Document used by www.euxtra.com as information to its users. Document on the behalf of the European Commission

1. Youth in Action
mobilising
the potential
of young
Europeans
Youth Exchanges:
mutual understanding
Y outh Exchanges respond to young
people’s natural desire to explore
the world. The mobility that the
scheme offers exposes them to new
experiences, allowing them to see diversity as
an enrichment rather than a threat. It shows
young Europeans more clearly what they have
at home.
Exchanges focus on a theme relevant to
the participants’ daily lives, such as young
people in society, racism and xenophobia,
SLBCPQR?LBGLEȩ@CRUCCLȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩASJRSPCQȩ?LBȩ
religions, women in society, local heritage,
or the environment. This fact sheet presents
some examples of the thousands of projects
completed so far.
The experience of multicultural Europe at
a local level broadens the mind, and is a
trigger for developing tolerance and mutual
understanding. This practical engagement in
#SPMNC?LȩGLRCEP?RGMLȩMȎ ȩCPQȩWMSLEȩNCMNJCȩ?ȩ
sense of being a European citizen rooted in
something that they have done themselves.
They also acquire a broad range of skills and
knowledge about the world of work, which can
Youth in Action
Programme ͷ

2. ͷȧ help them to improve their job prospects later ?LBȩ?NNPCAG?RCȩRFCȩQNCAGȏȩAȩT?JSCQȩMDȩRFCȩ
on. EU — democracy, respecting human rights,
A strong international dimension, particularly freedom, as well as deepening solidarity and
in eastern Europe and the Caucasus, the intercultural awareness. At the same time,
Mediterranean region, and south-east strengthened relations between the EU and its
Europe, helps young people to distinguish neighbours boost democracy and civil society.
Some of the many
Youth Exchange projects
completed so far
JC?TC
ȩ?LBȩRFCȩGLȐ ȩSCLACȩMDȩQMAG?Jȩ?BTCPRGQGLE

3. ȩ
Participants 1. Overcoming gender stereotypes Workshops examined, for instance, typical
shared the same The Youth Exchange ‘Gender equality: is everything professions for men and women and the validity
concerns over for anyone?’, in Lithuania, Norway and thepeople
from Germany,
Kaunas, invited 24 young
UK for
of ‘typical’ characteristics. The project reviewed
?NNPM?AFCQȩRMȩECLBCPȩCOS?JGRWȩGLȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩAMSLRPGCQȩ
gender and racial an eight-day exploration of the principles of gender and cultures, and provided opportunities for
equality, even equality and of methods to combat discrimination discussion with local civic leaders.
in 2010. The focus extended from women’s rights
though they came and feminism to women in employment, parental Participants acquired a better understanding of the
importance of being public-spirited, and a greater
DPMK–BGĶ–CPCLR– RMJCP?LACȩDMPȩBGȎ
ȩCPCLRȩASJRSPCQ
ȩ?LBȩRFCWȩQF?PCBȩRFCȩ
cultures same concerns over gender and racial equality, even
RFMSEFȩRFCWȩA?KCȩDPMKȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩASJRSPCQ

4. Project funded by
the Youth in Action national agency in Lithuania
Hosting organisation:
ͬ VðÁ Kauno ávairiø tautø kultûrø centras, Lithuania.
Sending organisations:
ͬ Evangelische Jugend Erfurt, Germany;
ͬ Cardiff Youth Service, UK;
ͬ Kristoforo þygeviø klubas, Lithuania;
ͬ Ugdoms og Versfamilien, Norway.
1 T ES T IM O N I AL S
‘Young people open to acting active in socialtheir
and be more
must be more
as citizens of
life
countries.
’

5. Y O U T H E X C H A N G E 3
2. Think about your friends, not felt they had a voice as citizens. An intercultural 2FCW–JMMICB–?R–
QEB @LKȏF@Q workshop helped the participants to challenge
beliefs and attitudes. the myths of
$GȓȩWCGEFRȩWMSLEȩNCMNJCȩDPMKȩCGEFRȩAMSLRPGCQȩ Among the results of this project were enhanced stereotyping
?LBȩDPMKȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩQMAGMCAMLMKGAȩ?LBȩASJRSP?Jȩ capacities for intercultural cooperation, raised people’s ethnicity
backgrounds spent nine days together in the awareness of equality, diversity and human
summer of 2007 to explore international rights, and new skills and engagement in active
and beliefs
cooperation, equality and diversity, and human democracy.
rights and democracy. The participants came to
Project funded by
Wokingham from France, Jordan, Lebanon, the
the Youth in Action national agency in the UK
Palestinian Territories, the Spanish Basque Country,
Syria, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Through Hosting organisation:
ͬ Wokingham District Council Youth Service, UK.
workshops, discussions and outdoor activities they Sending organisations:
BGQAMTCPCBȩRFCȩBGȎ ȩCPCLACQȩ?LBȩQGKGJ?PGRGCQȩGLȩRFCGPȩ ͬ The Jordanian–Danish Youth Centre, Jordan;
countries, and looked at the myths of stereotyping ͬ Anatolia Scout Association, Turkey;
ͬ Kilimiliklik Kiltur Elkartea, Spain;
people’s ethnicity and beliefs. They conducted a
ͬ Fun Hut, Palestine;
~NFMRMȩQ?D?PGȩRMȩȏȩLBȩMSRȩFMUȩD?PȩJMA?JȩWMSLEȩNCMNJCȩ ͬ Follow the Women, Syria.
2 TES TI M ONIALS
Hanin admits she has no Jewish friends and does
LMR–ILMU–?LW–'QP?CJGQ

6. –Q–D?P–?Q–QFC–ILMUQ
–QFC–F?Q–
‘ 5C–?JU?WQ–RFGLI–UC– the ‘ Iour situation is,how bad
have big problems in
try to explain
how
never met an Israeli. Basque country, but we UC–QSĶ –CP–?R–RFC–AFCAI–
‘Now I am learning to tolerate diversity more and ILMU–RFC–.?JCQRGLG?LQ– points. We spent 12
?AACNR–NCMNJC–UGRF–BGĶ–CPCLR–@?AIEPMSLBQ–?LB– have bigger problems.
’ hours at the borders
perception of the world.
’ ‘ We cannot go anywhere.
when we came here and
You have to pass
had a very bad time.
’
RFPMSEF–RFC–AFCAI–
NMGLRQ–RM–ECR–RM–BGĶ
–CPCLR–
countries.
’
a church and a synagogue stand alongside one
A visit to the
3. Branch of olive
another, helped reinforce the sense of co-existence, ‘Garden of
This project created a multicultural and multi- and each group had a chance to introduce its own
religious atmosphere by bringing together 20 young rituals. An imam read extracts from the Quran
tolerance’, where a
people belonging to Christianity, Judaism and Islam and explained the meaning in English, answering mosque, a church
from Hungary, Romania and Turkey for 10 days in questions from participants. and a synagogue
Antalya, Turkey in 2011. The project focused on
Participants learnt about each other’s religions and stand alongside
intercultural learning, and each group planned its
cultures, improved mutual understanding, and broke
own activities for a designated culture day, at which one another,
down stereotypes and prejudices.
it introduced its culture and religion. All participants
were also involved in workshops on diverse Project funded by helped reinforce
activities such as Ashura, painting Easter eggs, the the Youth in Action national agency in Turkey the sense of co-
1F?@@?RȩPGRS?J
ȩMPȩFCLL?ȩLGEFR
ȩCȎ ȩCARGTCJWȩPCKMTGLEȩ Hosting organisation:
prejudices among the participants. A kite workshop ͬ ILDMPK?JȩEPMSNȩMDȩWMSLEȩNCMNJC
ȩ8CWR˵LW?BG
ȩ2SPICW.
existence
GLTMJTCBȩEPMSNȩUMPI
ȩ?LBȩRFCȩIGRCQȩUCPCȩȐ ȩMULȩ Sending organisations:
ͬ JMPoint for Jewish Community Public Benefit Foundation,
together in a spirit of brotherhood and freedom. A
Hungary;
visit to the ‘Garden of tolerance’, where a mosque, ͬ Eco East Romania Association, Romania.
3 TES TI M ONIALS
‘ 5C–QRPCQQCB–RF?R–@CGLE–BGĶ–CPCLR–GQ–LMR–QMKCRFGLE– ‘ We shared our Finally, we realised that we are the
feelings, our own values, our religions
to divide us but to widen our horizons.
’ and traditions.
Q?KC–PCE?PBJCQQ–MD–BGĶ –CPCLACQ–JGIC–P?AC–MP–PCJGEGML

7. ’

8. 4 Y O U T H I N A C T I O N
For many of the 4. Ambassadors for peace experience Europe for themselves. For many of the
?JI?LȩQRSBCLRQȩGRȩU?QȩRFCȩȏ ȩPQRȩRPGNȩ?@PM?B

9. ȩLBȩRFCȩ
?JI?L–QRSBCLRQ–GR– Twenty-six Bosnian, Kosovan and Serbian students students from Italy and Belgium were confronted
U?Q–RFC–ĺ–PQR–RPGN– and 20 young people from Belgium and Italy took DMPȩRFCȩȏȩPQRȩRGKCȩUGRFȩRFCȩTGCUQȩMDȩNCMNJCȩMDȩRFCGPȩ
part in the European Rails of Peace (EU.R.O.PE) MULȩ?ECȩAMKGLEȩDPMKȩNMQRAMLȐ ȩGARȩPCEGMLQȩ˜ȩ?LBȩ
abroad looking forward to the same type of European
project during eight days in 2008. The students
from the Balkans travelled to Rome, Sienna, GLRCEP?RGMLȩRF?RȩRFCȩ#3ȩU?Qȩ@SGJRȩMLȩ?ȓ ȩCPȩRFCȩ
Leuven and Brussels, where they met students Second World War.
from EU countries, and shared their experiences — The outcomes included raised awareness of
N?PRGASJ?PJWȩMDȩRFCȩAMLȐ ȩGARQȩRFCWȩF?BȩJGTCBȩRFPMSEFȩ democratisation, human rights and intercultural
@CRUCCLȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩASJRSP?J
ȩCRFLGAȩ?LBȩPCJGEGMSQȩ communication, and the overcoming of stereotypes
communities. There were also opportunities and prejudices. The project also developed regional
DMPȩBGQASQQGMLQȩUGRFȩMȑ ȩȩAG?JQȩDPMKȩRFCȩ#3
ȩJMA?Jȩ and international cooperation.
government, and experts in democratisation,
human rights and intercultural communication, Project funded by
on overcoming stereotypes and prejudices and the Youth in Action national agency in Italy
developing regional and international cooperation. Hosting organisation:
ͬ Viaggi e Liberta Associazione Culturale, Italy.
Subsequently, all the participants travelled by
Sending organisations:
train through Europe, in small groups. This gave ͬ Aegge leuven vzw, Belgium;
them the chance to get to know each other, to ͬ Kontra organization, Serbia;
ͬ Research and documentation centre, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
make friends, to widen their perspectives and to
4 T ES T I M ON I AL S
‘ INMJGRGA?J–QGRS?RGML–GL–RFC– ?JI?LQ

10. –2F?LI–WMS–DMP–the
came here with very clear opinions regarding
having confused me. I have not necessarily changed
my ideas but I have certainly questioned them and I
RFGLI–RF?R–GQ–?–EMMB–RFGLE

11. ’
They confronted 5. East meets West in combating overcame stereotypes, integrating elements of
prejudice the complex geopolitics of the region, including
resistance to the independence of Ukraine and Georgia (and the
R?AIJGLE–BCJGA?RC– This project aimed at breaking stereotypes and tensions between Tbilisi and Moscow), the diversity
of alphabets, and the continuing use of Russian.
issues such as combating xenophobia via art. A historic village in
the Caucasus provided a meeting point between The results included personal enrichment, new
religion and East and West and a perfect setting for theatre, friendships, and deeper understanding of very
homosexuality dance and music. In the course of eight days BGȎȩCPCLRȩ@?AIEPMSLBQȩ?LBȩASJRSPCQ

12. ȩ2FCȩNPMHCARȩ
together in 2007, 16 young people from France, strengthened the participants’ sense of citizenship
Georgia, Spain’s Basque region and Ukraine created and involvement in democracy.
a show. They organised workshops, designed a set, Project funded by
composed a song, and created the choreography the Youth in Action national agency in France
for a play that they presented to the local public.
Hosting organisation:
They decided themselves on the casting, and ͬ Youth Group in Upper Svaneti Programme CTC, Georgia.
voted on the issues the play should touch on — Sending organisations:
ͬ Centre des sureaux, France;
confronting along the way resistance to tackling
ͬ Kilimiliklik Kultur Elkartea, Spain;
delicate issues such as religion and homosexuality.
ͬ Charitable Fund ‘Pryyateli ditely’, Ukraine.
Through cooperation amongst themselves, they
3 T ES T I M O N I AL S
‘ Our testimony hardly describes the intensity of what we experienced! We
BGQAMTCPCB–?LMRFCP–UMPJB

13. –'R–GQ–?–RPC?QSPC–GL–UFGAF–UC–A?L–ĺ
–LB–QGKGJ?PGRGCQ–?LB–
where multiculturalism is a real issue.’

14. Y O U T H E X C H A N G E 5
6. Opening doors with art and from the past can help to understand why certain The project
culture superstitions and beliefs exist in the present. And by
introducing and explaining another culture, they not provided a
A project in Iceland that involved 56 young only got a deeper understanding of it, but also saw space where
people from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, how their own culture can be perceived through the
the Netherlands, and Norway for nine days in CWCQȩMDȩQMKCMLCȩUGRFȩ?ȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩ@?AIEPMSLB

15. the participants
2007 was organised by LungA. The aim was to could discuss
MNCLȩBMMPQȩRMȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩAMSLRPGCQȩRFPMSEFȩ?PRȩ?LBȩ Project funded by
the Youth in Action national agency in Iceland BGĶ–CPCLR–ASJRSPCQ–
culture. It provided a space where the participants
AMSJBȩBGQASQQȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩASJRSPCQȩGLȩ?LȩSLNPCHSBGACBȩ Hosting organisation: in an unprejudiced
ͬ LungA, Iceland.
environment, through workshops examining their environment
Sending organisations:
own and each other’s fairytales and folklore, and ͬ The Factory, the Netherlands;
their role in each country’s history. ͬ ProjectsAreUs.org, Estonia;
ͬ Northland Academy of Art and Science, Norway;
The project concluded with an event where each ͬ Linnanmäken sirkusskoulun kannatusyhdistys ry, Finland;
participating country gave a presentation of another ͬ The Bakkedia School, Denmark.
country’s culture. They learnt about how tales
7. Can you get around town in a community in a public café. They also took part in
wheelchair? TV shows on the topic of integrating disabled young
people.
The ‘Helping hands’ project aimed at integrating In addition to suggesting ways that the local
disabled young people in eastern Romania. Twenty- community can help disadvantaged young people
two young people from Italy and Romania spent and provide for socio-professional inclusion, the
six days in Bîrlad in 2010, identifying the problems project promoted a positive attitude towards The project
faced, and exploring possibilities for bringing NCMNJCȩUGRFȩQNCAG?JȩLCCBQ

16. ȩ'Rȩ?JQMȩPCTC?JCBȩBGȎȩCPGLEȩ promoted a
improvements to the quality of life of disabled approaches to helping disabled young people,
young people. In particular they looked at how to exposing the participants to the diversity of positive attitude
increase the chances for social and professional European views. Parents of local disabled young towards people
integration. The project included visits to institutions people particularly appreciated the public discussion
forums and the interest of other young people in
with special needs
specialised in working with disabled people, and
outdoor activities, such as exploring the local town improving the quality of disabled people’s lives.
in a wheelchair, and trying to accomplish simple Project funded by
tasks like shopping in a supermarket or using local the Youth in Action national agency in Romania
buses. The participants performed shows in local
Hosting organisation:
schools, and set up round table discussions with ͬ Asociatia Myosotis Romania.
disabled young people and members of the local Sending organisation:
ͬ Uniamoci Onlus Associazione, Italy.
7 T ES T IM O N I AL S
‘ IUMPIGLE–DMP–?–@CRRCP–JGDC–DMP–BGQ?@JCB–NCMNJC

17. –
am so happy to see these young people
‘ Peopleabout disabledno
in Bîrlad had
My disabled child will grow up amongst them.
‘ The theatre changed my
views performance
people because they LB–GD–RFCW–?PC–RFGLIGLE–JGIC–RFGQ–v–UCJJ–

20. –GL–
’
this case I dare to hope for a better world! they put on
had no interaction with personal attitude towards
them.
’ ’
disabled people!.

21. 6 Y O U T H I N A C T I O N
8. A Euro–Arab view of the future end of the workshop all the participants took part
in the International Euro-Med Singing Festival, to
This six-day workshop in Poland in 2007, entitled which the schoolchildren and the public were also
They discovered invited.
‘Let’s talk about the future’, focused on the
parallels within connections — and divisions — between Europe Better understanding emerged about cultures
RFCGP–DMJIR?JCQ
– and the Arab world. Thirty young people from from this project — not only of each of the
Algeria, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Palestine other participant’s, but also of their own culture.
songs, and dances and Poland explored together their distinct cultural Stereotypes were broken, and respect was acquired
backgrounds and traditions, through dance, singing, DMPȩRFCȩQGKGJ?PGRGCQȩ?LBȩBGȎCPCLACQȩMDȩRFCȩMRFCPȩ
QRMPWRCJJGLE
ȩ?LBȩAP?ȓ

22. ȩ2FCWȩBGQAMTCPCBȩN?P?JJCJQȩ participating countries.
within their folktales, songs, and dances, and
they even found similarities between their native Project funded by
languages. They learnt about the politics and the Youth in Action national agency in Poland
society of their respective countries, and discussed Hosting organisation:
ͬ Arabia.pl, Poland.
issues such as the challenges faced by women and
Sending organisations:
the role of religion in society. They visited a school ͬ Association CIRTA, Algeria;
in Warsaw, and each national group presented ͬ Friends of Culture Jordanian Forum, Jordan;
ͬ Zajel Youth Exchange programme, Palestine;
a show to the children, talked with them and
ͬ Ecological recycling society, Greece;
presented their national food, as well as playing ͬ Sustainable Development Association SDA, Egypt;
E?KCQȩ?LBȩK?IGLEȩF?LBGAP?ȓQȩUGRFȩRFCK

23. ȩRȩRFCȩ ͬ Forum für europäische Begegnungen e.V., Germany.
8 TEST I MO N I A L S
‘ This project demon-
strated how to show
Polish people that in the
Arab world, people are
the same, with the same
problems and friend-
QFGNQ

24. –2FGQ–K?ICQ–GR–KSAF–
C?QGCP–RM–QNC?I–?@MSR–RFC–
’
future.
‘ The visit to the school
where each group
could demonstrate its
country and culture was
particularly successful.
This made it possible to
@PGLE–RMECRFCP–BGĶCPCLR–
cultures and discover the
’
fascination of diversity.
9. Sustainable development, smart Concrete outcomes included communication tools
resources such as advertisements in social media, a street
campaign in Riga, and a movie clip. The participants
The participants The 4U2C project, on the importance of sustainable were asked to continue promoting sustainable
development and smart use of resources, brought development back home through doing similar
shared their together 26 young people from Egypt, Jordan, street campaigns and through recording people’s
experiences and Latvia, Poland, Spain, and Tunisia for six days in reactions in interviews. There was also a heightened
2010. Much of the project took place in Latvia, understanding of, and engagement in, sustainability
daily practices in issues among the participants.
UFCPCȩRFCȩN?PRGAGN?LRQȩCVNJMPCBȩBGȎCPCLRȩTGCUQȩ
saving, recycling and shared their experiences and daily practices
Project funded by
and reusing in saving, recycling and reusing resources. They
the Youth in Action national agency in Latvia
got to know and understand one another and
resources one another’s cultures better through non-formal
Hosting organisation:
ͬ Jaunatnes vizija, Latvia.
education activities including practical tasks, role Sending organisations:
games, and teamwork. ͬ Hussein Aghmed Hussein el Shafei, Egypt;
ͬ Asociacion Juvenil Intercambia, Spain;
They learnt more about respect for the environment; ͬ El Hassan Youth Award (EYA), Jordan;
at the same time, through workshops, they ͬȩ MKȩ1NMRI?ŻȩGK

25. ȩLECJSQ?ȩ1GJCQGSQ?
ȩ.MJ?LB
learnt how to promote sustainability back home. ͬ Association des jeunes méditerranées pour les échanges
culturels, Tunisia.

26. Youth Exchanges Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth
are part of the Youth Exchanges Initiatives Democracy Volunteering Support
in Action programme
of the European
Union
Youth in Action
mobilising the potential of
young Europeans
Youth in Action is the European Union programme ȧQGELGȏ
ȧA?LRȧGKN?AR A survey in March 2011
that has helped young people since 2007, through among a representative
Youth in Action has had a demonstrable impact sample of participants
non-formal learning and wider mobility, to boost
on the hundreds of thousands of young people it revealed that:
their skills as well as giving them new opportunities
has involved. The programme has enabled many
to develop their personal capacities. It is open to
all young people, regardless of their educational,
MDȩRFCKȩRMȩCVNCPGCLACȩMRFCPȩAMSLRPGCQȩȏ ȩPQRȩF?LB
ȩ 91 %
thus developing a greater sense of openness and of young people
social and cultural background. It encourages
understanding of other cultures. And it has provided considered participation
intercultural dialogue and the inclusion of all young
the young people who have taken part with new increased their
people, particularly those with fewer opportunities.
QIGJJQȩ?LBȩAMLȏȩBCLAC

27. ȩ competences in foreign
It strengthens European values everywhere it languages;
operates — in the EU and in 140 countries beyond.
This is all the more important since for many
It funds a wide variety of youth activities, including
exchanges, initiatives, democracy projects, and a
of the projects, the participants are deliberately 75 %
selected from communities and social groups with said they improved
voluntary service. It also supports youth workers their abilities to identify
fewer opportunities. The whole programme has a
and civil society organisations through training and opportunities for their
QRPMLEȩQMAG?JȩBGKCLQGML

28. ȩ'RȩK?ICQȩQNCAGȏ ȩAȩNPMTGQGMLȩ
networking, and promotes European cooperation in personal or professional
for involving young people from disadvantaged
RFCȩWMSRFȩȏ ȩCJB

29. future;
groups (with disabilities, health problems, or social,
economic or geographic obstacles, unemployed,
Noticeable results
UGRFȩCBSA?RGML?JȩBGȑ ȩȩASJRGCQ
ȩQSAFȩ?QȩC?PJWȩQAFMMJȩ
73 %
declared they felt more
Youth in Action has a global budget of EUR 885 JC?TCPQ
ȩMPȩDPMKȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩASJRSP?Jȩ@?AIEPMSLBQ

30. ȩ
European;
million for the 2007–13 period, and by the end 2FCȩCLE?ECKCLRȩMDȩK?LWȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩQMAG?JȩEPMSNQȩGQȩ
of 2010 it had fully used the EUR 549 million important in ensuring that the European integration
allocated so far. Its basic premise is that investment project is not restricted only to elites in European
92 %
of youth workers
in young people is the best business case for the society.
considered they gained
European Union and it is also the way to make a skills and knowledge they
success of the European integration project. Over Attractive learning would not have otherwise
the four years 2007–10, more than 527 000 acquired;
Youth in Action makes extensive use of non-formal
persons took part (390 000 young people and 137
learning, through attractive methods (such as
000 youth workers); 61 000 project applications
workshops, interviews or simulations), and based on 73 %
were submitted and 30 100 projects were approved of youth organisations
personal experience outside schools. This promotes
for grants; and Youth in Action involved around said they were doing
individual-based teaching, with the emphasis on
20 000 youth organisations, informal groups more international
talents and strengths. Professional facilitators
of young people, or public bodies every year as projects.
ensure the learning process is conducted mainly by
promoters of projects. The intense involvement
young people themselves, through participation and
of non-governmental organisations and social In addition
peer learning. The non-formal learning experience
enterprises is a stimulating example for young
that Youth in Action provides is recognised through the 2010 survey showed
people of what it means to be an active player
?ȩQNCAGȏȩAȩACPRGȏȩA?RCȩA?JJCBȩ?ȩ7MSRFN?QQ

31. that participants in
in society, and many participants in projects later
the programme have
become involved themselves in social work. ?ȧQGELGȏȧA?LRJWȧFGEFCPȧ
'LȩRFCȩBGȎ ȩCPCLRȩCLTGPMLKCLRȩMȎȩCPCBȩ@WȩNPMHCARQ
ȩ
young people discover their own potential and voting record in European
The projects supported range widely across youth elections than their peers.
abilities, and exercise new levels of independence
?ARGTGRGCQȩ˜ȩCTCPWRFGLEȩDPMKȩP?GQGLEȩRFCȩNPMȏ ȩJCȩMDȩ For instance in 2009,
and decision-making. The experience boosts their
young people in the media and giving them more 60 % of participants
personal development and widens their horizons, voted, compared to an
of a say, to organising environmental protection
helping them make choices about their further average of 29 % for
projects at local level, creating documentaries on
personal and professional life. And they acquire all young people across
social issues such as young people with HIV or
competencies that are increasingly valuable in an Europe.
exclusion of minorities, or helping inmates in young
evolving labour market.ͬ
%
60
MȎȩCLBCPQȩGLQRGRSRGMLQȩRMȩ@MMQRȩRFCGPȩMULȩQCJD
CQRCCKȩ?LBȩRMȩK?ICȩCȎ ȩMPRQȩRFCKQCJTCQȩRMȩGLRCEP?RCȩ
into their community and into wider society.
29 %

32. NC-31-11-276-EN-C
Who can take part
in Youth Exchange projects, and how do they work?
Youth Exchanges are open to young people who are countries) as well as to the neighbouring partner
13 to 25 years old; up to 20 % of participants may countries of the EU, eastern Europe and the
be aged 25–30. Youth Exchanges can be bilateral, Caucasus, the Mediterranean countries, and south-
or multilateral, involving at least one EU country. east Europe. Projects may take place either in a
In itinerant Youth Exchanges, all the participants programme country or in a neighbouring partner
move at the same time through the participating country, with the exception of the Mediterranean
countries. region. Projects receive grants via Youth in Action
national agencies in programme countries, or via
NNJGA?RGMLQȩK?Wȩ@CȩK?BCȩ@WȩLMLNPMȏ ȩR
LML
the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive
governmental organisations, local or regional
Agency in Brussels.
public bodies, informal groups of young people, or
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Participation is open to the 27 Member States of
the European Union; Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, 2007 2008 2009 2010
Norway, Switzerland and Turkey (the programme Submitted projects 3 314 3 413 3 947 4 265
Funded projects 1 542 1 663 1 592 1 814
Successful grant applications (%) 46.5 48.7 41.3 42.5
Committed funds (million EUR) 30.321 32.934 32.699 34.702
Number of participants 48 721 52 605 48 886 54 146
Youth in Action: http://ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.htm
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to your questions about the European Union.
Freephone number (*):
00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11
(*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers
or these calls may be billed.
More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu).
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Cover image: © Michèle Constantini/PhotoAlto; Page 1: © Patrick Shéandell O’Carroll/PhotoAlto
© European Union, 2012
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
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doi:10.2766/18115