« Exchanging lives and telling all, as we see fit »This youth exchange (preceded by an advance planning visit), comes after several years of partnership between the Fundacio Catalana de l’Esplai and the Federation Leo Lagrange Sud-Ouest from St paul de Jarrat, which are both organisations working in the field of informal education. It was created based on the research by professionals in the field, but also in consultation with the young people, their wishes and their projects.It’s goal, within a personal development context, is to promote intercultural exchanges especially targeting young people with fewer opportunities. As well as raising awareness and encouraging reflection around the idea of communication by sensitising teens to the different methods of transport in order to facilitate independent travel and additionally exploring everyday methods and tools of communication to improve any future exchanges. But it also allows them to put into practice a sense of initiative and creativity through a cultural lens.There will be 20 young people; half of who are french and half catalan. One of them is disabled and we feel strongly that he must be integrated in the best way possible to the group and the project. Most of the participants fall under the category of young people with fewer opportunities, because they live in rural setting, are of an ethnic minority, have educational issues and/or economic problems. They all are between 12 and 18 years old. They will be accompanied by 4 youth workers including a group leader and a special education support worker to meet the needs of the young disabled person.The activities have been chosen keeping our overarching objectives and theme in mind: Communication. So we will experience different methods of transport: cycling, trekking, kayaking, paragliding, travelling by train, tram and bus. They will experience different communication tools: sign language, Art (singing workshop, painting, fine arts, body painting, prehistoric paintings), non-violent communication, social networks, writing by hand, as well as activities linked to where they live: fishing, hiking in nature, bivouacking in the mountains.For each activity we will use different methods inspired by alternative or modern educational theories. Such as Freinet, Montessori, S. Neil, Decroly et Anthony’s new school. We will use ‘training group’ techniques, educative ‘group techniques’, self-management, learning by doing or by observation and cooperative councils.We hope the exchange will help them to become more curious, break the psychological barriers that have been created which restrict their ability to travel and help them find their place in a fast moving society. In the long term we hope this project may improve the way society views teenagers. But most of all to counter the growing nationalist sentiment in Europe and the resulting insular tendencies. Communication must open doors, instead of building walls.