Keep it REAL!

„Keep it REAL!“ training course will offer space to explore what does it make to have a REAL Youth Exchange. The course is mainly aimed at those who have no or only some experience of organising an international Youth Exchange – either you have just recently implemented a project and thinking of possible follow-up exchange or you have freshly „joined the club“ of beneficiaries by receiving a grant. The main aim of this training is to support youth exchange organisers to increase main quality aspects in various phases of the project. The approach of this TC is based on combination of inputs and practice to let participants put hands on real experiences – explore problem solving, share advices, deal with issues which really matters. There are many quality criteria when it comes to Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, this training course will concentrate on certain aspects that most of organisers are struggling with: equal partnership, dimension of non-formal learning, intercultural learning, YouthPass process, youth participation, seeing the whole project as a long-term learning process and dealing with possible risks. NB! This training course is created in close co-operation between Estonian and Lithuanian National Agencies. An added value of this special feature is a fact of having similar national realities and contexts of international youth work, so, it is easier to create a safe learning environment and foster mutual understanding among participants. Practical bonus: if needed more language support can be facilitated through group works. We encourage the participation in pairs: welcoming 2 representatives per project, i.e. 2 group leaders or a pair of 1 group leader / youth worker /teacher (18+) and 1 young person (16-30) who are both actively involved in organising a youth exchange. NB! In case of a young person, aged 16-17, participation in tandem with an adult is compulsory. Please note, that an application has to be submitted individually. „Keep it REAL!“ daily programme lasts for 3 full days, arrival day on Saturday, 17th of January and departure day on Wednesday, 21st of January, 2015. Team: Laimonas Ragauskas and Umberto Dorus Geerts, who will bring their long years experience as youth work practitioners (both local & international), as learning facilitators and in running various activities related to quality of youth exchanges. Also representative(s) of National Agency will join the training to support the process, get into direct contact with participants and share real examples from the field.