Project Youth Culture – Babel IIThe first youth meeting between the two twin towns Gummersbach and La Roche Sur Yon regarding the topic „dance and music“ took place in La Roche Sur Yon in the summer of 2013. It was funded by the DFJW. The return visit took place in Gummersbach a year after that. To intensify the relationship between these two twin cities the project called “Babel” was installed in 2014. “Babel” is a Franco-German youth meeting established for the age range of 13-16 year old teenager. The aim oft the youth meeting is to improve verbal skills, accomplish cultural assimilation, create cultural exchange, expand his/her own expertise, reduce prejudices about other nationalities and to make new friends. Another important goal is to create solidarity between European countries and to learn more about the European culture and create a European cooperation. The project “Babel” – funded by Erasmus+ and the DFJW - was launched successfully in the year 2015 in La Roche Sur Yon. In 2016 the return visit will take place in Gummersbach between the 06th August and the 14th August. 54 teenager will participate (27 female and 27 male). They will be accompanied by their supervising tutors. The meeting will take place at a camping site in Gummersbach. From the supervising personal point of view it is evaluated as a positive sign and a huge success, that most of last years participants want to join again and be part of the return visit in Gummersbach. Many German teenager are happy to meet their French friends for another time and to work with them in several creative workshops like last year. They already made the experience that they can work together and overcome the barrier of language as a team (also with the help of translators). The offered workshop themes have inspired and raised creativity. The whole project was also reported in the media, so the families were aware of the accomplishments of the teenager. The project „Babel II“ is directed for female and male pupils of secondary schools. Like last year several workshops with tutorial advise will take place during one week. The themes of the workshops will be theatre, fine arts I + II (painting, drawing, installation), dance, music and cooking. Every afternoon and evening there will be time to get to know each other better. Trips and excursions in the twin town Gummersbach and the whole region/district will be offered for every participant. These trips will include several leisure time activities. To work on the youth pass contents will also give some orientation to the teenagers. The projext ends with a great final event in the Stadtgarten (large leisure time area and park) in the city centre of Gummersbach. During that event the participants will have the opportunity to present their work to a large crowd. They will present their work on the stage with a “Babel Vernissage”. After the presentation there will be a music program and self made fingerfood will also be served. This will be the setting for further discussions and the outlook/preview for „Babel III“ in the year 2017. Hoping that with this event some more partners and participants can be gained for the third edition of the program..