Beyond The Limits
Start date: Aug 1, 2016,
End date: Jul 31, 2017
PROJECT
FINISHED
One of the biggest challenges of contemporary Europe are lack of motivation of young people for self-exploration, discovery of other cultures and inner recourses' realization. Ability to discover the potential and develop wide range of competences among youth with different backgrounds and learn from differences of each other is of essential importance for creating a healthy and positive environment, which can significantly improve their life quality.There are several ways and methods of working with such kind of issues. One that proved to be very successful is the application of outdoor methods. Being involved in outdoor activities brings us back to our natural environment strengthening human – nature interconnectedness and empowers personal development. Through challenging ourselves, trying to go beyond the limits we comprehend a new physical, mental and spiritual level. From intercultural dialogue perspective outdoors can create a trustful environment for communication and integration of young people from different cultural backgrounds.The use of this methodology is very widespread in many countries but unfortunately doesn’t often form part of the curriculum for youth workers, in EECA region.The proposed youth exchange therefore wants to gather 36 young people (plus 9 group leaders) from 9 countries who are interested in self exploration, personal development and intercultural dialogue through outdoor activities. Taking into account the above mentioned context, the specific objectives of the proposed Youth Exchange are:• to give a chance for the participants to practice experiential outdoor activities as a tool for personal reflection and social integration • to raise young people's sensitivity towards intercultural dialogue and tolerance• to create a space for self-exploration and personal development• to form a network among individuals and their organizations with an interest in long-term cooperation in the field of youth exchanges/trainings/seminars• to develop follow-up projects on the similar topicsParticipants will be young people with different backgrounds in society. The methodological framework will be based on the approaches and values of non-formal education. The working methods will combine inputs with interactive sessions of different outdoor methodology to make best use of the potential of the participants and to ensure their active involvement. For young people this youth exchange can be beneficial in their personal growth by challenging stereotypical perceptions and ways of acting in encounters with people of different backgrounds. The outdoor methods can be helpful especially for young people with fewer opportunities to improve their self-confidence, self-realization and self-awareness. Participants will go through the process of self-discovery and personal development, where they can re-evaluate and reflect on certain topics, identify new possibilities and develop useful personal and social skills. The project will result in the increased competences of participating young people to cooperate in multinational teams and to learn about the cultural diversity the world has to offer.
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