A youth exchange with 29 participants took place on 21-27.11.2022.
The participants came from Poland, Latvia, Ukraine and Slovakia. Each country was represented by 6+1 participants, with the exception of Poland, from where 1 accompanying teacher also arrived. The main theme of the project was mutual tolerance, acceptance and recognition of cultural diversity. World Tolerance Day is celebrated all over the world on 16 November. The youth exchange took place on 21-27 November 2022, close to this date.
The participants came from a different place, had different opportunities and skills, different opinions, different knowledge of the English language, with different priorities. Tolerance, empathy for others and acceptance of cultural diversity can best be experienced within a community where people spend some time in the company of other people. Tolerance is a necessity, but unfortunately, people lack it nowadays.
Through this project, we wanted to point out the importance of tolerant behavior through programs. We showed young people that people growing up in different parts of the world live by different values. When we talk about different cultures, countries and nations, we often associate stereotypes with them. The project participants realized that if they get to know different cultures and people, stereotypes and prejudices are broken down. They discovered that because they come from different cultures, they have different values, different customs, they make friends differently, they argue differently, but we need to accept each other and tolerate the opinions of others.
Through the programs, the youth's tolerance towards other cultures and nations increased during the week spent in Slovakia, and the time spent together contributed to understanding, mutual acceptance and respect between different cultures, religious and ethnic, national minorities. The youth exchange also had disadvantaged participants who faced cultural, social and geographical disadvantages.
The youth exchange contributed to the development of European thinking. Our project ensured diversity — 29 young people of various nationalities spent a week together in a foreign country, gaining lifelong experiences and learning new things. At the end of the program, they received a Youthpass certificate.
The tangible outcome of the project was the creation of a photo frame, serving as a symbol of acceptance, tolerance, and equality. The participants also met with pupils of the local primary school, with whom they played a friendly sports match in the school gym, introduced them to the project’s topic, and presented the final product — the photo frame.
Instagram project: https://instagram.com/_bethechangeproject_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Polish group about the project:
