What are Youth Exchanges?
Youth Exchanges are week or so-long projects that bring together people from different countries (forward: participants), giving them opportunity to explore a new place while learning about an important topic and creating life long friendships. It is funded by the European Union which makes them free for all the participants. Youth Exchanges are made for young people to learn from each other and widen their knowledge in different topics as much as develop themselves and grow as better people.
How does a Youth Exchange work?
An organisation or an individual working with an organisation (forward: creator) creates a project known as “Youth Exchange”. Youth Exchanges consists of the topic, the sessions, the participants, the accommodation and the food. The topics differ, it can be whatever the creator wants it to be. The creator is provided with a designated amount of funding and with that money, the creator is responsible for arranging accommodation and securing meal providers, that’s why in some Youth Exchanges participants have to make food by themselves and in some, there are professional cooks. The same with accommodations, sometimes participants have to live; 6 people per room and sometimes it’s only 3. It all depends on the size of the funding and the overall expenses involved.
Who can participate in a Youth Exchange?
To participate in a Youth Exchange, participants need to be in the age range of 13-30, but the country’s leader needs to be 18+. But that doesn’t mean that all people who are 13 can participate in all Youth Exchanges. The creator of the Youth Exchange decides themself what age range they want. Participating countries are usually from Europe. For each project, there is a list of countries and a number of people who can participate. Usually, it’s 6 participants and 1 group leader from one country. The project language is English so basic knowledge in English is a must.
How does one Youth Exchange Day look like?
- Breakfast
- First session
- Coffee break
- Second session
- Lunch
- Break
- Third session
- Coffee break
- Fourth session
- Dinner
- Fifth session / free evening / something else / cultural night
The tickets and what do I actually have to pay for?
Before the project, there’s a deadline until what day you have to buy plane or bus tickets. All Youth Exchanges will provide Infopacks, which include detailed information on the maximum amount of money each participant can spend on purchasing travel tickets. Two days are given before and after the project to travel from and to the country of residence. After the Youth Exchange ends, all the money for the tickets is reimbursed, if it fits in the money and travel day range. If more money is spent than allowed, the money that falls out of range is not being reimbursed. Time for reimbursement is 1-6 months.
Now, Where to actually find Youth Exchanges?
Even if it would be very convenient, there are no websites that show all the opportunities for all the countries. You have to be aware what organizations are in your country and follow them, because only through them you’ll be able to find a youth exchange. You can start your search from here:
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