X-Change Contact Making Seminar, Cork. March 2013
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List of Appendices
Contents Background CMS Elements of CMS Building Relationships & Exploring Creative Tools for Empowerment and Inclusion. Exploring Intercultural Learning Understanding YIA, Youth Exchanges Structured Project discussions and reflections Project development Evaluations and Reflections Developed Projects
Photos: Angela Li単ares
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Detailed Programme Summary Participant Programme Info Pack Letter from Trainer! Evaluations Sample Template Participants Signing Sheet
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The Seminar 2
X-change - Contact Making Seminar
The “Creativity Inclusion and Empowerment” Contact Making Seminar took place in Cork, Ireland (22rd- 24th March 2013) for youth leaders facilitating people who are ready for the challenge and adventure of a international youth exchange, from Ireland and from across Europe. The aim of the networking event was project development and the exploration of creative methodologies. It brought together potential volunteers from Irish Organisations and European Organisations. The range of creative methods allowed the participants to build relationships and find connections for project development. There was a strong emphasis on preparation and consultation with young people before the CMS to ensure leaders are planning and developing projects according to young peoples interests. We had HO representing organisations from Croatia Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Spain, Romania, Netherlands and Ireland. Supported and co-ordinated between partners in Ireland and Recruiting National Agencies of the Youth in Action programme, the seminar was an opportunity for groups of young people to:
Aims & Objectives: *
Develop contacts and networks to engage in youth exchanges with other participants interested in working creatively with the theme of Inclusion and/or Empowerment * Allow for the engagements of Newcomers in Youth Exchange projects * To create space to share information and experiences of their organisation, target groups and projects working across the theme of creativity inclusion and/or Empowerment * To present a range of creative tools and methods appropriate to working with themes of creativity inclusion and/or Empowerment and to use the methods to build relations in group and to prepare to action on project development. * Gain a clear view of the possibilities and priorities within the Youth in Action Programme * Understand how to include non formal learning and Youthpass in Youth Exchange Projects
X-change Training Team Jessica Carson
Jessica Carson is the Coordinator of Mayfield Community Arts Centre. She has been developing and managing projects in Community Arts, Development Education and Arts and Inclusion for 12 years. She is also a trainer for the European Youth in Action Programme delivering training to young people, youth workers and training of trainers. She has also developed and managed projects and actions through this programme in seminars, exchanges and volunteering. She is also a facilitator on CIT’s Arts and Empowerment programme. Jessica maintains her practice as a visual artist. www.jessicacarson.com Nóra Furlong
Nóra Furlong has a Masters in Youth Work and Community Development. She spent six months volunteering in a creative development organisation in Esteli, Nicaragua in 2005. She has been working directly with a wide range of young people in youth and development education programmes since 2003 in Mayfield Community Arts Centre.. She has involved in delivering training to artists and youth workers in creative approaches to development education and has been active in delivering trainings with the Youth in Action programme.
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Susanne Bosch
Susanne Bosch is an artist working in and with public. From 2007 to 2012 she has been joint Course Director with Dan Shipsides for the MAProgramme Art in Public at the University of Ulster in Belfast. She works predominantly in public and on long-term questions, which tackle creative arguments around the ideas of democracy. Works include among other things issues around money, migration, surviving, work, societal visions and participation models. She formally uses site- and situation-specific interventions, installations, video, drawing, audio, dialogical work, in addition formats such as writing, speaking, listening, workshops, seminars and Open Space conferences. http:// www.susannebosch.de/ Ángela Liñares Ángela Liñares background is in media, journalism and design. She has been involved in a number of Youth In Action programme projects and activities with a focus on documentation and dissemination. She has been involved in delivery of previous training and contact making seminars.
Preparation
The recruitment process required contacting appropriate agencies and organisations in Ireland to promote the event. The international recruitment was supported by European National Agencies and the European Youth in Action database. Application forms were circulated with our website, http:// www.youthx-change.com/ and publicity. The European National Agencies were responsible for the selection process. Proposed applicants were approved by Leargas, the Irish NA along with Two of the trainers. Our website http://www.youthx-change.com/ was an essential tool in the publicity and recruitment process. Designing the programmes, preparing materials and resources also developed during the preparation process. Maintaining good communications with the European NA’s, Leargas and participants were an essential part of preparing from the CMS. This phase also focused on logistical arrangements, such as travel, accommodation and food. A digital welcome pack was sent in advance to all the applicants and a trainers letter to introduce the trainers team, see Appendix 4. Welcome packs were designed and developed to provide materials and resources to the participants upon their arrival. Welcome packs were designed and developed to provide materials and resources to the participants. The packs included * A “Creativity Inclusion and Empowerment” folder * Participants Programme * Maps outlining clear directions to hotel & workshop space * A list of emergency contact number and trainer contact numbers * Stationary * Chocolates and other treats * Tourist information
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Elements of the “Creativity Inclusion and Empowerment� CMS
building relations & exploring creative tools
1. Building Relationships & Exploring Creative Tools for Empowerment and Inclusion 2. Exploring Themes of Interculturality 3. Exploring Intercultural Challenges 4. Understanding YIA, Youth Exchanges and Project 5. Structured Project discussions 6. Evaluations and Reflections 7. Developed Projects Please see Appendix 1 for the detailed programme and Appendix 2 for the summary programme presenting projects and profiles
exploring intercultural learning
structured project discussions and development
understanding YE and YIA
next steps
reflections and evaluations
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Building Relationships & Exploring Creative Tools 2
Building Relationships & Exploring Creative Tools for Empowerment and Inclusion On of the first tasks was to introduce the elements of the CMS. The participants were presented with their welcome packs. They were asked about their expectations through a shared brain storming: ! New friends ! Inspiration ! Develop proposals ! Language skills ! Exchange ideas, methods, themes, cultures and experiences ! Learn about new organisations !! Experience new cultures !! Go to Italy ! Networking / find suitable partners for Youth Exchanges ! Experience new cultures !! Case studies The participants learned experientially about the themes with short reflection times to look at the methodology used and how it can be applies to their work in the YIA progamme and with young people. The activities create dynamics to allow participants to mix in a variety of group sizes and to connect in different manners to the other participants. The design of the programme included specific activities for participants to share information about projects & interest through activities. This information sharing was to be continued into informal time such as meal times etc. We started the programme by building relationships through a series of creative activities and games through out the programme. Creative tasks and activities included: Name games A range of interactive name games to familiarise people with others in the group. 1. In a circle every person gets a change to say their names and make up a movement associated to it. In a second round, each person has to call out names and movements of the people before their won one. 2. In a circle each person throws a ball to another person of their choice. They need to say their own and the other persons name. Drawing on chalk cloths in pairs This series of exercises explored the idea of dialogue and creative flow. Using a carousel system each exercise was carried out with a different partner. Each drawing had different rules eg, A makes a mark, B makes a mark, continued, A makes a line, B makes a line at the point A finished, continued A & B draw simultaneous on page without lifting chalk. while responding to music etc An Orange goes traveling, warm up The group assembles in a circle: an orange gets passed on from the elbow bend to underneath the chin to the elbow bend and so on ‌ more than one object can be in circulation. Team Building: the tower Each group has seven minutes, to create the tallest freestanding structure with magazine/newspapers sheets and masking tape. We used the Belbin Team model to discuss the in the team the strategies and roles that they employed and the success of good team work when you are aware of your team skills.
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Personal Portraits Upon arrival everyone had their photo taken. These were printed A3 size in black & white. Each individual used their own photo and different other materials to create a portrait poster sharing a little information about people’s personal interests, their skills and knowledge and their state of being in that moment in time. These posters were also documented, exhibited in our gallery space and added to the website. The Village People move without words for 20 min. 6 basic movements determine the interaction: 1 walking: Walk consciously, especially when you change direction. 2 standing 3 sitting: You can move while you sit. You do not have to be static. 4 laying: You can move while you lay. You do not have to be static. 5 turning: Turning in every position is possible. 6 Greeting: stop in front of the person, pay attention to the person, make eye contact and bend to greet consciously. Do everything slowly, in rhythm, in absolute silence. Pay 360º attention to see what happens. Avoid any collisions. Be aware of the size of the space (ideal with a group of max. 20) As it is not a lab situation, make everybody take part without any watching audience. Evaluation/Reflection (20 min): 1. My body: What did you notice, what did you learn? 2. Social body: How to move, how to act in a social body? How am I acting in community, how does the community carry me? 3. The field: What is the process inside me, in the group, in time and space? Playing with Clay The group divides into small groups around tables with clay. They have 10 min to create something non-verbally. It can turn into a group work or individual work.
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Movement Exercises 1. In pairs, the silent participants dance to the rhythm of the music. There is one leader who starts a movement and the other partner has to mirror his/her movements. 2. One person leads, the other follows him/her but maintaining always an equal distance between them. Activation, warm up This exercise is about shaking your limbs and activating the energy in the groups. Shake your left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg first 6 times, then 5,4,3,2,1 time. Tribal Call Form two groups facing each other and choose one leader for each group. Leader A steps out and makes a sound and a movement. The team repeats his examples 3 x. Leader B steps out and makes a sound and a movement. The team repeats his examples 3 x. Variation: Goup A has to repeat the call of leader B and vice versa.
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In house entertainment task (Intercultural night, presenting organisations) We emphasized to the group the presenting organisations in the evening, combined with sharing brought food/ desert/ drinks to represent their culture. The entertaining event was to be used strategically in view of exchanging information and networking. We used the methods of speed dating to allow as many exchanges as possible. The Irish organisation sat in an inner circle with an empty chair in front of them. The international organisations sat on these empty chairs and changed every 15 minutes. Most organisations brought poster, leaflets, CDS and books to represent their work and context. Feedback was that people enjoyed the exchange very much, but the room was slightly too small, the time too short and sharing of food/ desert/ drinks not given enough attention. Participants suggested to separate the entertaining part from the speed dating. presenting lots of creative and energetic ideas as well and providing networking opportunities.
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Exploring Intercultural Learning 2
Exploring Intercultural Challenges Intercultural understanding was the key area that we developed throughout the CMS. An activity called ‘Culture Club’ was used to explore the theme. Culture clubs consisted the whole group brainstorming what do be considered to be the essential components to our culture, e.g. appearance, greetings, our value system, language etc. The group were split and placed in 2 separate rooms. Each group had to imagine they lived on a different planet and devise a new culture considering all of the components they had brainstormed earlier. Next, both groups were asked to practice behaving in their new culture. One person was abducted from planet A and placed in Planet B & vice versa. After a few minutes, a second person was abducted from Planet A and placed in Planet B & vice versa. The two groups were asked to continue practicing their new cultures despite presence of the newly arrived aliens. This continued for a while before the abducted people could return and be reunited with their own groups. After this everyone was asked to stop their role-play and come back to planet earth as themselves. The reflection to the activity presented questions such as; How did it feel to be placed on another planet? Did you feel welcome? How did you feel when another alien from your planet arrived? The reflection drew out very interesting insight into living in a new culture - the difficulties and misunderstandings, confusions, feeling isolated, protection of culture, etc. It presented many things that we must be aware of when developing an intercultural project, particularly to be addressed in pre-departure training & on arrival training. The activity was followed by exploring the core values and attitudes of intercultural understanding. Reflections shared in the group on benefits of intercultural exchange: •! Openness for change •! Awareness on yourself and reflection on your culture. • Experience another culture it makes you reflect on your culture. •! Fun •! Make long life memories as it can be the only opportunity that some people have to travel. •! Life outside their circle, outside their little world. Pushing their boundaries. • Gives them motivation •! Is the word becoming more colourful when they start travelling? •! Challenges stereotypes. •! Positive stereotypes
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Exploring Intercultural Challenges !! Personal development, self-esteem, self-consciousness, sense of ! achievement. The simple fact of having stories to tell. (The pride they bring ! back- ! dissemination is important to support that) !! Sense of belonging, away of isolation. !! Diversity
Participants Feedback after Culture Club: “I felt so alone and everybody was so mad. Nobody wanted to involve me. Maybe they invited me but I was to scared to get involve” “We had some similar way of behaving. I found them friendly and I fitted in ok” “After some greeting I understood what it was happening. They looked at me like “what a crazy person.” They included me really fast. I was feeling almost sad of coming back but when I came home and saw “my queen” I was so happy and I remembered my identity” “When a person from another planet came to mind I didn’t even realise it, I was too busy doing my thing that I didn’t
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Understanding YIA and Youth Exchanges
Understanding Youth Exchanges Jessica Carson introduced a slideshow to develop understanding of the Youth in Action programme. The presenation provided a participatory opportunity to engage with a lot of information. It also created space for sharing knowledge within the group This exchange weekend had the fortunate situation to host Patricia Dalton from Leargas as a guest for 1.5 days who was able to answer specific questions and give support. Two clinics were offered over the last 1.5 days where either Patricia Dalton or Jessica and Nora were available for specific formal or content questions of teams while developing joint project ideas.
Values in YE We used peer to peer exercises to brainstorm the values of that the youth workers consider to be important to them in their work. We then reflect together on the the values and principles that are important in working with creativity in designed youth exchange programmes. We invited them to think of these as tips to be shared among other peers. Tips shared in group to YE: · Take time (speed, duration) · Not too complicated · Realistic goals · Be flexible/open · Participant lead (set goals, negotiation):the participants are not just receiving something, they are in the process: lab situation: no failure exist! · Persistence · Challenge and comfort · Motivate: transfer them confidence. · Communicate / Set the tone · Role model/self awareness: be energetic and enthusiasm · Confidence: informal times · Be loose enough to allow things to emerge · Structure - non - structures · Work with curiosity (surprises...) · Space energy: inhabit · Food: energy! · Small groups 11
Values in YE · Value and use the different intelligence and roles/skills within the team, value the diversity - this will enhance the creativity. · Take advantage of “materials” to promote creativity. We can reflect from materials! · Being resourceful: see what you can find, be creative looking for materials.
Reflections shared in the group on benefits of intercultural Exchange: · Openness for change · Awareness on yourself and reflection on your culture. · Experience another culture it makes you reflect on your culture. · Fun · Make long life memories as it can be the only opportunity that some people have to travel. · Life outside their circle, outside their little world. Pushing their boundaries. · Gives them motivation · Is the word becoming more colourful when they start travelling? · Challenges stereotypes. · Positive stereotypes · Personal development, self-esteem, self-consciousness, sense of achievement. The simple fact of having stories to tell. (The pride they bring back- dissemination is important to support that) · Sense of belonging, away of isolation. · Diversity
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Structured Project Discussions
Presenting the projects participants and their profiles in one minute videos Applicants are to have a clearly defined group of young people for the planned youth exchange and were to ensure that their voice and ideas are central to the planning of youth exchange activities. We did this by inviting every participant to bring a one minute video of their young people where they voice their passions and interests. This was used to present Project ideas, interests of the young people, the local cultural context and the organization as well as characteristic and skills. The presentations were made before the Market Place of idea, where projects linked up with potential partners.
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Structured Project Discussions: (Market Place) The next phase invited the organiations and participants to fill the Market Place with their specific project ideas. We focused on the Irish participants first to present their ideas. The aim was to name the idea, the duration, the ideal location, the timing, the content and the methodologies as well as age and gender of the participants. Visually we used a wall with black cloth to put up all the projects sheets and to then make links with arrows to international organisations who expressed an interest in partnerships for this specific project. The international participants also posted their ideas. In a self-directed participant processes, projects and organisations matched up on the market place, some merged and linked up. Ideas and proposals were developed using the market space idea of Open Space Technology. The method allows groups to establish themselves in accordance to their areas of specific interest and flexibility to move among topics. Participants gave feedback that the formal structure was very valuable to allow them to freely express ideas and network and develop ideas with others.
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Project Development
Projects Developed The organisations interested in working together then spend extended time together to exchange ideas, express and formulate first drafts. A template was provided to support brainstorming and discussion of almost all of the application form template Most groups achieved completion of a solid draft of the application. See attached sample template appendix 6.
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Evaluation and Reflections 2
Written Evaluations % For complete written evaluations please refer to Appendix 9
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Comments/Suggestions What worked well? !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! ! !! !!
Develop new ideas Sharing ideas Writing projects Meeting other partners The energy Trying new Creative methods Learning about YE To have found one artistic partner. We hoped for more organisations with creative profiles as the CMS was on creative methods. To be ale to create a project and already know now that there is a very positive funding opportunity. The aim was very clear and everyone had the same thing in mind. All organisations were ready to get concrete plans started. The experience of the trainers was very evident from the information you were giving up Hand-on approach to the learning techniques and the process of getting a partner was useful. Presenting the projects to the young people. This will quickly tell us if this is a fit.
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Meeting vast array of weird and wonderful people Meeting new organisations and learning new working methods and activities. We had a chance to cooperate in developing ideas choosing people near and close to my attitudes and ways of thinking. In my experience what permitted this was team building activities. I became part of a network that can be very useful for the future. Better chance for a successful application. More help in other YIA programmes, like EUS. Getting to know the profiles of organisations and establishing closer relationships with those matching with mine. Also, writing, developing the project together was very inspiring. I enjoyed the video exercise and seeing how other projects work gave me a lot of inspiration. I enjoyed very much the creative tools behind the steps of writing projects, even if I felt that wasn’t the main purpose.
What could be improved !! ! ! !! !! !! !! !
I think that the last days session should have looked at the creative side of the programme instead of the first 2 days. I think getting straight into who we are and what projects we would like to run from the beginning would have been better and then focus on creativeness. I really enjoyed the training and look forward to planning the exchange. We spend the time as participants in youth exchanges, not as youth leaders. More time on concrete work, less on games The market activity was draining The time on day 2 in the afternoon together was very long, perhaps if there was a break for dinner we could have come back to work more productively.
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Less creative exercises, more time to go in depth Found Saturday a bit intense. Maybe could have been broken up more. Needs more high energy activities, was a high energy group. A structured cultural action in the evening would be good. Case studies at the beginning More time for project and contact making and less activities. Maybe we didn’t have time to know better our Irish partners. I didn’t like the idea to put together the intercultural evening and the face-to-face introduction. It should have been at different ! times. More space could be provided for organisations from outside Ireland to exchange ideas among each other. Flexibility
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Some kind of training for leaders who lack creative ideas for activities More detailed information about application process A bigger physical space for speed dating Thank you. Although I came here with the intention to create partnership, I was not very confident that I would manage to develop one. I am super pleased with the outcome. I really enjoyed the seminar and I am looking forward to share my experience with my group. Thank you for the opportunity to find a great partner. It would have been good if facilitators made space for us to more socializing places, e.g. suggest a good place for Irish music or get us to see who was interested in socializing and fix a time to meet.
General Feed-back !! It was a great and inspiring experience with positive energy. I hope you will keep doing it because it was interesting. !! Good work. You are fantastic and it was a great experience. !! It was a fantastic seminar. I found it really helpful and am really exited to develop my project. The trainers were excellent. Thank ! you for the opportunity. !! I had a really great time. !! I believe for people who had no experience with YE, there was too little information about it. The presentation was short and very ! general, and I believe some people were still confused a bit. What is more, it would be nice of even only generally other YIA ! projects were introduced, just for people to have an idea about something that exists. !! You are doing a great job, you have great and creative material and resources, your team is very skilled, so keep doing it. !! List of contact must be provided at the beginning. !! Congratulations for all your work. !! It was a pleasure to work with you and participants. Angela dud a really great job. Thank you Angela. Thank you as well. !! Some of the workshops were a little tooo long and kind of irrelevant. !! More of these seminars in the future! !! It was good to be part of such an enthusiastic group. I’ve got enriched by many new experiences. But the time was not enough to get to know each other better.)
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Additional outcomes for participants- sample Possible Outcomes I made great contacts with similar youth democracy group that would suit future exchanges with Cavan Comhairle na nÓg. e.g. Aga, Steve, Maciej, Cristina, Aleksandra and Dora. We will definitely be doing a programme – most likely we will be applying before the 1st of Oct deadline. Also I was able to hook up the following groups with groups from Cavan Henry with Cavan Community Radio o Ciprian with the Castlesaunderson International Scouting Centre o Maciej with the Cavan Polish Association o Anja & Lisbeth with Cavan Arts Office and Gonzo Theatre Group I will be chasing these guys up this week to see how they are getting on with their links. Learnings As someone who deals primarily with PEACE III, INTERREG and LEADER funding it was great to learn about funding that has the needs of young people at its core. I’ve also learned about the other funding streams e.g. Causeway, Youth Initiative, EVS etc. I am just kicking myself that I never knew about these funding streams before now!
Training Team Evaluation: After the event, the facilitation team of four also evaluated the even. We looked at the process and the quality of facilitation. Some of our conclusions were: • • • • • • •
We need to offer a more diverse range of activities. We had a wide diversity of materials and media for exercised but similar energy levels across many of the exercises The transition from team building and creative methods worked really well. Missing of creative organisations (comment of a participants). There was a high expectation of some partners to meet other organisations that worked very specifically in the arts. Good to move the Market place to Saturday night. Good to remove the more complicated design that we had for a creative arts/ intercultural night. The Market place became a bit messy, as we amended procedures before and during the process. But it was effective at the end. Our joint conclusion is that we should have stuck to the strict procedures of Open Space Market Place. Something that was very effective was the 1.5 minutes video. “Use video as a tool to bring people/things to the table”
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Conclusions on the Outcomes: • We can be very happy in terms of project outcomes. • In the evaluation form should be included if they were other outcomes apart from developing a project. (this was followed up on by email. • Responding to the energy of the group can be difficult sometimes. • Perhaps we need to preparing wider range of activities and respond more intuitively to the energy and mood of the group. Range of roles team • We complemented each other as a team (there was always someone who jumped in). We had a good team dynamic. • One person needs to be responsible for logistics. • Team members felt looked after by each other (esp Nora) • We were able to be nice to each other while making decision at the same time. It was always easy to negotiate with the team. Logistics • The space was good. It was good to have different spaces. • The food was good. • Materials organisation worked well. • We need a nice bell to grab attention. • Really good to have a person like Nicolas to help out in the space with logistics. • Good to have the walks from the hotel to the training space. Planning and preparation • But to shift into the other space on Sat at lunch time was positive. It change the atmosphere as we moved into the proposal development. • People really liked the hotel. There was confusion in that the team did not have direct contact with the National Agencies, it was difficult to follow what happened with the
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Next Steps
Participants Next Steps We asked for the NEXT STEPS in the evaluation form, see Appendix 9. !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!
Make facebook for the partners To keep up contact Make the application Find more partners Transfer my experience and my ideas to my co-workers at home Keep in touch and work on applications. Local logistics ad input form youngsters Write application Find ways of co-funding Give details to my colleagues and hope they are on bord Think of concrete activities for exchange Meet the deadlines for application Get proposal ready Find out unanswered questions from Leargas. Set up some clear lines of communication with partner. Write up the notes Download forms and see what bits need to be done. Energize my agency about the project. Start work with the young people. Bring them together in a structured programme working towards and exchange.
“Creativity Inclusion and Empowerment” NEXT STEPS Website Following the “Creativity Inclusion and Empowerment” event the website was used as a tool to keep connection between the participants with copies of the profiles. The website was also a tool to share all the exercises, case studies of best practice and methodology of the “Creativity Inclusion and Empowerment” to help support the participants in future practice in intercultural settings including YE. It also has been used to share all the additional links and websites that were referred to in the training and any information that emerged during the clinics/consultation. Resource A resource was developed and disseminated sharing the ideas and learning of the CMS. Consultations As part of the National Activity follow up the trainers followed up with each of the Irish Organisations to support development of Youth exchange projects. Nora Furlong and Jessica Carson also offered follow up consultations. Some were interested in developing Youth in Action projects in different areas. The support was also provided.
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