2011 – International Youth Exchange “Overcome Borders – Join a common Europe”

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Motivated juveniles, much action, and theatre – these are the keywords, which spontaneously come in mind about the youth exchange “Overcome Borders – Join a common Europe” in Wernigerode. In week commencing June 11th to 19th, 2011, 32 juveniles at the age of 14 to 18 years from Bulgaria, Romania, Ireland, and Germany met in the small town which is rich in tradition. Its aim was to overcome prejudices especially in rural areas by means of theatrical presentation methods.

The four international organisations – Thüringer Jugendarbeitskreis, The BalkanKids Foundation, Team For Youth Association, and Lightbulb Youth Theatre – were keen to render varied days possible to the juveniles and to sensitise them for the topic of prejudices and borders. With the aim to make a contribution to more tolerance.

The point in the first days was to have the participants get to know each other better, figuring out that way, wherein possible cultural similarities and differences consist. Afterwards the juveniles represented several conflict situations by means of Forum Theatre. The pupils should enter a form of “test world” and try to work out approaches together to avoid such situations in the future. Another topic has been boarders and community. After sharing first experiences, those had been realised by means of improvisational theatre and were discussed afterwards.

Also the evenings have been spent together. With traditional nation-themed evenings, which have been prepared by the groups themselves, they provided the other participants an insight into their own culture with its diverse morals and practice. By music, dancing and miscellaneous goodies the juveniles were able to enter a different “world”. That hadn’t just been fun, it was also the base from which a corporate feeling and a sense of belonging arose.

The short trailer depicts the atmosphere the participants have experienced.

Highlight of the youth exchange has been the presentation of what had been learned previously in front of an audience. The performance received a great feedback and requested for more tolerance and openness within the society.

This is the feature “Grenzen überwinden (Overcoming Borders)”, which has been shot and cut by the participants.

In conclusion it can be said, that the participants shared experiences through the youth exchange “Overcome Borders – Join a common Europe”, which they can provide friends and acquaintances back home, and can put into practice.

It is significant to stir the juveniles, our future, into action for projects like that, to show them, that they have the opportunity too, to influence the tide of events in our society. This youth exchange contributed at least a part to that.

A project of ThüJAK – Thüringer Jugendarbeitskreis:

In cooperation with The BalkanKids Foundation, Team For Youth Association, and Lightbulb Youth Theatre.

Realised with the support of: