This very exciting exchange brought together young people from Sweden and young people in the UK on a boat in Essex for a week. The aim of the RESPECT exchange, funded by Youth in Action program, was to explore issues of gender equality, what it’s is like to be young and European.
The week was spent learning about each others cultures, values, attitudes and behaviour, improving communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills through personal development workshops, creative activities, outdoor education and visits to projects and cultural sites.
By the end of the week the bonds of friendship developed over active days and sleepless nights filled with laughter were strong and the tears when we said goodbye to each other were hard to hold back. The Swedish group is now working on a return visit in 2012. We can’t wait to see them again!
The exchange was organised by loveLife Generation and Kvinnors Natwerk in Sweden A short film titled ‘The DNA of Europe – Young, Free and Different’ and postcards reflecting the programme were produced to highlight the amazing experience and a blog was kept before, during and after. Check it out here.
