The project consists of a multilateral youth exchange and a planning visit. The youth exchanges takes place from 23.8. -12.9.15 in the facilities of Chiemgauer Schulbauernhof in Obing, Germany. The organizers of the project are environmental and youth organisations form Germany, Italy, Poland and Turkey. 10 youngsters from each country participate in the youth exchange including youngsters with fewer opportunities e.g. early school leavers. They are accompanied by national youth leaders and experts. CONTENT • The main aspect of the 3 week international exchange is the getting to know each other, intercultural learning, developing an understanding for other cultures, values, norms, European citizenship, foreign language learning • The youngsters have the opportunity to experience several occupations. They can follow and support the construction of a forest kindergarten and get to know the work of a carpenter, electrician, painter etc. • The participants realize a film about the exchange and a multilingual project website • They will follow environmental, healthy nutrition and sustainability workshops Non formal education METHODS are implemented. The youngsters are not assessed like in school, there is no fear of failure. The intercultural exchange and the learning possibilities arising in the international setting are a central pedagogical element. Hands, heart and head of the participants work together. The participants are the focal point, the methods used are participating, learner centered and experiential. The youngsters are helped and guided in their personal learning process. We highly value a practical approach and fun activities which facilitate learning processes. Activities include practical workshops, experimentation, reflections and discussions/dialgue and (inter)cultural offers, team work such as • Come to know the daily live and culture of the 4 countries. The youngsters present their home countries via pictures, videos, brochures, presentations, music, maps, specific objecs, talks, cooking national dishes… during intercultural evening and country evenings • Workshops initiate critical thinking about stereotypes, about identity, cultural awareness. Topics such as prejudices, racism and otherness are covered • Language animation in order to facilitate foreign language speaking and to learn new vocabulary • Workshops for professional orientation, video filming, developing of a project website • Workshops on healthy nutrition, sustainable food production and consumption: e.g. the workshop “From grain to bread” (including baking) the workshop “From milk to cheese” (including cheese making) • Environmental workshops/nature school and forest activities such as wood works • Workshops on climate, water, energy use and saving • Theater pedagogics in the nature environment and experimental learning methods Besides this, we propose excursions to the Chiemsee, intercultural evening, campfire, night walks etc. The youngsters are accompanied and led by pedagogues and experts (carpenter, film maker…) who are responsible. In general, the exchange fosters tolerance, open-mindedness and European awareness. The participants acquire key skills and practical competences. They develop intercultural competences and a better understanding of Europe and its diversity. The youngsters develop new personal and professional competences and their employability. The project fosters wellbeing, healthy living, healthy nutrition habits. The project contributes to environmental protection, global interrelations, sustainability and community sense. The experts and organisations involved will be professionalized, further developed and Europeanized. The project contributes to the topics of the EU youth strategy and the development of solutions. Methodologies to improve transitions to further education and work are developed; international non-formal educational offers for occupational orientation and environmental education are developed. On the long run, the project results (impact and products) will have an impact on youth work, youth welfare and other education fields – even on politics on local, national and European level. The project results, the project website and the film can be used and distributed for free. The project concept is shared with other interested national and international stakeholders. Thus, they have the possibility to develop their own international, non-formal occupational orientation project and can contribute to social life, international youth work, to better transitions. As a further perspective, more international projects e.g. strategic partnerships shall be developed and implemented.