4 Stations to youth participation exchange

Each year, 40 young people, 10 each from England, Estonia, Finland and Germany will meet up in each country for 6 days of activities for a 4-way youth exchange exploring the "4 Stations of Youth Participation".

This not only refers to the number of countries involved in this youth exchange but also makes reference to 4 "steps of participation." All have some kind of experience in being involved with participation projects in their own countries and through the exchange they will be exploring:

The 4 "Steps of Participation"

1. Passive participation
2. Transparency - well-informed youth participants
3. Co-operation with youth
4. Co-determination and self-determination of youth.

The 4 "Fields of participation"

1. schools
2. communities
3. youth work
4. family and culture.

Each group will be responsible for planning one Intercultural evening. The topics will be European citizenship and the problems of youth experience in the different countries and solutions to these problems. We will meet and discuss these issues with local politicians and decision-makers.

During the exchange debates, workshop and visits will be taking place, we will visit seats of national and local governments where decisions are made, as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's).