Efficient project meeting promises interesting EFDN Youth Exchange

Efficient project meeting promises interesting EFDN Youth Exchange

From 13 until 19 of May a football-based EFDN Youth Exchange will take place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In order to prepare the exchange, last Tuesday on 17th of April, one staff member and one youth leader from each participating club came together at the stadium of Feyenoord in Rotterdam. To ensure another successful Youth Exchange the club delegates from EFDN members Feyenoord Rotterdam, Aberdeen FC, Everton FC and SL Benfica examined the exchange objectives, programme, activities, venues and facilities. 

After getting to know each other the meeting kicked-off by giving the delegates an introduction to the concept of the EFDN Youth Exchanges. In order to give the youth leaders a good overview on what to expect the main objective were explained.

Football as a key tool for breaking cultural barriers

Coming from very divers cultural and religious backgrounds, the young people of the EFDN Youth Exchange will be united by the common interest in football making the exchange a fantastic opportunity to foster the understanding of cultural and religious diversity. The youth exchange provides 17 to 23 year olds with the unique opportunity to share experiences with each other through engaging in diverse activities. This contributes to fostering the understanding of cultural and religious diversity. During the entire exchange, football will be used as a key tool for breaking cultural barriers. The participants will be taking part in non-formal learning activities such as Walking Football, Lifestyle Football, Blind Football, playing beach volleyball and seminars. Overall, they jointly will work on invisible barriers in society and develop strategies on how to overcome them.

Additionally, the exchange follows the aim of bringing the participants together to promote the involvement of young people in local communities. The non-formal group activities will focus on increasing the level of tolerance between the participants and the reduction of existing stereotypes.

Preparation meeting discusses important exchange objectives

Next to visiting the stadium and all other venues which will be used during the exchange, the programme design of the exchange was completed. The final programme includes cultural evenings, cooperation activities, knowledge games and discussion tables about topics like the use of drugs and alcohol.

Main topic that the exchange staff had to take into account is the emphasis of cultural awareness and understanding. In line with this topic special attention will be given to the diversity of the city of Rotterdam. Every evening of the exchange will be dedicated to a certain country and culture. Participants will be encouraged to prepare for the entire group a typical native dish followed by a creative presentation of their country and culture. The young people will work and reflect on the topics of borders between cultures and discuss possibilities to build bridges between the differed groups.

Additionally, a healthy lifestyle through sport will be promoted and the young adults will learn to deal with the feeling of achievement and frustration. At the end of the exchange, every participant receives the Youth Pass Certificate.

The exchange is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Sport Programme.

We are looking forward to an exchange which promises to be a unique experience to create new friendships and which will have the power to highlight how football can be used as tool to promote understanding by bringing people together across boundaries, cultures and religions.