Main aim of youth exchange ‘Pay it forward’ is to increase the knowledge of the participants in the field of project management and is to support engagement of young people at local and international level.

During our meetings with the partners and with our participants we were positively surprised by the interest in Erasmus + Programme. Young people demonstrated strong interest to address issues that matter to them, to be actively involved in their communities. We also noticed that they are lacking information about the opportunities enabling them to organize their own projects and they need to develop their competences needed to organize projects at local, international level. Taking into these findings we decided to prepare and to apply this new project proposal: youth exchange ‘Pay it Forward’. Main goal of the project is to support engagement of young people at local, international level.

The Youth Exchange will bring 60 participants together in Camp Lakeside Floda. We aim to spend 8 days together contributing for each other’s personal growth with the hel of non-formal education and group learning.

– to equip the participants of youth exchange by knowledge of Erasmus + Programme, KA 1, especially of youth exchanges and solidarity projects;
– to increase the knowledge of the participants in the field of project management (project management cycle of youth projects at international level and local projects);
– to support exchanging experiences between the participants in the field of project management, implementing initiatives/ projects leading to positive changes in the society;
– to develop the participants competences needed to implement projects at local and international level especially in the field of communication, problem solving, conflict management;
– to include young people coming from the participant’s communities into the project through online sessions with aim to raise their interest in Erasmus + Programme and to support their active participation in their societies;
– to create series of media products (videos, interviews, articles) encouraging young people to be proactive, to address issues that matters to them and to get activate at local and international level;
– to develop digital competences of the participants needed to create and to share media content (videos, articles);
– to provide the participants an space to develop their soft skills such as teamwork, communication and problem solving in intercultural settings;
– to provide space for creating new project ideas supporting future cooperation of the participants of youth exchange.

You can download the programme in the following link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lE5Nn19tqspb1ELy4F30RiVxVjIJWw_w/view?usp=sharing

Young people (8) in age from 18 to 30 with strong interest:

– to increase their project management competences in terms of knowledge but also practical skills needed to work in the team on addressing issue/problem;
– to share their previous experiences gained by organizing local, international activities and/or to learn from more experienced participants;
– to be interested in organizing future local or international initiatives, actions;
– to promote active engagement of young people through videos, interviews and short articles;
– to work together with young people from different countries and cultures;
– to be open to exchange ideas and opinions in safe and supportive environment;
– to learn more about Erasmus + Programme and be motivated to develop new project ideas, especially new YEs with the support of group leaders;
– to share experiences through visibility and dissemination activities.

For Group Leaders (2):

– youth workers, leaders with experiences in international youth field, with non- formal education based methodology;
– with previous experiences in the field of youth engagement, project management, Erasmus + Programme, KA 1 – youth exchanges;
– being able to support the participants during project: to organize and implement preparatory meetings, to communicate with other group leaders in the process of preparation of programme, to assist participants with arranging practicalities for YE
– to support participants during YE, especially to support their learning process and active participation, to organize and to implement evaluation meetings with participants, to support development follow-up activities. There will be no age limit set for group leaders.

– Learning by doing method
– Ice-breakers and team building games to get to know each other.
– Workshops will leave room for guided but controversial discussions.
– Simulation games will allow identifying current challenges of non-formal education and showing possible measures that strengthen them. These sessions will provide the participants with concrete ideas that can be implemented in their local communities, thus ensuring an important multiplier effect.

In our team, we believe that mindful living and is essential for successful Project.. To feel comfortable, we encourage you to check in with yourself that you are passionate about the topic and ready to spend a week in a peaceful venue, with no intoxicants, emerging into yourself, group connection and non-formal learning. You are so welcomed to contribute to the culture by bringing your favorite workshop, instrument, poems, incense, game, maybe even special clothes…let’s co-create.

NOTE: This is an alcohol-free event.

Accommodation and food are 100% covered by the Erasmus+ programme. The participants will be lodged in the Camp, near Floda, Sweden (https://www.calm.estate/floda). Lakeside Hostel Floda is an Camp located very beautifully at Lake Uspen, about 10 kilometres east of Floda and about 33 kilometers from Gothenburg. The facility is rented out to schools, associations, organizations and private individuals, primarily with a focus on children and youth. Lakeside Hostel Floda is surrounded by forest and lake.

The hostel offers a beautiful activity room with lake view and modest campsite style rooms with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. Thus, an invitation to set our minds for simplicity and have no expectations. There will be a possibility to rent a sauna and canoes for an extra cost.

NOTE: Shoes are not allowed in the Meeting /Working room, PLEASE bring your own slippers.

Important information about accommodation:

– During the activity participants will be accommodated in a room with 3-5 other people from different countries.
– Each participant will have a roommate from a different country and we can’t make exceptions to accommodate people from the same country in the same room. The rooms will be gender divided.
– We can’t arrange separate rooms for couples or make additional changes in the room match.
– The rooms have bunk beds. Mattress, duvet and pillows are provided (bed linen included). The participants must bring their own towels.
– The bathrooms are shared.

Food: There will be 3 meals per day provided, prepared by a cook. Participants will have a responsibility to help with food preparation, and learn more about international cuisine. Each participant will be responsible to wash their cups.

During the official part of the event, and in the territory of the whole campsite alcohol and drugs are strictly forbidden! Smoking is not recommended and in case of urgency only permitted outdoors in a designated space.

Everyone is welcome with these restrictions. Violation of this entitles the caretaker to immediately dismiss the person(s) concerned. No refund on travel costs will be guaranteed in case of dismissal.

Please, inform us in the application form about your food needs (vegetarian, vegan, food allergies).

The accommodation is covered at Lakeside Hostel Floda (https://www.calm.estate/floda), near Floda, only for the days of the activity (27 March – 04 April 2022). In case of a longer stay there is no chance of reimbursement of travel costs. You are not allowed to arrive after 27th March, or leave earlier than 04th April. Please keep in mind when booking the tickets. For any other questions consult with the group leaders form sending NGO.

WHAT TO BRING?

– Passport or ID
– Comfortable clothes for the activities.
– Please bring WARM clothes as well and check the weather channels.
– Towels and personal care products: shampoo, toothpaste etc.
– Pills and medicines
– Positive attitude
– Slippers

HEALTH & TRAVEL INSURANCE

PLEASE, WHEN COMING TO SWEDEN, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A VALID EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD WITH YOU OR PRIVATE INSURANCE. ALSO, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU NOTIFY US OF ANY HEALTH RISK OR POSSIBLY NECESSARY MEDICINES, SPECIAL FOOD ARRANGEMENTS (AS VEGETARIANS, VEGANS, INTOLERANCES) … AND SO ON.

BASIC RULES

All the participants will be expected to be present and active in all the activities, unless being ill. Unauthorized absence from the activities and workshops won’t be tolerated. Stress, nerves and bad mood is prohibited everywhere. Bring your best mood and a big smile with you and keep it through the exchange! Prepare for fun!

Participants Task: It’s very important to care for the schedule time, be kind, respect, be positive, destroy the borders, have maximum fun, be cheerful and try to be part of the solution.

MONEY EXCHANGE

Sweden’s official currency is Swedish Krona. There are several exchange offices and ATM machines where you can withdraw money in Floda, but not around the place of the venue. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.