Sharing experience

The exchange brought together young people from 8 countries (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine Territories, Spanish Basque Country, France, Turkey and United Kingdom) and from diverse backgrounds to actively explore International Citizenship, co-operation, equality and diversity, rights and responsibilities, human rights, democracy. 

The emphasis was on what ‘international citizenship’ meant in relation to their countries and was explored through workshops, discussion groups and outdoor activities. Young people discovered the differences and similarities in their country and cultural lives and addressed the myths of sterotyping of people’s ethnicity and beliefs.  Through team work and shared experiences the young people had the opportunity to discover and challenge their beliefs, attitudes and commonality as young adults in the same world which has had an enormous impact on their lives.

The programme of the activity had a strong thread of democracy running through it.  One activity for example was the photo safari when the specific task was to find out from local young people how much of a voice they felt they had as citizens.

The intercultural dimension was at the forefront of the methodologies used in the programme, taking into account language, and cultural risk.  The intercultural learning workshop was used specifically to address these issues.
Many of the participants from the Middle Eastern countries came from less-privileged socio-economic, cultural and geographical backgrounds. During the programme care was taken to offer activities that many may not have or get the opportunity to take part in.

As a direct result of the exchange participants have:

• Given a speech at Women Against Extremism conference
• Given a presentation at Community Cohesion conference
• Become leaders in diversity training for young people in the Wokingham area
• Been inspired to be part of a Special Project to Palestine looking at their heritage
• Have enlightened their views of Muslim and Christian communities
• Planned a further three exchanges.

Three young people, one each from Lebanon, Palestine and Spanish Basque country took part in a radio interview during the exchange which was broadcast live throughout the county. A transcipt of the interview with photographs was posted on the BBC radio Berkshire website. A regional television news team filmed one of the outdoor actities which was shown on TV that evening and local newspapers showed photographs and ran articles about the exchange.

Read a transcript of the interview with photographs posted on the BBC radio Berkshire website