Neue Perspektiven in der europäischen Jugendarbeit

We met a new partner in the Czech Republic, similar to our organisation, who was interested in working with us. We wanted to get to know this co-operation partner, including the cultural and structural differences, and adapt the processes to each other in order to make the partnership sustainable. We saw LA2 Small Scale as a good opportunity to start the cooperation at the level of the organisations and their experts without having to concentrate on other tasks (international youth exchange) at the same time. Furthermore, we wanted to support more volunteers in acquiring intercultural skills and motivate them to work in the international field, for example to accompany a youth exchange abroad. In order to keep our common target group in mind, we wanted to explore new, digitally supported ways to reach young people and motivate them to travel abroad. Both organisations and the volunteers lacked the necessary tools and knowledge to do this.

Our main goal was to build a long-term, sustainable German-Czech partnership at eye level and to make the process of establishing such an international cooperation partnership transferable to other organisations. Furthermore, we wanted to develop new, digitally supported methods for getting involved in intercultural youth work and further qualify full-time and voluntary staff in their intercultural and digital skills.

The project included four milestones, two in Germany and two in the Czech Republic, during which the professionals and volunteers visited each other, got to know the organisations and planned three different digitally supported activities for young people. They carried them out identically in both countries and then followed them up with the aim of motivating young people to engage in international mobility. Furthermore, the experts received further training in their digital skills in order to be able to use the new tools and methods in the digitally supported activities. The timetable had to be changed due to the war in Ukraine, so that the following sequence took place: - Milestone 1, part 1 (digital) - Methodological testing 1 (hybrid future day) - Milestone 1, part 2 (in Stare Mesto) - Methodological testing 2 (intercultural cookery project) - Milestone 2 (in Verl) - Milestone 3 (in Stare Mesto) - Methodological testing 3 (european youth mobility ) - Milestone 4 (in Verl) The accompanying digital activities, as well as the digital qualification of the experts in the Czech Republic and Germany, took place as requested over the entire project period.

At the end of the project, both organisations are very satisfied with the strengthened partnership and the resulting activities. Two youth exchanges are already planned for 2024, which will take place in June and September. Preparations have already started. At the same time, the organisations are aiming to firmly implement the digital formats of the methodological testing and, for example, to have the cooking event annually. The acquisition of digital devices in particular has helped to improve quality, as this counteracts disadvantages and enables the event to continue at eye level. Both partners are very pleased with the high level of local attention. Not only local educational institutions, but also local interest strengthen awareness of the project and have positive synergy effects. In winter '23, for example, a delegation from Stare Mesto made a spontaneous stopover in Verl to express their delight at active European work. We are also pleased to welcome 6 young people who are actively striving for an ESC after the last methodological testing and, as a result, Klubko is also seeking accreditation for this.