The Youth Exchange «Understanding Gender Perception” in different cultural contexts» is a project that aims to actively contribute to the creation of inclusive communities for young people around the world. Primary our goal is to create a fertile ground for open dialogue where all parties can freely express their views on gender issues and to find ways to actively contribute to creating open multicultural and tolerant societies.

We know that there is a big difference in the perception of gender (gender and roles) in the so-called western and Eastern societies, where young people do not have many opportunities to interact with each other and learn from each other. Therefore, they live within the boundaries set by their society and mind. Even in cases that critically approach this question, there is not enough room to share their opinion and be heard.

Following the goals of this Youth Exchange, participants will gain knowledge and skills which are necessary for the critical approach to this issue while in a mixed group with young people from two sides, it will be easy to experience diversity and recognize differences, learn from them and unite knowledge to achieve better solutions.

Given that this project aims to address the issue of expression through the media, participants will gain skills and knowledge on selected topics – such as video editing, opportunities to influence our target group through social media (tik tok, instagram, youtube,) create a poster with social messages, public speaking and event organization. In these workshops, participants will be able to reflect freely and on the basis of knowledge acquired and skills developed during the exchange, to become active and manage to reach a wider population and inform more people about it.

The youth exchange supports EU policy and informs young people about all of the above, providing gender education on how to avoid stereotypes about gender issues. We will also use #GenderMatter and be an active member of the EU campaign against discrimination on grounds of sex. We promote social transformation and literacy during a crisis of values and oppose mis-information that rejects gender equality and integration «verified false or misleading information that is created, presented and disseminated for profit or deliberate deception of the public «.

Misinformation on gender issues is spread without the intention of deception and is often reported because the user believes to be true. Dissemination of gender misinformation can have a series of consequences, such as threats to our democracies, polarizing debates and jeopardizing human rights, harmony and social cohesion of EU citizens.

By addressing these issues we are creating an active youth society in the democratic life of the EU, as well as protect the values of the EU. Our youth exchange supports active public participation and ethics in lifelong learning, promotes the development of social and intercultural skills, critical thinking and literacy for gender.

Youth exchange promotes equal opportunities and access, inclusion, diversity and justice in all its phases. Half of the participants are young with fewer opportunities and the like of our work is designed with an inclusive approach in mind. All the above link our work to the goals of integration and diversity, digital literacy and participation in democratic life, which is common to the Erasmus + program and Youth Exchanges.

The youth exchange «Understanding Gender Perception in different cultural contexts» will take place in Athens 10 – 19 October 2022 with the participation of 42 young people from Greece, Spain, Latvia, Turkey, Jordan and Ukraine. 2 young people from each country are young people with fewer opportunities. The team is completed by a team leader from each country and 2 facilitators who will support the youth groups.

Objectives:
1) improving gender equality awareness,
2) recognizing and reflecting on cases of gender stereotypes typical of the West; and Eastern societies, and
3) empowering participants to play an active role in overcoming Eastern stereotypes and western perception of gender.
All activities and the youth exchange program are based on non-formal, relevant education methods and tools. More specifically, participants will have the opportunity to take part in interactive workshops on topics such as «Human Rights», «Prejudices, Stereotypes, Discrimination», «Implications» of media and networking on gender issues ”, the culmination of the project, will be the activities and the creation of many short clips (tik tok, insta, youtube) where all participants will share their experiences and knowledge on the subject.

Participants will be actively involved as facilitators, raising awareness about gender perception in Eastern and Western societies through peer education. Through these platforms will provide opportunities for future networking and better cultural understanding. These activities will be a great opportunity to try and disseminate our work, results and to have the desired impact.

More specifically, the objectives of each workshop and activity are:
1) Human rights, prejudice, stereotypes, discrimination: awareness raising and exchange knowledge. This way our participants will be able to speak, recognize and create their own opinion on our topics.
2) Cases of gender inequality (group work: family, work, peers), Presentations: the main goal of the session is for the participants
to be able to recognize gender inequality, to focus on different cases in different groups, to be able to understand their source perceptions and the factors that determine it (such as family education, culture, media and the influence of peers).
3) Influence of the media and social networks on our perception of gender. Use different ways of approaching the target group using different means. Acquaintance with different types initiatives suitable for influencing society through the media and social networks.
4) Use of social media campaigns for gender awareness (public group fb, tik tok, instagram, youtube), Brainstorm on video:
Via social media campaigns we share and analyze good practices from previous social media campaigns in order to to inspire our participants to create their own social networking campaign.
5) Networking: we aim to involve our participants with other NGOs from Athens. In this way, our participants will have the opportunity to get in touch with other realities and perspectives.
6) «Treasure hunt» in the city, we take action on social media: we talk to citizens, we share some knowledge, take a !flashmob” initiative and share it on social media networking.
7) Responding to gender inequalities: participants learn tools and ways to react when address gender inequality in order to participate in building a more open society.
8) Video Day: Introducing some good examples of short videos related to the inequality of gender, in order to motivate them to make a brainstorm about ideas and the message that they want to share.
9) Video day: we make video social messages based on the features of each platform in which will be shared.
10) Strategies for the implementation of learning outcomes in their countries of origin through follow-up activities.
11) Elements of an effective social campaign: we will share some successful social cases campaigns, and how a real impact is created. Participants will work in groups, creating their own poster for the theme of the exchange.
12) Program evaluation and feedback activities. Youthpass explanation and self-assessment tools.

Spain: 360 EUR per participant

All the tickets have to be confirmed with us before booking them! These travel expenses will be re-imbursed to the partner organisation via transfer after the project having all the original tickets sent to us by post printed. We would like to remind you that flight tickets need to be economy class (the cheapest means of transportation (no taxi, no excess luggage, etc.), no travel insurances, no reserved seats, no travel agency fees. Participants need to submit the original tickets, invoices where is shown the PRICE and BOARDING PASSES in order to get their reimbursement. Invoices should be in EUR and your names should be written on the invoices. If the participants do not submit the respective original documents to us, their payment will not be reimbursable!!!

THE TRAVEL BUDGET FOR GREEN TRAVEL: you can receive a bonus if you use environmentally friendly, sustainable means of transport for your trip to your host country. This includes travel by train or bus. Submit a corresponding proof and you will receive up to 50,00 Euro additional subsidized! So when travelling, the first issue is the choice of transportation. Although flying is usually the fastest and the cheapest option, it is an unsustainable way of travelling.

P.S.: All the tickets have to be confirmed with us before booking them!

Following the guidelines of the Erasmus+ program the travel back must occur by the participants on direct way within maximum 2 days. (You can arrive in Greece up to 2-3 days in advance and leave up to 2-3 days later, at your own expenses). Travels costs have been calcu-lated according to the distance calculator provided by European Commission. This is the maximum travel budget per participant for each country calculated by the Erasmus + travel calculator. Your travel costs are covered 100% to the maximum expenses allowed.

Duration: 8 working days + 2 travel days
ARRIVAL DAY – 10 of October
DEPARTURE DAY – 19 of October

All the participants are responsible to obtain a health and full travel insurance. The costs for the insur-ance have to be covered by you. Remember your European Health Insurance Card!

Homework will be: Each partner organization should present their action, their country, as well as a presentation on gender perception in their country. Also, each national team will prepare together the activities to facilitate during the youth exchange program.

You will be accommodated in the hotel Kazaviti located in Dasyllio – a small coastal area on the northwest coast of Thassos, north of Skala Prinos in triple or quadro rooms:
https://kazaviti.gr
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served in the hotel.

Thassos does not have its own airport, but is served by two international airports on the nearby mainland.

1) Kavala International Airport «Alexander the Great» (KVA) is the nearest (and smaller) airport, promising you the shortest and most direct route to Thassos island. Although there are only a few direct flights to here.

1) Bus service is provided between the Airport and the city of Kavala. There is a public bus stop in front of terminal building. The ferry port in Kavala is just a 10 minute walk from the bus station.

2) Take a ferry directly from Kavala! Ferry: Kavala – Skala Prinos Journey time is 1 hour 15 minutes. The ticket costs 6,50 EUR. Ferry schedule is here: https://www.go-thassos.gr/thassos-ferry-schedules-prices

2) Thessaloniki International Airport «Macedonia» (SKG) is the furthest (and larger) airport, which requires a scenic around 2 hour drive to get to the ferry port in Kavala. Ticket costs 15 EUR. As it is the larger airport of the two, you’ll find that many more flight options are available.

1) You will first need to take the bus Nr. X1 from the airport to the bus station KTEL (the ticket cost 2 EUR).
From the bus station KTEL. There you will purchase a bus ticket for Kavala and take the 2 hour journey to Kavala’s central bus station. The
ferry port in Kavala is just a 10 minute walk from the bus station.
https://ktelmacedonia.gr/en/routes/list/tid=17
2) Ferry: Kavala – Skala Prinos Journey time is 1 hour 15 minutes. The ticket costs 6,50 EUR. Ferry schedule is here: https://www.gothassos.
gr/thassos-ferry-schedules-prices

A land praised since ancient times, still keeps its unique spirit today. These days Thasos has developed into an island that combines the local life with tourism and the endless blue of the sea with the magic of the mountain. There a lot of people living on the island, keeping the life going on the winter, following traditions and also creating the modern side of Thasian culture.  Excellent products to try from the locals are olive oil, honey, olives, oregano and wine. Limenas is the capital of Thasos and biggest town in the island. Its name literally means “Port” and is the main port in the area and also the nearest part with the Greek mainland. Kazaviti hotels is 18 km away from Limenas (taking the ferry from Keramoti), north of Skala Prinos (taking the ferry from Kavala)!