We are looking for YOUth! - Youth Exchanges in 2023
Call for participants from Poland, Ukraine and Norway!
We inform about announcing recruitment for the next edition of exchanges. The planned youth exchange will take place on 6th -10th Semptember 2023. This time, the participants of the exchange will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the activities of the Norwegian Partner - the European Wergeland Centre in Oslo, but also to visit Utøya Island - the place of the tragic events in 2011, which is now a place of remembrance and a center for intercultural dialogue among the youth.
The exchange is aimed to youth and young adults from Ukraine, Poland and Norway and it is conducted to support and promote tolerance, dialogue and inclusion. The participants will work on how to secure real and meaningful youth participation also.
How to apply?
Make sure you meet all the conditions to participate in the exchange. Read all the information and requirements on the dedicated exchange page at lublin.eu or on our Partner's website.
There are also links to the application form on both pages above. Application deadline: 20/07/2023.
Why Utøya?
Utøya has a long-standing tradition as a meeting place for young people engaging in political, civic and democratic issues. It is a place for international solidarity and peace work, based on democratic values and principles.
After the terror attacks 22 July 2011, Utøya was re-established as a place for civic and democratic engagement. Young people come to Utøya from all over the world to share experiences and collaborate to promote democratic values and practices. More than 10 000 young people come to Utøya every year to take part in educational programs, seminars, conferences and summer camps. It has become a powerful and inspiring example of young people’s resilience to extremism and terror.
Previous Youth Exchange
The first offline YOUth exchange within the initiative was on the 8th-11th of November 2022. All the activities during that exchange was conducted in Oslo.
From nearly 100 applications from Poland and nearly 200 applications from Ukraine, we have selected 24 people who have gone with us to Norway. Most of the youth exchange participants were active in NGOs working for young people in local environments, but also at the national level. Some of the participants worked in city councils or were active at the university - in scientific clubs or by organizing various activities.
The program of an exchange in 2022 was developed with young people from Norway and included, among others, workshops on building civil society, democracy and tolerance, and integration activities.
About the Initiative
The youth exchanges are organized by the European Wergeland Center, in cooperation with the International Cooperation Center of the Municipality of Lublin, as part of the bilateral Initiative "Youth for the City, City for the Youth - projects and initiatives to engage and act in the local communities" supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, through the EEA and Norway Grants. The aim of the Initiative is to increase the civic involvement of young people (10-30 years old) from Poland and Ukraine in local communities concerning activities with the support and use of Norwegian experience.
In addition to offline exchange, a series of online exchanges are planned, allowing young people and young adults to meet new people, exchange experiences, and gain new knowledge.