Successful edition Breaking Barriers Youth Exchange

Successful edition Breaking Barriers Youth Exchange

By handing out the Youth Passes, the EFDN “Breaking Barriers through Football” Youth Exchange in Rotterdam came to an end. The participants did not only receive the certificate but also took back home a lot of new ideas, good memories and even new friendships. 

The 25 young people and 10 staff members of Feyenoord Rotterdam, Everton FC, SL Benfica and Aberdeen F.C. have worked closely during the last week. By discussing potential barriers and participating in different activities, the young people developed a better cultural understanding and more tolerance while improving their own skills. The group created a comfortable atmosphere. In this safe environment the youngsters became more and more self-confident. In addition, every participant improved its own communication and cooperation skills during the various group activities like the self-organised cultural evenings. On the final day, not only the photos of the whole week but also contact details were shared so they can stay in contact after this event.

“I have really enjoyed it. I have never been in a programme like this. It was something new and very good. We learned how the other clubs are working and could try other languages and food from different countries. It’s a pity that we have to leave”, said Rodrigo, who is part of a school programme from the Benfica Foundation.

Added value for clubs

Throughout the exchange, the staff members of the participating clubs have planned to set up a more permanent cooperation between the clubs that will benefit the local participants and programmes of the clubs. While supporting the young participants in the exchange, the staff members also learned a lot from the comprehensive programme. Best-practices and new insights were shared and the staff members used the evaluation and reflection time between the activities to discuss possible challenges and opportunities in the day-to-day activities at their club. The EFDN Youth Exchange provided them new perspectives and new tools that will benefit for their work long after the exchange in Rotterdam.

“I think every individual has come away with something different. Whether it was a new self-confidence, a new resilience, a new friend – or a new phrase from Portugal or the Netherlands. If there were any barriers before, they are now broken”, concluded Ed Parker, the School Enterprise Coordinator at Everton in the Community.

Next Youth Exchange in Tel Aviv

EFDN’s CEO Hubert Rovers said: “We are very happy with the positive feedback from the participants in Rotterdam and are motivated to deliver more similar activities in the future, that will contribute to the development of the local participants from our member clubs.”

The next “Breaking Barriers through Football” International Youth Exchange will take place in Tel Aviv, Israel.

There, young people from three different cultures and staff members will have again the opportunity to come together, to understand the benefits of cultural diversity, and to break down barriers through Football.