Almost 30 years ago, Roger Hart developed a model to describe the different forms of youth participation. He argued that participation was the process of sharing decisions that affect people’s lives and the communities they live in. He believed that participation is the fundamental right of citizenship and an integral part of democracy. Thus, at the center of Hart’s definition is decision-making. He describes participation as a ladder, with levels of youth involvement ranging from nonparticipation to full participation. In that regard, the European Union’s youth strategy aims to ensure full participation of youth in society both as an overall goal and as the main objective in its 5th field of action—participation—and puts its focus on participation in representative democracy, supporting youth organisations and strengthening opportunities for learning to participate.

Given that, with the Youth Exchange ‘Youth 4 Active Society’ We seek to gather 56 young people across Europe and show them different ways of actively participating in the decision-making processes, as well as the benefits from it on a personal and societal level. Therefore, during this Youth exchange, the participants will present and put into practice various non-formal addressing youth participation used in their countries. In that way, we want to allow the exchange of methods and practices between young people and organisations coming from different parts of Europe.

The project’s objectives are set as follows:

• to enable an exchange of different methods used in participants’ counties that contribute to active involvement of young people in the decision-making processes,
• To increase young people’s understanding of the challenges of current Europe and to debate possible solutions and responses,
• To promote European values, such as human rights and the rule of law, active participation and social responsibility,
• To allow improving/acquiring presentation and public speaking skills, communication skills, teamwork, leadership, etc.,
• To create and disseminate a digital Toolkit with methods and tools addressing active participation of young people the decision making processes in society,
• To promote the Erasmus+ Programme, Non-Formal Education (NFE) and Youthpass Certificate,
• To encourage intercultural learning and to promote cultural

• Motivated to take part in a youth exchange and are interested in the topic of the project;
• Motivated to implement the experience gained in the YE in their communities;
• Motivated to build and support international partnerships that will be created during the YE for future Erasmus+ projects;
• Age limit 18 – 25 years old, preferred;

Profile of group leaders

• 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 is no age limit set for group
• People who are willing to learn more about other cultures by sharing rooms with 3-54 other people from different countries;
• People who will be dedicated during the activities, willing to take active participation and be part in creating the final project results

• Learning by doing
• Ice-breakers and team building games to get to know each
• Workshops will leave room for discussions and debates
• Simulation games will allow us to identify current challenges of non-formal education and show 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

Accommodation and food are 100% covered by the Erasmus+ programme. The participants will be lodged in Rettenegg, Austria (https://goo.gl/maps/aH1CFZL6ojkkSnM87). Retteneg is a small town located one and a half hour from Vienna and Graz, surrounded by mountains and typical Austrian architecture. The facility is rented out to schools, associations, organizations and private individuals, primarily with a focus on children and youth.

Important information about the accommodation:

• During the activity participants will be accommodated in a room with 3-4 other people from different
• 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
• We can’t arrange separate rooms for couples or make additional changes in the room
• The rooms have bunk beds. Mattress, duvet and pillows are provided (bed linen included). The participants must bring their own TOWELS and
• Every room has its own

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 dishes and silverware after eating.

During the official part of the event, and in the territory of the hotel 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 Retteneg, only for the days of the activity (11.11 – 19.11.2022). In case of a longer stay there is no chance of reimbursement of travel costs.

We are not able to reimburse missing tickets!!!

IMPORTANT: Traveling sometimes requires an additional day for catching a flight and staying for an additional night at the city, where the airport is situated. We are aware of such situations, but organizers can’t cover this cost, it is participants own cost. For that reason, we recommend you to use hostels (http://www.hostelworld.com/) or friends https://www.couchsurfing.org/).

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS HOW TO REACH THE VENUE

An invitation to try to travel mindfully – with no excess luggage and extra effort to store it. Welcome to use tips from EC: https://bit.ly/3r23I00

1. Fly to Vienna Airport

It is the closest airport to the venue. Flying to Bratislava is an alternative if you are arriving earlier. If landing in these airports, you will have to take a Bus, Metro or a Train to Vienna City Centar

2.  AT 20:00 Jump on a Private Bus to Rettenegg.

There will be an organized, private bus waiting for you at HBF Wien – Vienna Train Station (https://goo.gl/maps/woF5oCxZJ1dJ6EEo7). The hosting organisation will provide the bus and share with you the exact location (all partners will get info for the location). The same bus will drop you off there at 09 am on the departure day.

NOTE: bus will leave at 20:00 sharp so make sure you are there on time. There is no other way to reach the venue. Same bus will drop you off at 09am.

If you are arriving from another place and not using the arranged transport please use the most economical way of transport.

Tickets Purchase

Please note that only most economic travel and only public transport is subject to reimbursement. Taxi is not covered. Please consult us before buying!

YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO LEAVE PROJECT ONE DAY EARLY TO CATCH YOUR FLIGHT OR BUS. PLEASE BUY YOUR TICKETS ACCORDING TO PROJECT’S DATE and TRANSPORTATION RGANIZED.

We need you to buy economy class tickets, and upload them in designated google drive ASAP. 20^th October latest here, so our accountant knows, and adjust the budget.

We advise you to buy your tickets as soon as possible, so that it fits in our limited budget for 100% reimbursement.

We kindly ask you to save all documents (original tickets, boarding passes, invoices or bills with the ticket price) which are related to your travel, since the documentation background is obligatory for reimbursement. We kindly ask you to buy all the tickets for the travel for both directions – return tickets (plane tickets, train tickets, bus tickets and etc.), because we will be able to reimburse only REAL EXPENSES (made expenses). IMPORTANT: We cannot refund any travel costs done by taxi.

After sending your original tickets and boarding cards, participants will receive the reimbursement of their travel costs. Travel (flights, other means of transport) expenses are compensated (up to 100%), based on the actual expenses incurred and the distance from your location of residence to the location of the project.. These distances must be calculated using the distance calculator supported by the European Commission. We send money to your sending organization and sending organization will pay participants for the duration max 2- months after the project ends.

Please note if you buy your tickets in a currency other than EUR, we will convert to EUR according to the exchange rates from the official European Commission web-site: http://ec.europa.eu/budget/inforeuro/index.cfm?Language=en

Participants must travel from the country of the sending organization, and back. Following the guidelines of the Erasmus + programme the travel back must be realized by the participants in a direct way within a maximum of 2 days.

You are not allowed to arrive after 11^th of November or leave earlier than 19^th of November. Please keep in mind when booking the tickets. For any other questions consult with the group leaders form sending NGO.

Budget travel cost for Spain: 235€/participant

NOTE:

• The cost given is a limit in total PER PERSON, for both ways.
• PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ACCORDING TO ERASMUS+ RULES MONEY FOR TRAVEL WILL BE REIMBURSED ACCORDING TO THE REAL COST YOU SPENT, up to the amount given above per country, but not more (which means that if you spend less – you will be reimbursed the money you actually spent or if you spend more – you will get only limit)
• Before buying your ticket, please remember your cost limits, EVERYTHING THAT WILL BE MORE THAN THE LIMIT WILL BE YOUR OWN
• Before booking the flight, please, make travel arrangements CONFIRMATION with us!

• Passport or ID
• Comfortable clothes for the
• Please bring WARM clothes as well and check the weather
• Towels and personal care products: shampoo, toothpaste
• Camera, laptop
• Pills and medicines
• Positive attitude
• Sleepers

HEALTH & TRAVEL INSURANCE

• PLEASE, WHEN COMING TO AUSTRIA, 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.

• Find interesting videos / games / exercises / educational activities related with the
• Morning/Afternoon Energizers: We would be really happy if each group prepare some energizers to increase the group energy
• Wherever possible, take your laptops, digital cameras, smartphones and tablets – we will be doing some multimedia work that requires mobile equipment!

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

Austria’s official currency is EURO. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.