As you may know, there are many projects happening every month in a lot of different countries. Many times the projects are a part of the Erasmus+ program, which is based on youth mobility and youth education. With projects, they give the youth a better chance for employment. By joining the projects you combine work with pleasure - you travel and learn something new.
What is international youth exchange?
Youth exchange is an exchange between countries, which allows the youth to exchange their views, perspectives and ideas. The youth learns how to cooperate and work in groups. It is important to actively cooperate and participate. During youth exchange you can gain your confidence and knowledge. It will broaden your horizon, develop new skills and open your eyes for new possibilities. You will develop tolerance and get rid of your prejudices. Youth exchange will also develop relationships with other participants. You will build bonds over the border. You will also learn something about yourself, other countries and cultures. You will develop linguistic skills, learn some new phrases in language of the host country.
What do I need to know about Erasmus+ projects?
Erasmus+ has four main objectives and every project has to fulfill at least one objective. The first is learning and growing through mobility. Projects have to provide different knowledge and skills on different areas for the young. Projects develop social competence, solidarity, lead young to the labour market etc. The second objective is international cooperation. Projects have to give possibilities for collaboration between countries and organization, which work with the young. This is how organizations learn from each other and search for joint solutions and ideas. Third objective is active cooperation of youth with politics that affects them. They want to encourage the youth to politically cooperate on local, national and European level. They also have a word with things that define their lives. The last objective is possibilities also outside of EU members. Projects have to encourage international cooperation as this encourages higher quality of youth work.
Erasmus+ projects have international dimension. There is at least one EU member cooperating in each projects and sometimes there are even countries from all over the world which are cooperating. This cooperation is extremely important as participants learn from each other, develop competences and learn to respect a different view on the world and develop European identity.
Multilingualism is also an important part of European projects. It is also one of the goals of EU. It strives to unite many nations but encourages them to also be different. You will be able to get to know people better if you will know a foreign language and you will also be able to participate at training in foreign countries easier. They try to be as much creative as possible when creating a project, without making language or education barriers for participants.
Erasmus+ projects are mostly organized by national agencies where you can also turn to for application, content and basic information about the project. You can also apply through the website Salto Youth that was created by European Commission.
When you develop your skills, you can write another thing on your resume. Labour market is very difficult at the moment so everything that makes you stand out is excellent. Learn, develop your knowledge and travel. Travelling will enrich your life.
