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The impact of the pandemic on our work in the field of intercultural youth exchanges was our main motivation for applying for this project. As a long-standing player in the field of international ...

The implementation of the project pursued three central goals: the expansion and stability of our partnerships, the development of a robust network, and the safeguarding and further development of the quality of international youth exchanges. We aimed to sustainably strengthen collaboration between the organizations and, through regular exchange, create stable and reliable partnerships that would continue beyond the project’s duration. Another focus was on developing binding quality standards and practical methods, which were applied and evaluated during the exchanges. This was intended to create enriching learning environments for the young participants, fostering both professional and social skills. The network established among the partners will in the future support the exchange of experiences, mutual assistance, and the development of new collaborations. Overall, the project aimed to create a solid foundation for long-term cooperation and high-quality youth exchanges—for the benefit of all participants and the young people involved, as well as other interested organizations and their networks in the local and political environment.

We held a total of six transnational project meetings, each focusing on specific thematic priorities and promoting exchange as well as the joint development of project outcomes. The results developed during these meetings were practically applied and tested within the framework of a joint LTTA (Learning, Teaching, Training Activity). A total of 39 young people from all four partner organizations in Ireland, Spain, Latvia, and Germany took part in the LTTA, working intensively together on site and learning from one another. In addition, five young people from each partner organization participated in the LTTA digitally. They worked on the thematic content in parallel, exchanged ideas online, and thus supported the implementation of activities on site. In this way, the project was able to ensure broad involvement of all participants and successfully combine in‑person and digital learning formats.

Over the past two years, six international youth exchanges have been successfully implemented. Young people from Germany, Latvia, Ireland, and Spain took part. The exchanges promoted intercultural learning, participatory processes, and collaborative project work. Particularly valuable was the change of perspective gained through close cooperation with partner organizations from the respective countries. Together, programmes were developed that focused on sustainability, democratic processes, and digital tools. The voices and needs of the young people were always at the centre. To make the experiences and methods accessible in the long term, a website was created. This platform presents key qualitative aspects of international youth exchanges, such as participatory planning as well as methods and approaches for the systematic preparation of participants. It serves both as documentation and as inspiration for new projects, and in the long run aims to strengthen international youth networks. Through the cooperation project, partnerships were deepened, and a stable, long-term foundation for further youth exchanges with the partners has been established.