Many people living near the Hungary-Serbia border, especially the young, are not well acquainted with the region’s tourist potential, while cross-border cooperation between young people in the two countries is rare. The Economics Secondary School in Sombor, Serbia and the Vocational Training Centre in Kiskunhalas, Hungary launched the Youth-Together project to hold joint activities aimed at enhancing young people’s participation in tourism promotion in the area. The main focus was on cultural, cultural heritage, sports, leisure and environmental tourism.
- 10 April 2019
In getting to know their respective cultures and staying in the natural environment during the course of some of the Youth-Together activities, participants realised how important our cultural heritage and environment are, and how much of our active dedication and attention they require. Various programmes throughout the project strengthened a common sense of belonging and suppressed negative behaviour motivated by prejudices. They contributed to building rapport based on mutual understanding and acceptance.
Youth-Together began by analysing attitudes and needs among young people via a survey carried out in local schools. This was followed by a panel discussion involving educational, NGO and community representatives.
Subsequently, three intercultural student exchanges and a camp were organised over 18 days to enable participants to gain new skills and share ideas. Both schools modernised their ICT equipment to improve conditions for learning, facilitate communication and support the long-term sustainability and dissemination of the project results.
To further aid dissemination, a discussion informed the general public about the activities and their outcomes.
Information, skills and motivation shortages
Youth-Together was based on the premise that the low levels of awareness of tourism potential and cross-border cooperation in the region were caused by a shortage of information and a lack of skills and motivation among locals. Involving over 1 000 people, the project was intended to help rectify these problems.Participating schools worked to stimulate a spirit of activism and voluntarism among students. The informal methods of working and the content of the activities were designed to appeal to the target age group and aided bonding between the Hungarian and Serb youngsters. This helped them adapt to different social and cultural situations, overcome prejudices and grow in tolerance.
Broadening knowledge of tourism potential
Extensive ICT use helped participants broaden their knowledge of the region and its tourism potential, increase their awareness of sustainable development issues and create material for dissemination of project information. On average, the online communication tools Youth-Together set up were accessed by users 30 times a month.
By taking part in cultural and environmental excursions, interactive workshops and sports events, young people became more conscious of the need to preserve the region’s cultural and natural heritage and adopt healthier lifestyles. Their experiences fostered a sense of responsibility, motivating them to use their leisure time more constructively – such as through engagement in social and cultural activities – and continue the cooperation begun under the project.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Youth-Together – Youth working together in protecting the nature, promoting healthy lifestyles, cultural heritage and promotion of tourism through cross-border cooperation and exchange of examples of good practice” is EUR 116 903, with the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance contributing EUR 99 367 through the “CBC Hungary – Serbia” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Encouraging cooperation in tourism and cultural heritage preservation”.