<< Objectives >>You Press http://youpress.org.uk is an award-winning social enterprise based in London, which is currently run by volunteers and creative artists to support young writers and poets to bring their words and art to a wider audience. Our projects involve empowering young people to find their voice and be heard. This involves challenging stereotypes and stigmas about young people and communities (through creative arts and writing).ScribersHive was already one of our most innovative and locally successful projects in London but we wanted it to grow. It is a platform for young writers, storytellers and change makers age 16+, with a strong social purpose to empower young people to find their voice and be heard through writing and creative arts. Through the project, they connect to social issues, topics, stories & debates in a unique and interactive way.This was our second Erasmus+ project. Our objectives were:1. To internationalise our work, build partnerships with like-minded organisations around Europe, and participate in further projects, thereby offering more opportunities to the young people we work with, most of whom are from minority communities or disadvantaged backgrounds.2. To build on the first Erasmus+ project which we ran in 2018-19, in order to help us to grow our reputation with sponsors and stakeholders, and so increase our reach and impact to our target groups.3. To create a platform for young people around Europe to report on social, cultural and migration issues through creative media4. To develop the competences of youth workers, young people and partner organisations by sharing a creative methodology for working on societal issues.5. To bring the ScribersHive process to a European level to enable more young people access to writing, graphics and broadcasting skills 6. To increase awareness and understanding of migration-related issues from a cultural perspective, and appreciation of intercultural barriers and opportunities7. To promote Erasmus plus and spread awareness of the programme and what can be achievedThe project results were written articles, graphics and video / podcasts. These are currently available via the Erasmus+ results platform but will soon be publicly presented on our new ScribersHive website (currently under development, due for launch May 2023). The expected longer term benefits are increased public awareness and understanding of European intercultural and migration-related issues, and getting more young people involved in reporting these issues.The project supported the objectives of Erasmus+ because it developed skills and employability, promoted creative innovation in youth work, and empowered young people. It was also about reaching out to marginalised young people, promoting diversity, intercultural dialogue, common values of freedom, tolerance and respect of human rights. It focused on enhancing media literacy, critical thinking and sense of initiative of young people. It also embodied inclusion, multilingualism and open access.<< Implementation >>The project consisted of 2 phases, with local activity in between:Phase 1 (activity A1): training course in Greece. Participants learned about ScribersHive, and were trained on how to use journalism (and other creative writing), graphics, podcasting and video making to raise awareness of social and cultural issues. They heard from experts and activists about the issue of migration in Europe. They took part in a full simulation of the ScribersHive process based around these issues and made action plans for working with young people in their home locations.Phase 2 (local activities): work with young people to produce written articles about social or cultural issues relating to migration. The written articles from country / group A were then passed to young people in country / group B, B to C, and C to A. Each group was asked to interpret the article they had received, and create a graphic (comic strip or other artwork) from it. A final exchange of material from one country / group to another involved a second reinterpretation of the original theme, by turning the graphics into podcasts or short videos. All finished materials (written, graphic and digital) were collected by You Press for publication on our website.Phase 3 (activity A2): final creative workshop, evaluation meeting and showcase / dissemination event in London. Participants came together again to review and disseminate the project results, and to plan follow-up activities.7 countries were originally involved in the project: Armenia, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Slovenia, Ukraine and UK. However, two partners (Italy, Slovenia) did not send any participants despite initial enthusiasm. The total number of participants, including trainers, was 32. They were mostly younger youth workers or volunteers working or regularly participating in cultural activities with You Press (UK) or the other partners, with an interest in creative writing, arts or film making. Many were selected because of having fewer opportunities, particularly social, cultural, economic and geographical.<< Results >>The results of the project exceeded our expectations. Every group has produced written, graphical and audiovisual media outputs, which we initially disseminated in a public exhibition at a social and cultural centre in west-central London (the Anti-Tribalism Movement centre). As mentioned, the individual outputs are currently available via the Erasmus+ results platform, but the exhibition as a whole is in the process of being transferred to our new ScirbersHive website, due for launch within the next 2 months. This project provided a platform for intercultural learning and brought together participants from many different cultural and social backgrounds and gave them the tools to create many different local activities and pan-European cooperation which resulted in a showcase event in which all the results were presented and disseminated to a wider audience.This non-formal education project has extended our international collaboration to several more EU and partner countries and promoted the ScribersHive concept around Europe, creating the foundations for future links and projects. Our own team at You Press has become more internationalised and outward-looking.As their first international project, this has been a life-changing experience for many of the participants, particularly those from ethnic minority communities in the UK. Some of them have already gone on to participate in other Erasmus+ projects. Lasting inter-cultural friendships have been made.The project has had the following impact:- For participants (enhanced youth work skills and techniques, personal and professional competencies)- For young people reached indirectly through local activities (youth voice, active citizenship, intercultural learning)- For partners and other organisations (open access materials arising from the project; new creative methodologies; networking)- For communities (engagement of young people in reporting and discussing societal issues).The project has promoted key objectives of Erasmus+ for youth mobility, youth work development and internationalisation. It also embodied inclusion and multiligualism (particularly because local activities can be carried out in any language).Outputs from the project have been made available on an open access basis through our website.YouthPass was used to record, measure and validate learning and achievement on the project.

<< Objectives >>The partners of this project firmly share the same belief with the European commission regarding cultural heritage, its role in enriching people’s individual lives and its importance for the cultural and creative sectors, as well as the deeply-rooted role it plays in enhancing Europe’s social capital. However, the partners are also aware of the fact that young people nowadays live in a very accelerated and increasingly globalized society, that offers them thousands of possibilities with a simple click away. This phenomenon has promoted a very internationalized mainstream culture, which is gradually reducing young people’s connection to their cultural roots, sense of belonging and social capitol. In Republic of Moldova, a strategical political effort and a network of local ‘cultural houses’ in all villages has successfully promoted and preserved the local traditions among young people. By exploring this sense of cultural belonging in Moldova, this project aims to reflect on how youth workers can increase the participation and involvement of young people in their own community in order to promote and strengthen cultural heritage.Moreover, this project intends to build upon experiences, collect practices from stakeholders, and develop local and international strategies and methods to enhance the promotion of cultural heritage and practice of local cultural traditions among young people by youth workers in the EU. In order to achieve such aim, the following objectives have been identified: - Give youth workers from 8 programs and partner countries examples of best practices of how to preserve and promote local heritage - Make youth workers from 8 programs and partner countries reflect on the importance of cultural heritage in ensuring social capital and participation among young people - Explore youth work practices in combining mainstream and traditional culture - Collect and develop methods and strategies for engaging young people in the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage amongst young people, with inputs and practices across 8 partner and program countries - Strengthen and internationalize youth workers and youth organizations professional networks - Create visibility, dissemination, and local impact through the project for promoting local heritage amongst youth in Europe<< Implementation >>The activity will be implemented as a Study Visit to the Republic of Moldova, in order to explore the practices and strategies implemented in this country in order to promote cultural heritage among young people. The Study Visit will host 28 participants, including 4 facilitators: youth workers that are actively involved in promoting culture heritage or have a strong interest in doing so. The participants will come with the knowledge, experience and tools necessaries gained through their previous work and experiences to share with and learn from other participants. By providing this environment of new knowledge and practices, it is intended to achieve the best possible and tangible ideas and proposals for promoting and protecting cultural heritage.<< Results >>The methods and strategies developed through the project to promote cultural heritage among young people will be adopted and implemented to supply and expand the overall strategies and practices of the partner organizations, so that the project results are accordingly disseminated and exploited. Furthermore, the partners will promote these methods, strategies and practices to other organizations, educational institutions and local authorities with the aim of encouraging such adoption to spread. The partners envision the creation of a PDF booklet that will present the Methods and Strategies developed during the Study Visit. The document will be made available on Salto-Youth, the Erasmus + dissemination platform, and the partners’ websites, and furthermore, disseminated through the networks of the partner organizations. Moreover, the partners foresee the creation of two types of information events led by youth workers where, firstly, they will actively engage by sharing their experience and their learning outcomes with other youth workers, and, secondly, attempt to increase their outreach among young people.

<< Objectives >>„Toleranta este celălalt nume al libertatii.” (Mahatma Gandhi)“Sa plece copilul cu sida din clasa”, “Nebunul acela cu depresie…”, “Surdul ala…”, “Tiganul!”, “Sarantocul…” sunt cuvinte pe care, din nefericire, la auzim destul de des in jurul nostru.In pofida faptului ca statele membre UE au adoptat o legislatie care are in vedere discriminarea in domenii diverse ale vietii sociale (de ex. Carta drepturilor fundamentale a UE, 2000), numeroase colectivitati umane se confrunta inca cu diverse forme de discriminare, violenta verbala sau fizica si excluziune sociala. In sistemul formal de invatamant exista initiative individuale de educatie privind discriminarea si lipsa de toleranta, dar acestea nu sunt structurate intr-un program, astfel incat sa aiba un impact serios. Educatia in familie este, de asemenenea, precara, multi parinti dand ei insisi dovada de intoleranta.Efectele acestor situatii sunt dramatice, mai ales pentru tineri. Relatiile dintre ei si cei din jur, fie in clasa, fie la locul de munca sau in familie se deterioreaza. De aceea multi adolescenti parasesc inca timpuriu scoala (10,6% media europeana, cf. Eurostat 2017) sau locul de munca, ceea ce genereaza sentimentul ratarii. Nu sunt capabili sa stabileasca relatii interumane sanatoase si trainince, devin victim ale intolerantei sau ajung ei insisi intoleranti. 48,2% din populatia europeana prezinta risc de excludere sociala (cf. Eurostat 2016).Educatia nonformala reprezinta o sansa oferita tinerilor, dar lucratorii cu tinerii nu au intotdeauna competente suficiente pentru a interveni in acest domeniu.Din acest motiv, ne-am concentrat atentia pe factorul educatie nonformala si am cautat o metoda care sa permita o analiza atenta si profunda a fenomenului intolerantei, pe care dorim sa-l combatem. Am cazut de acord ca aceasta este metoda autobiografica, pentru ca implica energiile eului, organizeaza lumea in jurul propriei finite, facand-o, astfel, mai usor de inteles, da sens si valoare experientelor personale.In cadrul analizei de nevoi a proiectului, lucratorii cu tinerii din organizatiile partenere au realizat un chestionar, supervizat si interpretat de un psiholog ARVIS, la care au raspuns 100 de tineri (12-19) din scoli-partenere ale organizatiilor ROST si 50 de lucratori cu tinerii din organizatiile ROST. Chestionarul a dat la iveala aspecte ingrijoratoare, dintre care selectam urmatoarele:Tineri:- 85% s-au simtit macar o data discriminati, din diverse motive (varsta, infatisare, religie etc.)Lucratori de tineret:-55% nu au auzit de metoda autobiografica-88% nu au aplicat aceasta metoda in lucrul cu tineriiIn consecinta, credem ca proiectul „ Rethinking Oneself, Re-telling the Story of Tolerance” (ROST), care se va concentra pe problema combaterii intolerantei cu metode nonformale, si mai ales cu metoda autobiografica, este necesar si va avea efecte benefice atat in viata personala, cat si in in cea scolara sau profesionala a tinerilor. Am conceput urmatoarele obiective ale proiectului, care se adreseaza unui grup-tinta principal format din 32 de lucratori cu tinerii (la care se adauga 4 formatori) din 13 organizatii din 9 tari din Program: GR, IT, LV, LT, PL, RO, ES, TR, UK si 3 Partenere: AM, GE, UA.Obiectiv generalImbunatatirea nivelului de competenta si calitatii activitatii profesionale a grupului-tinta principal.Obiectiv specificDezvoltarea competentelor si aptitudinilor-cheie ale 32 de lucratori cu tinerii, prin intermediul unui curs de formare in domeniul educatiei cu metode nonformale pentru toleranta, in scopul formarii, la adolescenti, de competente sociale. Competentele vor fi recunoscute de certificari (32 Youthpass, 36 Certificate de participare) oferite de coordonatorul ROST la finalul cursului, 26 oct. 2019Obiective operationale. Cei 32 de cursanti:1. Vor dobandi o cunoastere aprofundata a problemei educatiei pentru toleranta prin metoda autobiografica si alte metode nonformale; cel putin 7 concepte/ idei/ teorii pana in oct. 20192. Isi vor spori abilitatile de lucru cu tinerii prin experimentarea metodei autobiografice si a altor metode nonformale in scopul combaterii discriminarii si al dezvoltarii atitudinii de toleranta; 10 metode/ tehnici/ tipuri de activitati pana in oct. 20193. Isi vor dezvolta o atitudine si un comportament proactiv fata de problema tolerantei si a metodelor nonformale de educatie, prin proiectarea si punerea in act a unei campanii de constientizare si a unui program de educare a adolescentilor (si, facultativ, a unor persoane de alte varste); oct. 2019 si dupa sfarsitul proiectului, pe termen nedefinitROST urmareste -Obiectivul Erasmus+ - îmbunătățirea calității muncii la nivelul instituțiilor de formare, (in domeniul educatiei nonformale pentru toleranta si al metodologiei nonformale)-Prioritatea europeana in context national - acţiuni care promovează incluziunea si dezvolta competente sociale -Obiectivul programului - implicarea ţărilor partenere << Activities >>Cursul a fost conceput prin colaborarea tuturor partenerilor pe baza unui flux care urmareste parcurgerea continutului si atingerea obiectivelor: Cunoasterea1. Conceptele de toleranta, excluziune sociala, stereotipizare, grup defavorizat. Forme ale discriminarii: varsta, avere, convingeri politice, nationalitate, rasa, sex, religie, orientare sexuala, infatisare, boala/ handicap.2.Cauzele intoleranteia)La nivel psihologic: gandirea disfunctionala – erori cognitive (suprageneralizarea, inferenta arbitrara, black and white thinking patterns (Aaron T. Beck), stima de sine scazuta, temeri si nesigurante, tendinte de agresivitate, automatisme in gandire etc.b)La nivel comportamental: intarirea, recompensarea secventelor de comportament discriminatoriu (Gordon Allport – sequential steps of dicrimination)c) La nivel social: valori dezadaptative generate de presiuni sociale, modele false/ negative prezentate mai ales in media etc, lipsa de informatii (e mai usor sa urasti ceva ce nu cunosti).3. Solutii pentru dezvoltarea atitudinii de toleranta: capacitatea de a intelege oamenii/ circumstantele/ diversitatea sociala, iesirea din zona de confort si letargie, dezvoltarea empatiei, dezvoltarea unui sistem solid de valori (rabdare, modestie, onestitate etc.) 4.Metoda autobiografica (Duccio Demetrio): premise, efecte, tehnici. Alte metode, tehnici nonformale: learning café, studiul de caz, simularea, modelul Iceberg etc.II.PracticaParticipantii vor explora metode nonformale pentru a dezvolta atitudinea de toleranta in legatura cu 7/8 tipuri de discriminare. Pentru fiecare tip se vor folosi:-O metoda nonformala dintre cele mai cunoscute, pentru familiarizarea cu tema (studio de caz, workshopuri, simulare, joc de roluri, vizionare de filme scurte)-7 dintre posibilele aplicatii ale metodei autobiografice pentru a adanci analiza problemei (Memoria trupului, Obiecte, Mesaje intr-o sticla, Momentele mele memorabile, tranzitie si schimbari, Destine, Prima data cand…, Arhipelaguri)III.Actiunea1. Pregatirea si derularea unei campanii de constientizare2. Pregatirea unui program – suport pentru lucratorii cu tinerii in scopul educatiei pentru toleranta prin metoda autobiografica. Proiectul isi propune si apropierea oaspetilor de cultura si traditiile nationale ale organizatiilor ROST, prin Seara Interculturala.Invatarea va fi nonliniara, iar metodologia, stabilita de comun accord de catre toti promotorii proiectului va facilita participarea activa a tuturor cursantilor, care vor fi ajutati sa isi urmeze, in mod flexibil, propriul ritm de invatare. Metodele au fost alese in functie de specificul si obiectivele proiectului, de rezultatele asteptate ale invatarii si de varsta eterogena a participantilor. Anticipam ca aceste metode vor crea o atmosfera dinamica, relaxanta si o permanenta senzatie de „impreuna”. Metodele sunt specifice educatiei nonformale, invatarii experientiale si dezvolta creativitatea si implicarea: exercitii de spargere a ghetii si energizante, de cunoastere si de incredere; exercitii de reflectie exercitii si tehnici diverse de aplicare a metodei autobiografice (Memoria trupului, Obiecte, Destine etc.); alte metode nonformale (learning café, joc de roluri, simularea, studiul de caz etc.); organizarea unei campanii de constientizare, excursia ca modalitate de invatare; realizarea unui mini-ghid, a unui film si a unui blog. ROST a prevazut si o seara interculturala, precum si seri de educatie informala.Am prevazut si momente de reflectie personala si relaxare in spatii adecvate.La curs vor participa 36 de lucratori cu tinerii, dintre care 4 sunt formatori ARVIS si 32 cursanti. Nevoile cursantilor, selectate in urma completarii unui chestionar, sunt:- Sa-si imbogateasca competentele de lucru cu tinerii prin descoperirea de noi strategii de lucru/ training in educatia nonformala si folosirea acestor resurse in activitatea proprie cu tinerii - Sa realizeze activitati cu integrarea, prin metode nonformale, si, mai ales, a metodei autobiografice, a problemei discriminarii si tolerantei – Sa dobandeasca/ sa-si imbogateasca ei insisi abilitati de traineri, pentru a putea sustine cursuri pe aceeasi tema cu mijloacele educatiei nonformale – Sa intre intr-un dialog intercultural cu colegi cu preocupari comune, sa-si impartaseasca idei, opinii, atitudini – Sa gandeasca noi proiecte care sa-l dezvolte pe acesta, pentru a-si pune in valoare competentele dobandite – Sa-si dezvolte competentele lingvistice, in special in comunicarea orala in limba engleza - Sa-si dezvolte competentele ICT - Sa obtina certificari pentru munca lor (Youthpass si Certificat de participare emis de ARVIS), pentru a se bucura de avantajele pe care acesta le ofera << Impact >>ROST anticipeaza rezultate care vor imbunatati munca cu tinerii a paticipantilor la curs.Competenta stiintifica CunostinteIntelegerea, pe baza unei informatii serioase, oferite de specialisti, a problemei tolerantei, a cauzelor intolerantei asupra carora se poate interveni prin educatieCunoasterea de metode, tehnici, exercitii, instrumente ale educatiei nonformale, mai ales a metodei autobiografice.Abilitati si capacitatiCapacitatea de a aplica flexibil si consecvent resurse (medode, exercitii, instrumente) ale educatiei nonformale, mai ales metoda autobiografica, adaptate problemei educatiei pentru toleranta.AtitudiniConvingerea lucratorilor de tineret ca perspectiva adolescentilor asupra (in)tolerantei se poate schimba, prin efortul lor educationalActiuniParticiparea consecventa la activitati care sa aplice si sa imbogateasca modelul propus de ROST si sa pledeze pentru folosirea lui pe o scara cat mai largaCompetenta sociala si civicaCapacitatea de a le forma tinerilor un mod pozitiv de a privi educatia nonformala pentru toleranta.Capacitatea de a provoca schimbari benefice in cadrul organizatiei prin extinderea experizei lucratorilor de tineret la domeniul educatiei pentru toleranta.Dezvoltarea unui comportament proactiv fata de problemele tinerilor, conform principiului „Orice ajutor, oricat de mic, provoaca o imbunatatire”.Mobilizarea altor organizatii (ONG-uri, scoli) care sa foloseasca acelasi model Comunicarea mai buna intr-o limba straina (engleza)Sensibilizare si exprimare culturalaDezvoltarea de noi proiecte europene care sa duca mai departe ideea acestui proiect si sa-i implice pe tineri in mobilitati europene, in dialoguri interculturale.II.Competente transversale, pe termen scurt si lungAbilitatea de comunicare si, deci, de interrelationare mai buna; lucru in echipa; rezolvarea de probleme Abilitatea creativa de a genera noi situatii de invatare in domeniul tematic datUtilizarea IT (de ex. realizarea filmului, blogului, e-brosurii)Deschiderea catre invatarea pe tot parcursul vietiiImpactul proiectului, in urma diseminarii rezultatelor, se va manifesta pe mai multe paliere.In plan local, organizatiile participante vor influenta pozitiv munca cu tinerii prin noile activitati (testari, exercitii, jocuri, aplicari ale unor metode uzuale in psihologie sau in educatia non-formala etc.) si instrumente (brosura online “My Story of Tolerance”) si prin punerea in aplicare a programului-suport ROST; va creste semnificativ numarul de tineri (cel putin 250) consiliati prin modelul propus de ROST si insertia nonformalului in structura invatamantului formal; se va schimba perspectiva tinerilor asupra problemei incluziunii sociale prin dezvoltarea atitudinii de toletanta. Efectul va fi cresterea calitatii vietii lor personale si profesionale, dar si a comunitatii in care ei traiesc.Va spori prestigiul educatiei nonformale si se vor intari parteneriatele locale ale organizatiilor participante la proiectul ROST; organizatiile partenere (alte ONG-uri, scoli, institutii culturale, stiintifice etc.) vor deveni, la randul lor, organizatii-resursa, crescand impactul. Organizatiile partenere locale si comunitatea locala, in ansamblul ei, va beneficia, prin intermediul diseminarii, de exemplele de exemplele de buna practica ROST. In plan regional/ national, printr-o diseminare atenta a proiectului, ROST va oferi modele de buna practica si produsele finale altor organizatii din tara. Organizatiile partenere ROST isi vor folosi reteaua de contacte in plan national pentru a largi aria de impact a activitatilor-model, instrumentelor (brosura) si a programului-suport creat de participantii la proiect.Impactul ROST va consta in sensibilizarea sistemelor educative nonformal si formal (ONG-uri, scoli), precum si a altor factori interesati (institutii culturale, stiintifice etc.) in scopul realizarii de actiuni si programe educationale comune.La nivel european/ international, impactul va fi generat de o buna diseminare, prin colaborarea cu organizatiile din retelele fiecarei organizatii ROST.Alte organizatii europene din retelele partenerilor, in primul rand cele specializate in educatie nonformala (ONG-uri, grupuri de tineri active in munca cu tinerii), dar si scoli, universitati, alte institutii vor primi produsele finale pentru a le folosi in acivitatea lor, astfel incat programul ROST se va putea multiplica in tarile europene si partenere participante, dar in alte tari.Se va imbunatati calitatea si eficienta muncii de tineret prin promovarea ideilor de toleranta, egalitate, respect pentru alteritate, coeziune sociala, cetatenie europeana.Toate acestea vor avea un efect substantial benefic, pe termen lung, si vor contribui la crearea starii de bine a tinerilor, cu precadere a adolescentilor. De asemenea, ROST va oferi lucratorilor cu tinerii satisfactia unui grad superior de profesionalism.

Nowadays there is more and more lonely, local initiatives are less appreciated and there is increasing distance between young people and their environment. But that doesn't mean that we like it this way?! Everybody seems to must have an opinion about others. Young people have to meet many requirements set by society. And they must not fail. We brought youngsters in contact with their local environment. We created an environment where youngsters felt at home in their village. 40 youngsters participated in the youth exchange. It is important to mention that all of the participants stayed in a rural guest houses which gave them an opportunity to feel that they are essential for the community and we want others to see what youngsters can add. During the project apart from the learning piece participants were able to initiate and implement various local initiatives. For instance, they ensured participation of the local community members in intercultural evenings, they fundraised money to buy a printer for the local school, they created 20 houses for birds and painted them and installed them in different corners of the village. Empowerment of local initiatives and using the qualities of youngsters were important for the environment so that they can take care of , and know each other.There were 32 youngsters and 8 leaders (trainees) in the project. There were presentations, games, indoor and outdoor interactive exercises and sport workshops. During the most activities the youngsters worked in groups. From the first days they worked in mix groups and for us it was exciting to see that all the participants were acting together as a big team and this is the main indicator that the project succeeded.All the project partners conducted one session . There was a specific person assigned to this project who was in touch with all the delegations supporting them with tickets, insurance certificates and transportation from/to the airport. ABCD Innovation Center was very consious about the arrangements and did everything to organize a smooth transfer for the participants. For instance, two of the delegations namely Slovak and Ukraine arrived in Tbilisi Airport and Dutch group along with the Armenian groups would come from Yerevan. The host organization arranged two mini-bused to take all the groups to the project venue. Regarding the visa fortunately there was visa free regime for all the participating countries.Safety was the other key issue the project team addressed. Participants were staying in 6 rural guest houses and there was at least one Armenian participant with a local phone number in each of the houses so after the sessions when participants were back to their houses the organizers were in constant contact with Armenian participants. The organizers created a map of the village with all the guesthouses, training venue and food venue. This was very much helpful because from the very first day no one has any dificulties in reaching the venues. It is important to mention that all the participants had insurance certificate for the whole duration of the project.As it was mentioned in the previous section all the 8 team leaders from 4 delegations gathered for a short advance planning meeting. During this meeting team leaders were able to check the conditions of the guest houses where participants would stay, the training venue and eating place. Besides, the host organization facilitated sessions on risk management and youth exchange program agenda. As a result all the needed adjustments were made taking into consideration the background and profile of the selected participants. Last thing to mention for this section is that taking into consideration the fact that the project was organized in a rural community the organizers decided to have a city tour and dinner in the closest city. It was in the middle of the project and really helped to refresh the energy of the participants.At the end of the project an evaluation survey was conducted and as a result it turned out that the project contributed that youngsters felt more self confidence and they created awareness about what they can and want to do with their lives. Also they had a chance to compare the life and problems of a local village with their own problems. Many of the participants mentioned that they started to look at their problems from a different angle. They noted that in comparenes with the village problems their problems are just small things to solve. Local people saw that youngsters can make great differences in the local environment when they get the trust and right attention. The project activities encouraged friendships, establishment of partnership and cooperative relationships among project participants and promoter organizations, so new projects were developed and will be submitted in the next deadline.

The large influx of refugees and migrants the last couple of years has put the EU to a serious test. We have seen how cooperation between countries have either stalled or turned sour in the wake of certain negative events and stories, with world leaders pointing fingers at each other and avoiding responsibility. One of the issues here is not only a lack of understanding, prejudices and stereotypes about refugees and migrants. It also shows that within Europe, different countries and communities still have huge gaps in understanding about each others history and culture, and in an attempt to come to grasp with these, we often default to stereotypes here too. With this project, which main activity is a Youth Exchange that will take place in Denmark in 2018, 45 participants from 9 organizations (from Denmark, Greece, Spain, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Austria, Armenia and Turkey) came together and broke the many stereotypes that surround us in our daily lives. Taking departure in the current refugee and migrant debate, we went the very core about what makes up a stereotype, ultimately focusing in on the image we have of each other as nations and people and how it affects our relations. The participants became much more critical about how they view other cultures in the future and will also spread they results further to their immediate, and more wide surroundings. The objectives of the projects are more concretely to: * Increase knowledge and awareness of the challenges related to migration, migrants and refugees * Identify and challenge stereotypes, prejudices and negative cultural dynamics on all sides * Enhance media literacy and critical thinking among participants * Gain better understanding of each countries culture and political climate * Develop a larger sense of understanding and solidarity among countries * Enhance participants grasp on foreign language use * Learn to use the Erasmus + programme for further projects