Youth exchange Us and Them Place: Elektrėnai district, Daugirdiškės, Lithuania Date: 2018 October 1-10 Participating countries: Lithuania, Croatia, Greece, Palestine, Algeria, Lebanon. Devastating terrorist attacks in Europe in 2015–2016 have increased the concern of extremism, including violent extremism. The EU’s Terrorism Situation and Trend Report of 2015 referred to ‘unprecedented’ numbers of people going from Europe to Syria and Iraq to become involved in armed conflict. Meanwhile, right-wing extremist violence remains a significant threat to security across European states. Governments, policymakers and young people themselves are all concerned to deter young people from becoming involved in extremism, especially violent extremism. The Paris Declaration issued by the Council of the European Union in 2015 noted the rise of extremism in European society and expressed commitment to upholding fundamental values – including respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights. It emphasized the role of education, along with the need for co-operation across the EU’s member states, to ensure that, ‘children and young people acquire social, civic and intercultural competences, by promoting democratic values and fundamental rights, social inclusion and non-discrimination, as well as active citizenship.’ Violent extremism and the underlying forces of radicalization are among the most pervasive challenges of our time. While violent extremism is not confined to any age, sex, group or community, young people are particularly vulnerable to the messages of violent extremists and terrorist organizations. In the face of such threats, young people need relevant and timely learning opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that can help them build their resilience to such propaganda. Project goal - to acquaint young people from Lithuania, Croatian, Greece, Algeria, Lebanon and Palestine with fundamental rights, democratic values and active citizenship in order to prevent radicalization and violent extremism. Objectives: - Understand and analyze violent extremism and radicalization phenomenon; - Overview each partners' country situation in the context of violent extremism and radicalization; - promote diversity, intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, common values of freedom, tolerance and respect of human rights; - promote global citizenship; - enhance media literacy and critical thinking among young people; The project involved 36 young people, aged 17 to 25 from Lithuania, Greece, Croatia, Palestine, Algeria and Lebanon.The youth exchange was held in Lithuania for 10 days. During these 10 days, we have discussed such topics as radicalization, violent extremism, human rights, otherness, active citizenship, global citizenship, tolerance and respect. The exchange program included several main parts: introduction and deeper understanding of the main topics, campaigning in the local high schools and disemmination activities. Project results:- Project activities include 16 young people with fewer opportunities;- More than 260 young people attended workshops in Trakai / Elėktrėnai schools;- Around 80 young people participated in follow-up activities in partner countries.- A long-term partnership established between European - North African - Middle East organizations;

"Place: Lithuania, Trakai districtDate: 2017 SeptemberPartners: Centre for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities (Croatia), GoEurope (Germany), JASMA (Latvia), Non formal group Over the fence (Greece), Care in Action (Ukraine).Participants: young people, age 16-24. In total 36 people.Youth Exchange Project ""Open_doors4All"" idea born after Youth exchange „Street Workout“ and ""Forced 2 Move"", and courses on outdoor expeditions, which aimed to involved inclusions groups like young refugees and other youngsters experiencing social exclusion. Main goal of the project - to include youth who is experiencing exclusion into active, development-enhancing activities through intercultural and experiential learning in nature.Project objectives:To promote tolerance, respect and solidarity among young people, refugees and community.To promote active participation among youngEmpower young people express their position of the social integration issues;Develop respect for other cultures, religionsTo understand intercultural dimension and diversity as a positive characteristic of society.Exchange program consisted several main parts: introduction and deepening to the main topics (otherness, self-actualization, tolerance, solidarity, integration, active participation), day/night hiking through the forests, canoeing, cycling, one-day volunteering for the community.The main achievements of the project were the following:The project created a toolbox for participants. They can engage in small scale activities which are focused on community building: team building for cooperation, communication and solidarity, active participation and integration, camping as real life simulation and follow ups."

"The project ""Women & Peace: the role of women in peace processes"" was born of the debate that emerged during the youth exchange ""Walking with refugees"" where a Saharawi women was invited to explain her testimony in the ""connecting people"" session. Most of the participants of the exchange mentioned were unaware of the Sahrawi conflict and by contextualizing the situation, it was observed the role played by Sahrawi women during the first years of conflict. At that time, it was emphasized that, despite their active role as combatants, peacemakers and activists, women tended to be underestimated or ignored during negotiations, perceived as the passive victims of the war.The project, in its design phase, was focused on investigating the role of women in peace processes, through talks, workshops, debates and testimonies, which in the implementation phase of the project allowed young women to acquire knowledge and tools to promote spaces where to put in common the best tool in peace processes: dialogue. Moreover, and due to the interest of the participants during the first days of the exchange, the international group investigated what had been the role of women as spokespersons in the struggle for social inequalities (for cultural, class, gender, sexual orientation reasons, among others), focusing on those that used and use music as a claiming tool.During the youth exchange, the young participants analyzed protest songs and traditional oral pieces, as well as they carried out music composition and basic rhymes workshops and they listened to the testimony of an activist and Saharawi woman, who explained the Western Sahara conflict and the role of women as a social pillar and in the construction and removal of the refugee camps where they currently settle.For a total of 7 days plus two as travelling days, a set of 5 entities with 6 participants plus 1 leader per country participated in this youth exchange (9 young people and 1 leader in the group Spanish). The project took place in SABADELL (50 minutes by train from Barcelona).MAIN OBJECTIVES • To create a debate on the role of women in peace processes. • To promote music and oral tradition as a tool to claim for peace, human rights and social equality through non-formal education. • To create a link between young Europeans and partner associations through an exchange of young people. • To create visibility of the Erasmus+ program for young people living in Sabadell.SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES • To promote spaces where dialogue becomes a tool for peace processes. • To create a debate on the role of women in peace processes and to raise awareness in the different cultures of Europe. • To promote the acquisition of knowledge to address prejudices or underestimation regarding the role of women in peace processes and in the struggle for social equality. • To promote the social inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities through oral traditions and music. • To propose new projects that give continuity to the main objective of the project in other countries. • To discuss and to promote the acquisition of knowledge on the subject among young people between 18 and 30 years.In this way, ""Women & Peace"" was related to the objectives and priorities of the Erasmus+ program when dealing with the theme of women's empowerment, the defense of human rights, peace and social and intercultural dialogue among the participants, and, in turn, being an inclusive project, in which reflecting on the role of women in peace processes, and having actions open to citizen participation.Finally, another objective of this youth exchange was to give visibility to the Erasmus+ program, among the youth population of the proposed municipality, Sabadell.In terms of dissemination, the participants themselves were the vehicle for transferring and disseminating the Erasmus+ program among the local community, and also through social networks and the audiovisual material created."