International Youth Exchange
„Kaleidoscope of cultures”
Project Summary:
Kaleidoscope was an youth exchange reflecting a cultural variegation, which was implemented with the collaboration of NGOs from 4 countries, Hungary, Romania, Macedonia and Bulgaria. The project idea came from the initiative of multiple disadvantaged young people in the horizon of the Hungarian organization. The detailed program was the work of the experts dealing with young people at the participating organizations.
The project was build on real needs, the topic turns to the origination of young people that they would like to get to know the cultures and traditions of other countries, breaking out from their tight surroundings, widening their field of vision, getting new information.
From each country 8 young people, 16-25 years and one group leader participated in the project, all together 36 people. Many of the participants were disadvantaged. Young people who are talented but they can’t evolve their talent because of their strong life circumstances. Because of poverty they can’t access to services that could help them with developing their abilities or widening their knowledge. Certain areas of their abilities must be developed and also the expansion of their relations is necessary too.
Despite it was important for them to learn continuously and to get new knowledge in order to build their future.
We determined the aims of the project firstly alongside these aspects:
1. With non-formal educational activities widening the horizon, development of competences of young people, helping the involvement of their talent by discovering the variegation of cultures, per the relation of dance, music, theater, presentation, visual art, intercultural dialog, motivation and life long learning.
2. Encouragement of the social activities of young people, popularization of volunteerism and social responsibility, supporting the initiatives coming from young people.
3. Reinforcement of community roles, supporting the formation of small communities and informal groups.
The youth exchange was planned for 9 days and its topic was the presentation of national and local cultures, enhancement of the cultural variegation, getting to know the differences and similarities between the cultures per the presentation of the participants’ own national cultures with the help of dance, music, theater, presentations, visual art, legends and traditions. Furthermore through intercultural activities and workshops it was about tolerance, solidarity, cultural differences, the stereotypes coming from this and how to handle them. In frame of national nights the young people coming from different countries showed their own national values, cultures, traditions. The result of the project was a community presentation about the cultures and local heritages of the participating countries. In favour of the dissemination of the result of the project a presentation was held for the inhabitants in Hungary. Representatives of local and countywide media took part– the results are published in newspapers, radio, TV, websites and portals. We provided information about the Erasmus+ Programme too.
Organizations involved:
- “The Change is in You” Association – Bulgaria;
- Asociatia De Tinerete Plantogether – Romania;
- Zdruzenie na mladi KREAKTIV Skopje – Macedonia;
- HEURÉKA Egyesület – Hungary.
Accommodation:
The accommodation was in the village of Tiszaladány. The building belongs to the Church. It is specially made for young people’s summer camps. There is a football field not so far from the accommodation that can be used. The accommodation is in the center of the village, so everything (shops, pubs, etc.) can be reached within some minutes on foot. Info about the accommodation – http://refitabor.hu/?page_id=16
Food:
Every day’s menu was typically Hungarian meals, prepared and served for the participants in the accommodation.
Financial support:
Project was supported by program of European Union ERASMUS+. Accommodation, meals, program and travel cost (based on distance) were covered from grant. There was no participation fee.
Travel cost reimbursement:
The organizers sent a bus which took the participants from Bulgaria, brought them to the project venue and in the end of took them back home. That costs was covered by the association, not the participants.
YouthPass:
Every participant was individually entitled to receive a Youthpass Certificate, which confirms participation and
validates the non-formal learning (NFL) experience of Training course project. Validating the learning experiences of participants is important in itself and the document can be of benefit in terms of the educational or employment future of the participant. Through Youthpass the European Commission ensures the Training course activity is recognized as a non-formal learning experience.
(*For more information on Youthpass you may click on this page to check it online)
And here is what our participants shared about the project:
“Kaleidoscope of culture
Participants in this project were from four countries: Macedonia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania. They spent 9 days together presenting and sharing information about the culture, folklore, traditions and cuisine in their countries. This was also a good chance for gaining experience and charging positive vibes and emotions.
Erasmus+ Presentation
Presentation about Erasmus + was the first part of the project. Each participant learnt many new things about what Erasmus+ really means and what it offers to the young people and meanwhile expressed their own opinion about the program.
About Volunteer
Some of the participants who have Erasmus experience like volunteering, EVS, etc shared their own experience, what they learnt by volunteering and why they chose to do it, how they felt and what they did.
“What does culture mean to you?”
The next step was a discussion about culture and each participant explained and shared their own opinion about what the culture of a country means to its nation, about the meaning of folklore as a distinguishing feature of a nation.
Art Workshop
Art workshop was the time when the participants showed their skills, gained knowledge about art, how to make art, how to be creative in making something new. Everybody enjoyed it and showed creativity.
Kaleidoscope of cultures – countries presentation
Participants from each country made presentations about the culture, traditions, folklore, history and the most important and representative points of the country and nation.
Intercultural evening
The participants presented the culture of the countries where they live by creating presentations with videos, symbols of the countries, national folklore clothing, and everything important for the culture and cuisine. At the end they offered to others national food and drinks to taste.
Team Work
Team work is one of the most important things that somebody can learn at these projects. Also trust as a successful way of collaboration, accepting and respecting other people’s opinion.”
Български