The Williams Syndrome Association of Ireland is a member of the Federation Europeean de Williams Syndrome (FEWS) and, through this group, has contact with many other WS associations in Europe and other continents. The project - "FEWS - Our Music, Our Culture" - aims to promote social interaction and to create cultural awareness amongst young people with Williams Syndrome (WS) from many European countries. People with WS have special needs, in particular a learning disability, and consequently have fewer opportunities to travel abroad. They do not often get a chance to meet and interact with people with WS from other countries. We want this project to give some of them this opportunity.This exchange will follow a number of similar Youth Exchange projects across Europe in previous years. We hope to continue the very significant impact that previous projects have had on the WS population in Europe.We will have 48 participants with WS, varying in age from 15 to 30, from 12 countries (including Ireland). We aim to have a 50/50 ratio of males and females. We will provide a non-formal learning opportunity for them through interactive games, country presentations, music workshops, culture trails, visit to places of cultural interest e.g. Bunratty Folk Park, introduction to Irish sport, introspection and contemplative time, etc. We will support the participants with facilitators to help them get the most from the planned activities. Participants will be required to outline a number of goals that they wish to achieve during the exchange e.g. make a presentation, learn a new musical instrument, etc. and these goals will be reviewed each evening during the activity week. We hope that this project will provide a very positive and enriching learning experience for all participants. This certainly has been the experience in previous youth exchanges that Williams Syndrome people have participated in. We are confident that all participants will achieve their stated goals and that their future lives will be enhanced by these achievements. We believe that many long-term friendships between WS people will be forged during this exchange, enhancing their future lives through on-going social contact. Friendships created at previous exchanges will be renewed and enriched. We expect participants will gain in self confidence and that their social skills will be improved. Skills gained during this exchange will be with them for the rest of their lives and they will be able to pass on their learning to others with Williams Syndrome in their own countries.