BACKGROUND We want to carry out this project because our organization has identified the lack of awareness of the importance of traditional handicrafts in keeping our social and cultural identity among youngsters. We will carry out this project on Hartibaciu Valley because this is an area with high potential in handicrafts. OBJECTIVES So, projects’s objectives are: Increasing the awareness level on the importance of carrying on, safeguarding and valuing the tradition of handicrafts, among the 32 participants, from Romania, Iceland, FYR of Macedonia, Serbia aged between 15-22, by the end of the project. To enhance intercultural awareness among the 32 participants, from the four partner countries, aged between 15-22, by the end of the project. To increase motivation, among the 32 participants, from the four partner countries, aged between 15-22, by the end of the project, on promoting the traditional handicrafts products. To acquire basic handicraft skills, such as: ironmongery, carpentry, pottery, among the 32 participants, from the four partner countries, aged between 15-22, by the end of the activity. NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS In 18-24 august 2014 will take place the the project "Discovering culture and crafts in Hartibaciu Valley" designed for 32 youth between 15 and 22 years from 4 different countries: Serbia, Iceland, FYR of Macedonia and Romania. From each country there will be 4 girls and 4 boy accompanied by one male leader and one female leader. Participants will be selected based on their interest in traditions and handicrafts. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES Activities that are included in this youth exchange are: workshops of pottery, carpentry, ironmonger, wood restoration and saxon folk dance held by local craftsmen that are living in different villages on Hartibaciu Valley. Participants will also be engaged in activities with the purpose of discovering the community and the villages on H. Valley. These activities are: treasure hunts, exploration, getting in contact with locals and helping them in activities in their households. For a better understanding of different cultures and for teambuilding we organize an intercultural night, when participants will offer specific food from their country and they will share music, information, stories they find relevant for describing better their country. METHODOLOGY All activities and evaluation will be done through non-formal education in an informal setting. This will allow participants to feel comfortable during their stay in Nocrich and the surrounding villages where the activities take place. Participants are encouraged to participate actively in workshops, to share their feeling, fears, hopes, expectations, contributions, for the success of the project. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE RESULTS AND IMPACT ENVISAGED At the end of the project participants will: - know about the traditional handicrafts that are still in use in this area of Nocrich village and the surrounding villages - Hartibaci Valley. - find out information about things like the techniques used in pottery, carpentry, ironmongery, wood restoration and will have a clue about saxon folk dance - be introduced also in the history of this crafts and they will acknowledge the importance these crafts have in the community because these occupations and traditional products that are produced are very important for the perpetuation of the region cultural identity. - be actively involved in workshops of pottery, carpentry, ironmongery, wood restauration and saxon folk dance so they will learn practically a lot by doing, by creating an object in each of these fields, or practicing dance - practice different non formal educational methods during the youth exchange - be aware of the the traditional occupations in the Hartibaciu Valley - be open to practicing one of them if they find it suitable for them - learn about different cultures during the youth exchange POTENTIAL LONGER BENEFITS Potential longer benefits can have participants, organizations involved, partners and local community also. Participants’ benefits can be: a change in their attitude towards traditions,a better understanding of culture, the importance on a local economic level of craftsmen and the products they deliver. So having a better picture of what traditions mean they can make better choices for products they buy, for where they do volunteer work or what their future occupation will be. Organizations involved and partners will benefit in the future of better organizational skills, brand awareness, they will have experience in international projects that can lead to other partnerships and more productive ones. Local community will benefit from the fact that the culture from area is spread around the 4 countries involved. So, local craftsmen will be better known nationwide and abroad, inhabitants can feel proud about them and can support them, so the benefits are on both sides.