The youth exchange project “Baltic Partnership Academy” will run in Latvia, Daugavpils for 8 days (19.07.14. - 26.07.14.) Main project theme is relationship between Russian-speaking people and Estonians, Lithuanians and Latvians in Baltic countries. We are planning to invite four young Russian people from each country plus four young Estonians, Lithuanians and Latvians (together-24 people+3 leaders). During the project activities the youth will have an opportunity to get know different European countries culture, traditions, they will discuss the Russian-speaking people role in this countries, why some people have a negative attitude to them. The youth also discuss, how they can solve these problems, and they will talk over different stereotypes. We are planning to use many working methods in this project, for example excursions, team activities, ice-breaking activities, discussions etc. Realizing the planned activities will be promoted development of the youth communication and social skills, broadening of the outlook. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: • To improve relationships between people with different national identity; • To promote titular nation bringing in work with Russian-speaking community; • To motivate young people to be active, to implement their own ideas and develop their culture and traditions; • To ensure the youth exchange project and to involve in it young people from EU Program countries; • To promote youth organizations cooperation exchange experience at international level; • To pay young people attention to the false stereotypes influence on society; • To provide the young people to be aware of the cultural diversity of the various nations and its integration in the local culture during the project. TARGET GROUP: • Youth/youth leaders; • Project participants should be 16-30 years old. TIME PLAN AND VENUE: Submission of the project: 17th of March 2014 Date of the exchange: 19.07.2014-26.07.2014 (including travel dates) Venue: Latvia, Daugavpils LANGUAGE: • Russian; • English GROUP AND DURATION: Young people from 16 till 30 years old from Baltic countries. Participants must be legally resident in a Program country. Each country must provide 4 Russian-speaking young people and also 4 Estonians, 4 Lithuanians and 4 Latvians (total 24 participants). Project duration will be 8 days (including travel days). During the selection of participants there will not be priorities for men or women. If possible, be taken approximately equal amount of men and women. It is expected that some of the participants will have a conditions that prevent young people participation in activities of the project, such as economic barriers-some young people might be from low-income families, social barriers-young people can be from disadvantaged families, and of course, there will be the Russian-speaking young people who have problems with integration into the local community. There will also be cultural differences, because young people are from different countries. The project will involve a variety of cultures representatives, so there will be reduced different types of prejudices, because of during this project young people will active cooperate and become friends.