Youth exchange

        Youth exchanges are organised particularly to serve young people coming from culturally, geographically, socially and economically disadvantagous environment. Disabled people (both physically and mentally) can also participate in the exchanges.
Youth exchanges are offered to young people from different countries. They make it possible

• to learn culture and customs in other countries,
• to break prejudice and stereotypes,
• to learn how to work in an international group,
• to learn foreign languages practically,
• to establish new personal contacts and relations.

         We offer varied and creative topics of international meetings, through which young people actively participate both in social projects and in discussions concerning current problems of local, national and international spheres.

“Neighbours”

Subjects:
         The main issue of the exchange will be the analysis of the relations on the borderland between Poland, Lithuania, Belorus and Ukraine. We are interested in the dialogue which will occur among young people who are only divided by the border. Are their dreams similar? Are their plans for future different? Is it possible to improve the relations between neighbours and to strive after European civic society? The host country will be Poland- its history has always been connected with the countries of the visitors. They will have an opportunity to see their compatriots living in Podlasie. We hope it will evoke reflections of the future of Europe among the participants.

• to make the dialogue between young people from Poland and Lithuania and those from Belorus and Ukraine possible,
• to spot cultural differences,
• to provoke reflections among the participants, considering the future of Europe,
• to show a multiethnic character of Podlasie and the effort to establish good relations between neighbours,
• to pass the experiences gained during the exchange to Lithuania, Belorus and Ukraine,
• to reject the deeply-rooted stereotypes through everyday work and fun,
• to analyse European identity of all the participants,
• to teach tolerance towards others' attitudes and opinions,
• to build civic society by learning about democracy, tolerance and working of non-government organisations,
• to bring the participants closer to "Youth" Programme,
• to give young people from rural areas the chance to take part in the international dialogue.

Program:
         We are going to hold workshops on wickerwork, pottery, dance and music. attendance will be optional to the participants. On the penultimate day of the workshop presentation of the work being done will take place.

         We want to present how ethnic minorities in Podlasie work, how the NGOs work, how the "Youth" Programme works as a foundation supporting the activities leading to the dialogue between young people from different countries.

         In the schedule we prepared there is time to learn the methods of environmental protection and issues related to ecology. We plan to organise a trip to Bialowieza National Park, a trip following the" Tartar Route" and , for those who will be willing, bike excursions and water sports.

         In order to get more familiar with the culture of participating countries we planned national soirees, organised by the participants themselves. Organising these soirees will be the task for the groups while preparing the exchange. We hope they will show national music, dishes, clothes and the scenes from everyday life.

         There will also be the time to spend it more freely - doing shopping, talking, playing games in fresh air, etc.

• age: from 18 to 25 years
• good knowledge's of English language
• completed application form

• participants from Poland pay for own journey to Michalowo
• maybe a small fee (confirmation about this decision in Juny 2005) but not more than 150,-zloty

01. - 10.08.2005