The "CONNECT!" is a youth exchange project with partner countries, which will last a total of five months , from 18th June 2014 to 18th November 2014 . The youth exchange will be carried out in Rogoznica ( Croatia , Sibenik- Knin County ) in the period from 5th August 2014 to 14th August 2014 . The organizer of the exchange is the Hrvatski Crveni kriz - Gradsko drustvo Crvenog kriza Zupanja (Croatian Red Cross - City branch Zupanja) and partner organizations are the YMCA Backi Petrovac from Serbia and PRONI Brcko from Bosnia and Herzegovina . The main theme of the "CONNECT!" is International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation. The main objective of the project is to increase the quality of life of young people in rural and disadvantaged urban areas . Specific objectives are : 1. Personal and social growth and development of participants through the acquisition of different life, social, and communication skills and developing self-confidence 2. The development of social responsibility and solidarity among young people in relation to the phenomena of social exclusion and discrimination 3. Intercultural learning and expanding social networks and mutual support among young people 4. Acquiring skills that foster employability of the youth 5. Raising awareness among young people about the importance and value of volunteering and active involvement in the community. Young people from Zupanja and surrounding rural area, as well as from partner organizations , are faced with a big problem of unemployment , hence the other problems and difficulties that lead to the risk of social exclusion . They tend to spend their time unorganized , in bars or in front of the computer , without the financial opportunities for further education or involvement in any organized leisure activities . They are not aware of the value and opportunities of volunteering and the benefits that flow from it . For these reason we want to connect with organizations from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to encourage young people to become aware of the power they carry within themselves, and the possibilities that lie ahead, acquaint them with their rights, but also responsibilities, and empower them to become actively involved in the life of their local communities. At the same time we want them to expand their horizons, give them the opportunity to gain new experiences and skills, and connect with other young people, to help them build a network of social support and to become each other's support. Participants in the "CONNECT!" project are young people from rural and less developed urban areas , which are, in this time of financial instability and unemployment in almost all of Europe, disadvantaged and at risk of social exclusion . Some of them are young people who come from poorer families , where no one person is not employed , but are engaged in agriculture . Some of the young participants are members of ethnic minorities, who are particularly disadvantaged. Under these conditions, young people are not able to further educate , gain some new skills , travel and meet young people from other countries. The project will engage a total of 36 participants ( plus 6 leaders ); 12 from Croatia + 2 leaders , 12 from Serbia + 2 leaders and 12 from Bosnia and Herzegovina + 2 leaders. All participants in the project will be mature young people aged 18-29 years, and 30 of them are young people with fewer opportunities . During the ten-day youth exchange a variety of formal and informal methods of working with young people will be used, and some of them are : discussions , presentations , role playing games , " ice breakers " , design techniques , workshops on a particular theme , artistic expression , games outdoors , working in small groups , working in pairs , teamwork , interactive exercises , structured exercises and simulations , games for forming trust , feedback , process evaluation , etc. Some of the main effects on participants and partner organizations of the "CONNECT!" project are : - Better quality of life of young people with fewer opportunities, enriched with new knowledge, skills and abilities - Empowered young people aware of their identity and rights that they have - Young people from three countries linked to strong social network and a network of mutual support - Reduced social exclusion of young people with fewer opportunities - The participants acquired a variety of living, social, communication skills and self-advocacy - Strengthened self confidence of youth - Institutions that work with young people with fewer opportunities have connected and associated - Expanded awareness of the values of the European Union - Raised awareness among young people about the importance and value of volunteering and active involvement in the community - Developed cooperation between the three partner organizations - Developed a plan for future joint action of organizations in the youth field