We have implemented a youth exchange with program countries involving in total of 44 people along with the groups leaders where we had 26 female and 18 male participants, coming from different countries, nationalities, religions, cultural and social backgrounds and in total of 29 participants with fewer opportunities, facing cultural differences, coming from different minority groups or facing geographical and financial burdens. Moreover, the participants were coming from Bulgaria, The UK, Spain, Italy, Poland and Estonia. From the UK team we have youth involved coming from migrant and refugee origin as well as people with no previous experience in Erasmus mobilities and university students; From Bulgaria we had youth from ethnic minority groups/roma/; youth from the rural areas in the region as well as participant with Autism that we successfully managed to involve in the group and provide learning space for; from Italy and Spain we people coming from rural areas and yout from the NEET group; as well as youth facing financial difficulties and unemployed youth. From Estonia, the majority of the team have not had any Erasmus or mobility experience from before and people coming from rural areas.
We have implemented a balanced daily program with numerous and various activities based on non formal education. Most of the activities were actually run by the participants themselves with the help of group leaders as the activities were divided among the groups in the preparation phase. During the project we have used methods such as world cafe, small group work, focus groups, team building and ice breaking, trust building games, energizers, presentations, interviews, case studies, theater play, etc. Trough interactive activities and participatory approach there were different topics discussed by participants such as Active citizenship, European idea, volunteering, European solidarity, European citizenship, rights and responsibilities, challenges of EU, Euro skepticism, etc. We have implemented both indoor and outdoor activities, combining different methods and approaches in order to maximize the learning. We have implemented workshops such as Europe and Me-based on world cafe, theater play and plenary discussion in order to help youth discuss and lear more about European citizenship EU values, Eu solidarity. The aim of the activity was to explore the understanding and feelings of participants toards EU and bring personal examples and share opinions. The daily agenda also involved activities that needed the group preparation and research on the topic before the mobility itself trough the workshop Europe and Youth where groups presented the opinions and thoughts of their peers on various topics such as European citizenship, idea and belonging.Participants also discussed European solidarity and the role of volunteering; the role of youth in Europe and their idea for Dream Europe-how they imagine it to be and what their role is.
