Examples:

  • A week-long immersion in a Bulgarian village with storytelling evenings.

  • Camps combining language learning with cultural practice.

Community Action Journeys​

 

Hands-on experiences where participants discover local realities by contributing to community life. These are not formal volunteering programs but opportunities to connect, learn, and give back while exploring.

  • Supporting small-scale community projects (e.g. helping in a youth centre, assisting with a cultural festival).

  • Joining eco-actions such as tree planting, park cleanups, or urban gardening.

  • Participating in local initiatives that reflect social and environmental challenges.

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Examples:

  • Helping at a neighbourhood event in Sofia and learning about Bulgarian traditions.

  • Joining a local eco-action day in a rural community.

Urban & Rural Explorations​

 

Exploring the contrasts and richness of European life. Participants discover both modern cities and traditional villages.

  • Walking tours with locals, visits to schools, farms, and cultural centres.

  • Reflection on the diversity of lifestyles within Europe.

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Examples:

  • Urban exploration of Sofia’s IT hub alongside its historic neighbourhoods.

  • Rural visits to experience agricultural traditions and family-based living.

Local Host Experiences​

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Living with locals and sharing their routines. Participants become part of the household, learning through everyday life.

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Examples:

  • Staying with a family during a festival.

  • Helping with cooking, gardening, or small family traditions.

Discover Diaries​

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Every explorer becomes a storyteller. Participants keep journals, blogs, vlogs, or photo essays during their journey. This helps them reflect on what they experience and share their discoveries with others.

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Examples:

  • A personal travel diary capturing first impressions of a Bulgarian market.

  • A vlog series where participants interview locals about their traditions.

  • A group photo journal comparing “a day in the life” across different European countries.

Cultural Mapping​

 

Participants co-create maps that chart values, traditions, food, languages, and social practices they encounter. This turns exploration into a visual tool of understanding.

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Examples:

  • Mapping local customs in a rural village vs. a capital city.

  • Drawing “connection maps” of traditions that exist across multiple cultures.

  • Creating digital maps that highlight similarities between European youth lifestyles.

Discovery Circles​

 

Guided reflection sessions where participants share experiences, confront stereotypes, and learn empathy by listening to each other. These circles help transform activities into deeper insights.

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Examples:

  • Dialogue after a homestay about how families organise daily life differently.

  • Sharing first impressions of cultural differences and how they challenged assumptions.

  • A storytelling circle where each participant shares a “moment of discovery.”

Stories of Europe​

 

A storytelling platform where participants share what they’ve discovered with a wider audience — not just each other.

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Examples:

  • Podcast episodes created with ICDETv or Radio.

  • Articles in ICDET’s magazine reflecting on cultural insights.

  • Story exhibitions in schools, showing photography and personal narratives.

Explorer’s Challenges​

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Interactive “missions” during each program that push participants beyond their comfort zone. These challenges are playful but designed for deeper learning.

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Examples:

  • Interview three locals about their favourite tradition.

  • Cook a meal using only ingredients bought in a village market.

  • Take part in a local cultural activity (dance, craft, or song).

  • Volunteer for a day in a local initiative and reflect on what you learned.

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