“Cultural Clashes”- Training course on ambiguity and cultural challenges within local and international youth work activities in EU, Western Balkan and EECA countries was held at 15 - 23 October 2015, in Riga, Latvia. Its’ aim was to analyse why some projects work and others don't. What could have been done differently? Learning from mistakes is possible when we first notice the mistake and admit that we made it. During this training course we analysed how to carry out a successful project among EU, Western Balkan and EECA countries. The world gets increasingly interconnected through globalization and individuals or different cultural backgrounds interact with each other in all spheres of life more intensively than before. This integration is increasingly exposing people to different values and ways of thinking and that's why cultural impacts cannot be avoided. The aim was to learn how to pay attention to cultural differences. The methodology of the TC was built on the holistic approach of non- formal education. Experienced trainers’ team assessed the needs and expectations of participants and based on that to invent new, creative and participatory methods. The methodological order of the programme was: starting from the individual to arrive to the local and international levels. The phases were: - individual assessment of cultural identity and reactions on ambiguity; - recognising cultural impact on individuals and cultural impact on local community; - exploring cultural challenges within youth work activities locally and international level among EU, Western Balkan and EECA countries; - collecting good practices to tackle cultural challenges locally and international level among EU, Western Balkan and EECA countries; - inventing new youth exchange projects among EU, Western Balkan and EECA countries in order to put theories on intercultural learning into international youth work practice according to the proposals of KA1 Mobility projects for young people and youth workers within Erasmus + programme. Working methods, which was used to in order to support achieving our themes: lectures, simulation games, group work, panel discussions, field visits, etc. Theoretical inputs: - Iceberg model of intercultural learning; - Kolb circle; - Different learning styles; - Competence; - Theory of Ambiguity; - Theories of intercultural learning; - Project management of youth exchanges among EU, Western Balkan and EECA countries according to the proposals of KA1 Mobility projects for young people and youth workers within Erasmus + programme. - Cooperation possibility among EU, Western Balkan and EECA countries. Practical inputs: - Self – assessment regarding to cultural identity; - Self – assessment regarding to ambiguity; - Visit to good practices places in South Plain Region of Hungary regarding to successful cultural projects; - Sharing good practices, tools and methods regarding to cultural challenges; - Putting theories on intercultural learning into youth work realities; - Inventing new high – quality youth exchange projects on intercultural learning among EU, Western Balkan and EECA countries according to the proposals of KA1 Mobility projects for young people and youth workers within Erasmus + programme. There were 42 participants from EU (Hungary, Romania, Italy, Turkey, Latvia), Western Balkan (Ukraine,Moldova), EECA (Azerbaijan, Georgia). We worked with experienced youth workers, youth leaders, teachers, social workers who work with young people with fewer opportunities having especially cultural background and have enough experience to share and motivation to improve their competences regarding to the content of the project. Results and longer term benefits of the project: Photos and contacts from participants with the magazines of represented NGOs; Hymn of the TC sang by participants; Posters on aim and objectives; day by day programme; expectations and fears of participants; personal learning needs of participants; cooperation agreement of participants. Group portrait drawn by participants; Article from the TC written by participants. Posters on cultural identities: I am …. / I am not….Proofs of cultural values as photos and videos what participants will bring back from their learning adventures. Cultural presentations of Riga through intercultural learning adventures. Posters of cultural challenges and its possible solutions. Photos from the time order of the steps of different phases of a youth exchange. Photos from the ready Erasmus + puzzle. Project proposals among EU, Western Balkan and EECA countries and the Eforms of the invented projects will be sent to the partner organisations and decide who will apply for what and who will be partners and who will be coordinator.