Background Spinach for Popeye is a EU-project that has been active for 14 years. The project contains two parts; a youth exchange and an exchange for learners and staff. It has been a part of the Youth in action program, Erasmus+ since 2014. The purpose of the project is to inspire participants to be active European citizens, to increase the solidarity and tolerance among Europeans and make them part of the creation of the common future of Europe. Participants are from Örgryte-Härlanda municipal district in Gothenburg, Sweden, Falkirk in Scotland, Odenwaldkreiss in Germany and Nuoro in Sardinia Italy. The participants for this part of the project are all current professionals within the fields of School or Social services.Each year there is a youth exchange, with 8 youths and 2 staff from each country, and another exchange for 8 staff and learners from each country called conference. The theme of the conference is professional work with youths who, for one reason or another, has difficulties completing school and joining the work force. The conference subject for 2015 is "School as a health promoting arena" (SHPA) and were held 28th of October to 2nd November in Örgryte-Härlanda. municipal district of Gothenburg. Objectives 1. Reduce health inequalities. 2. Promotion for equal opportunities in life. 3. Prevention of social problems. 4. Reduce school dropout rate and increase school presence. 5. Organize and plan for students participation and influence in school and community as a whole. 6. Develop the partnership between schools and parents. 7. Take measures to promote children’s learning 8. Provide accessible cultural and leisure activities to all children. Profile of participants The participants at the conference consists of 32 professionals from the four participating countries, Scotland, Germany, Italy and Sweden. Nominated delegates are all active in organizations caters the target group of young people at risk of exclusion from school and work. Delegates contribute their own knowledge and experience from their own organizations, bringing back new learning and thus contribute to development in their area. The countries have also worked towards a widespread age and gender distribution of the participants. Activities * Opening ceremony and team building * Theoretical day. Lecturer's Ulrik Fostvedt, project manager with special focus on school development and exclusion, Göteborg municipal Region. The lecture is based on some of the theories that are within the SHPA and aims to tie together theory and practice. * Method day. The social service in Örgryte-Härlanda presented methods linked to the theories presented during the theory day. The methods are Young and safe, how we work to prevent young people from being recruited to criminal organizations. Also how to stop the relatively high numbers of recruited to IS from Gothenburg MBU Man behind uniform. How we work with young peoples lack of trust for adults. 10 week program for young people who have a tendency to fall out and have displayed a negative attitude towards police and other humans in uniform. Supported employment Gender and Equality How we work to minimize dropouts from school before the age of 19 * Study-visit and lectures at the Torpa School where we have developed the method "School as a health promoting arena". Presentation of Örgryte-Härlanda Best practice: SHPA. A health promoting arena involves working with children and young people's health factors that stimulate and encourage their development. To combat truancy, home-staying and dropouts is to promote attendance. This is done by making the school environment provide a good social environment with high SOC, participation, opportunity for change, interaction and influence. School should be a reflection of society in miniature. Health promotion in schools can only be conducted in close collaboration between parents, students, school, other actors. * Participating countries presented their best practices as a mini exhibition Methods for activities during the week has included team building, lecture, practical experience, field trips, challenges, practical experience from other participants, roundtable discussions, reflections, discussion, guest lectures, dinner in connection to guided tour, and concluded celebration. Results and Impacts Impact on participants has been both knowledge development and implementation of new methods. Our aim has been to contribute to a new way to interact in municipalities in order to achieve optimal living conditions for children and thus show how we can take advantage of each other's skills and minimize functionalistic organization. The project will assist to further strengthen cooperation between our participating countries. Affected professionals have had opportunities for dialogue that will have affect on future projects and themes for future events. It will reinforce the importance of non - formal learning.