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Different origin - joint future
Start date: Jun 17, 2014, End date: Oct 16, 2014 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The European Union had to face some real big challenges in 2014, e.g. a high unemployment rate among youths, the lack of skilled labour because of outward migration an demographic change and also social inequality in and between the EU-Member States. To fight these challenges it is never enough to make right and pathbreaking decisions. It also needs the agreement and some fresh ideas of the citizens living in this community of states, especially the young generation itself. In Straußberg/Thuringia there took place a multilateral youth exchange called "Different origin - joint future" from 3rd until 14th August, 2014. This project dealed with the topic of active EU-Citizenship and European conciousness. Sixty juveniles from 5 different countries took part. They were between 14 an 21 years old and came from Lithuania, Romania, Poland, Hungary and Germany. The participants had created a varied programme with a mix of content work and otherwise enough space for get to know each other and come into contact. The youths got the chance and kick off to think about what "home" means for themselves. They worked together in workshops, they undertake excursions, organise a panel discussion and join in peer-learning exercises. With these methods the juveniles dealed with the question of their own life plans and in which way each of them can combine the possibilities of a free democratic and borderless Europe with their origins, roots and the need to feel home somewhere. In that way the project "different origin - joint future" has two main aims: at first it wants to arouse interest and curiosity among the participants about other countries, cultures and people. Otherwise it also wanted to make obvious that a strong and united Europe is based on strong individual member states and so also on strong member states´ citizens. Our youth exchange should help to support the participants becoming cosmopolitan, tolerant and activ European citizens who gained self-confidence when acting with different cultures and who can reflect prejudices critically. We hope that this appreciated attitude also could inspire their social environment like family, friends, school or club mates. So the juveniles who took part in the exchange programme maybe became something like an Ambrassador of the European idea. We believe that also the partner organisations can have some similar positive influences, too. We hope that "different origin - joint future" improve their awareness for a united Europe and an open world, so that they want to take part in projects like this further times and also want to widen their european or international partnerships.
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