This application is in support of a youth conference entitled "Sharing Pasts, Shaping Futures" being held in the Shetland Islands in June 2015. The conference will last nine days in total (excluding travel time) and will see groups of young people from several communities across Europe and beyond come together for an event comprising guest speakers, workshops and presentations of tasks, as well as outdoor activities, intercultural learning and sightseeing visits. Participants will be aged 16-19, and European groups will travel from Sweden, Germany and the Czech Republic to live with host families for the duration of the event. (Participants from the Shetland Islands and Sweden reside in rural areas, and the impact of involvement in transnational projects for these young people can scarcely be overstated.) The objectives of "Sharing Pasts, Shaping Futures" include: - increasing the global awareness and of young people and encouraging them to think about their options in the future; - fostering a sense of active citizenship irrespective of national boundaries; - enhancing their personal and social development and communication skills; - providing a platform for young people to express their creativity through presentations; - encouraging collaboration and relationship-building with other young people from different cultures and backgrounds. The potential impact on participants is wide-ranging and potentially life-changing for many. It is hoped that young people will leave the conference feeling more confident within themselves and better-prepared for entering the world of employment or further education/training. Non-formal learning undertaken during "Sharing Pasts, Shaping Futures" will highlight global interdependence and empower participants by showing they have the ability to improve the lives of other people in their communities. The development of personal friendships with peers from around the world will have a lasting impact on all participants, particularly those from remote communities. It is the aim of the applicant organisation that following their visit to the Shetland Islands all participants will be outward-looking, active, engaged global citizens. Young people who will continue to think globally and act locally.