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NORTH EAST WEST SOUTH
Start date: Sep 1, 2014, End date: Mar 31, 2015 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Most people don’t know the difference between the EU and Europe, especially EU citizens. Realistically speaking most young people today don’t really understand the advantages of being a EU citizen, this is mainly because for most of the young people were too young when their countries joined the EU to notice any changes or differences. Those countries like the UK and Spain were members long before our youth were even born. Our Eastern European partners were part of the Soviet Union so the idea of the EU seems like an unreachable paradise. Sadly though these differences create barriers between our people. These differences and the lack of understanding of each other is what hinder cooperation between our youth in Europe. This project will include participants from the four corners of Europe and see how we cooperate as Europeans. We will discuss the differences of Europe and the EU and how we affect each other, and in which ways we influence each other. How different are we and how do we cooperate. How are youth influenced by these differences and how do these differences enhance cooperation or tension. We will see how the EU helps its European neighbours when they suffer difficult times. What do we expect from the EU and what it gives us. We will analyse what it means to be an EU citizen and what it means to be a European citizen. We will look at the different democratic systems in place and how these affect youth, their cooperation and how we as youth can bring Europe closer together. Workshops will be designed to maintain a European dimension as all groups will be made up of at least one person from each country allowing for cultural learning during the workshops. Workshops are designed around the various subjects allowing the different youth to discuss the issues and work together to solve problems and share experiences. Role playing will also be used to allow the participants to get another perspective of different problems. This has proven to be very successful as it allows for the youth to see common problems from the viewer’s point of view rather than the actor. This also allows for innovative ways showing problems. Simulations are also done during the project, allowing people to take on roles which are opposite to their real roles. During the simulations the participants will take on roles to re-enact a real situation based on events and problems in the real world. The participants will work together in their different roles to solve problems and to find solutions to these problems. Important here is that the participants take on random roles which add additional learning tools as they need to think and act as the person they are simulating. Using all the above tools and methodologies the youth learn through fun activities which are real, but are within a safe environment allowing them to learn from each other, make mistakes which can be corrected through discussions and not put themselves at risk. In real life when making these choices the results could be destructive but these activities simulate reality and allow for learning in a safe and secure environment. As a result we hope to give our youth the tools to make more informed choices when they decide to go work in another country. They will also be able to discuss and evaluate problems with their peers and help them by giving them guidance and support when it is needed. We hope that the information gained during this project is shared within all the communities and especially with the youth of these communities so that we can help put an end to human trafficking in the world. In addition to learning about the problems the youth will also exchange cultures and traditions and learn about the different cultures from the different countries allowing for better understanding of each other and therefore creating a more unified EU, fighting xenophobia and also discrimination.
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