2014 - Youth Exchange Flensburg
Start date: Jun 17, 2014,
End date: Dec 31, 2014
PROJECT
FINISHED
The 2014 Youth Exchange in Flensburg marks the longstanding partnership between the twin cities of Flensburg/DE, Slupsk/PL and Carlisle/GB. Young people from the three cities meet for the 26. time this year. Every three years the Flensburger Jugendring e.V. hosts the exchange and is in charge of program and accomodation. This year 34 participants and 6 team members took part in a 12 day exchange. The team from Flensburg was made up of youth workers and supplementary staff. All participants and all team members lived together at the Flensburg Youth Hostel and used a nearby youth center as activity space and for meals. English was used as the common language while polish and german was used in some language introduction activities.
The weather was exceptionally bad during the summer of 2014 which to some extend hampered the planned program schedule execution. Nonetheless all participants enjoyed staying together, quickly dissolving national and language barriers. One weekend was dedicated to staying in a german guest family away from goup activities, and was greatly enjoyed by all participants as a means to first hand experience everyday culture in a german home.
During the exchange the participants met with political delegates from all three cities at a park opening. Later, all delegates and members of the Flensburg council paid a visit to the youth centre for an informal evening and a barbecue. This meeting, which lasted long into the evening, offered a rich and relaxed atmosphere in which all groups came to a better understanding of the political and social rules involved. The political delegates on the other hand were able to first handedly observe the rich cultural diversity of the group and close bonds the participants had formed in the mean time.
Educating about climate change was an essential part of the exchange. To heighten awareness end educate about effects of man made climate change a simulation game was played after introductory activities such as a visit to a local science center, an excursion to a windpark and the Wattenmeer natural reserve, which is directly affected by rising sea levels. Unfortunately the planned trip to the scientainment center Danfoss Universe had to be canceled due to unforeseen bad weather conditions. As an example of sustainable living most food and catering during the exchange was made from locally grown and produced ingredients, a fact that resonated well with all participants.
To strengthen bonds in the beginning of the exchange and to reflect upon it in the end two team training sessions were also employed with the help of professional team trainers.
All in all we are very satisified with what we have achieved with the exchange in spite of adversary weather conditions. Not only were many new friendships formed across borders, several groups of young people have since visited each other in their respective home towns in their own spare time and school holidays. We are very happy and proud to have helped form such long lasting bonds between culturally diverse goups of young people from three european countries.
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