International Youth Exchange
“From consumer to creator“
28.05 – 06.06. 2022
Tryavna, Bulgaria
SUMMARY:
The main purpose of this project is to show the participants the importance of being properly informed by using reliable sources of information only, and to emphasize the importance of the fact, that media could be seen as our window to the reality of the other countries . This is extremely important, because globally, we see that the problem with the freedom of speech as well as the manipulation and fabrication of news. This part of our main goal is to provide detailed information about all types of media and to show their development and the advantages and the disadvantages of each and every one of them. All of this plays a huge role in your life, so if you want to be a responsible and active citizen, you to know what is happening around the world and be sufficiently informed.
Another main goal of ours is to show the participants how mass communication can shape our perceptions of reality in different ways and to show them how the system of mass media works. It is also very important for us to show them that they can be more than just media users – they can be creators of creative content that can become not only their profession but also passion and a new hobby for them. Therefore, we will teach the participants how to create videos and edit them (with the FilmoraGo and Lumen5 apps) and how to write different types of text in a way that may be of interest to the audience. We will also provide them with rules on how to write news and travel reports, allowing participants to see another viewpoint – the one of of the content creator. We will take them to one of the most beautiful places in Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo (the old capital of Bulgaria) and Bozhentsi (historical and architectural reserve) to inspire and provoke them to create while exploring the authentic Bulgarian culture.
One of our very important goals is to raise the awareness of participants about the psychological impact that social media has on people and society. One of the most important problems in our society today is the little knowledge that people have when it comes to the media and how to get information right. This is the reason why we aim to focus on solving this problem and will teach participants how to filter the information they reach, as well as to be informed only by reliable and well-established public media. We will also show them how the media works and what methods they use to influence our perspective. Another big problem is how little people know about the fact that social media can affect people’s psyches in a very negative way. That is why we will pay special attention to this topic by holding discussions with participants and showing them videos of a world famous psychologist to significantly enrich their understanding of the effect of social media on us.
The subgoals of the project are:
– Raising the participant’s knowledge of the Erasmus+ program and how they can benefit from it in their future personal and professional development.
– Enhance participant’s project idea development skills.
– Enhancing participant’s knowledge and skills to use different methods to create the right content.
– Promoting them active citizenship through the implementation of projects based on society’s problem.
– Creation of a brochure and other digital materials to reach more young people who were not able to attend the project.
PARTICIPANT`S PROFILE REQUIRED:
Eligible participants per country: 4 young motivated people from Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and Spain at the age of 16-22 and 1 group leader with no age limit, but 18+
Duration: 8 days + 2 more days for the travelling
Working language: English, at least lvl A2
Insurance & Health assistance: The insurance is a responsibility of each participant. The cost for issuing it will not be covered by the hosting organizations. Before coming to Bulgaria, you must issue and have valid European Health Insurance Card and Health Care insurance for the duration of the whole project!
- English level (at least A2 level of speaking and writing);
- Committed to contribute to the follow up of the project;
- Gender Balance have to be followed as much as possible (2 Male and 2 Female participant per country + the group leader);
- Be interested in developing competences and implement follow-up initiatives;
- Be aware of the characteristics of the learning environment (non-formal education);
The group of each country will be obligated to conduct dissemination events for other young people in their city/town, within 2 months at the end of the youth exchange.
VENUE:
All costs related to accommodation, and food (3 meals per day “breakfast, lunch, dinner”) will be covered by project budget as well.
Participants will be accommodated in a house in double rooms each one with single beds and separated by gender. Each of the elegantly furnished and functionally equipped rooms has a shower, W.C., satellite TV and Internet connection (the speed is not the best, when everyone is connected to it, so don`t expect super fast speed).
The menu will be adapted according to the diary requirements and the allergies of each participant. Therefore, it is highly important to fill in fully and correctly the application form, especially regarding that matter!!!
Food will be delivered and in order to minimize the food waste and decrease our carbon foot print, a menu will be given to the participants and they will select their food for the next day. The mother Earth will really appreciate, if everyone of us pays close attention to the amount of food he/she takes.
WORKING METHODS:
All the training will be done through the methods of non-formal education. The activities will be for example brainstorming, plenary discussions, simulations, role plays, team building, energizers, ice breakers and many others. Non formal education we remember you that is voluntary, no hierarchical and all its methods are based on the concept of learning by doing.
The following activities will be organized according to the methods used for them:
- Energizers and Icebreakers. Each day, for 10-15 minutes before each session, participants will optionally present a game. Their aim is to raise the mood and energy level of the participants, to awaken and encourage them. The games are fun and easy, testing their concentration, reflexes speed, rational and fast thinking, etc.
- Teambuilding games (including logic games and decision-making games). The purpose of these games is to provoke the teamwork of the participants and thus to turn the participants from “strangers to each other” into teammates to support and help each other. Logic games are intended to provoke them to think critically and to seek solutions to a problem, through discussions and compromises.
- Presentations and discussions. Their purpose is to encourage young people to express and defend their opinions, as well as to improve their oratorical and organizational skills. Also encourage them to think critically and ask questions in front of many people when something is not clear to them. But the most important aspect is the public speaking because many people are worried about it and don’t ask questions and present and defend their own opinions. They will be implemented in a formal and informal way. Formal will be the official presentation of statistics, information on a certain problem, visits to both facilities, etc. And the informal ones, through theater, drama, music, etc.
- Creative activities. When creating the brochure and daily publications to disseminate the results, participants will need to include their creative and inventive thinking in these activities. The purpose of these activities is to better prepare them for future initiatives and events that they themselves will implement. In addition, the quality of the final product depends to a large extent on these activities and their dedication to produce a great document.
WHAT TO BRING WITH ME:
– Bring your hygiene products (shampoo, toothpaste, etc…).
– Bring comfortable clothes and shoes (we will walk).
– Bring slippers, because it is NOT allowed to enter the houses with shoes.
– Each group should bring some food and drinks to represent their own country.
– Bring your national flag, magazines, postcards what will help you to introduce your country.
– Bring your sending organization’s leaflets and any kind of information what you might have.
– Please, find a nice mug from your city/town/country and bring it to the project. On the first day we will make a lottery and you will get a cup that you can use the whole week and later bring home with you as a memory. Less plastic, more beauty!
– If you bring your laptop will be easier for working.
– And your good mood and positive attitude. This is the most important 🙂
TRAVEL COSTS:
100% of the participants ‘travel costs will be reimbursed within the valid budget sums calculated according to the official rules of the Bulgarian NA in the frame of Erasmus +. If a sum exceeds the limit, the excess will be paid by the participants themselves. The reimbursement limit per participant is based and calculated according to the official Erasmus+ distance calculator and the rules of the program.
The reimbursement will be conducted either to the partner organization or to one of the participants personal bank account. If the group decides on a reimbursement to a personal bank account, each one of them should sign declaration, confirming his will.
There will be only one bank account per country.
Important: In order to obtain reimbursement for the tickets, you need to follow these steps:
1) You need to present ALL THE TICKETS (that includes all the boarding passes), including RETURN TICKETS, which you will send after realization of the project, otherwise you will not be reimbursed.
2) You need to use PUBLIC TRANSPORT e.g. planes, trains, buses, trams or underground.
3) You need to depart from the country where your sending organization is.
4) It is recommended to make scans of tickets before your arrival in case you lose them. The reimbursement will be done only in Euros.
5) You must complete the dissemination activities and send to the organizers evidences of them (pictures, videos, written report, etc.). Could be one for the whole group or individual – the decision is up to each participant and national group.
FINNACIAL SUPPORT:
Project is supported by “Erasmus+” program. Accommodation, meals, program and travel cost (based on distance) are covered from grant.
YOUTHPASS:
Every participant is 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)
APPLICANTS MUST:
- Read carefully the Terms and Conditions you are agreeing with, when sending your application!
- Read carefully the Privacy Policy page.
- Have a valid ID/International passport.
- Possess valid European Health Card.
- Fill in the APPLICATION FORM.
- Save the file as PDF and send it to stanimir.chukov@gmail.com
IMPORTANT!!!
In the title of the e-mail, write down the name of the project.
Empty emails will be deleted automatically
Български