Context/Background Learn, Do, Change and Contribute is a project that aims to provide 60 YP who are currently involved youth groups from the UK, Spain and Italy to get involved with local projects and come together to share their experiences and also volunteer in a new environment as a group. We would also like to send 2 youth workers to the UK, and 2 to Spain following the exchange for learning. We have been planning this project for the last 6 months & we selected the partners on the basis of their backgrounds and experience. Each of the partners have experience in working with YP and specifically involving them in social projects that are of benefit to society. We have been networking with each other and outlined roles and responsibilities in each country which would take place before the exchange in the UK. We are particularly interested in understanding and celebrating different cultures between the 3 groups and organisations and what societal issues each place experiences, how these can be addressed, what the YP can learn from each other and how best to expand on these. Numbers and profile of prganisations: Each group will bring 20 YP to the project. Each organisation is experienced in a) working with YP b) ensuring participation of YP and other groups in society using creative methods c) identifying and creating new volunteering opportunities for YP d) provide training and support seminars to YP that are relevant to them (helping YP identify topics/issues they think are important and how to achieve goals - eg. cv writing, job skills, young unemployment etc) d) communications (how to raise awareness of societal issues facing YP, marginalised groups and the environment) Objectives and Activities 60 YP in total from 3 countries will get involved with an initiative with 3 objectives: Firstly, we would like to learn more about some important historical cultural periods in each country, how this was represented in the past and share experiences of our learning (this would be done through group discussions, informal discussions, looking at important paintings, architecture or folk stories passed on through generations, in rituals, books etc, workshops based around this) Secondly, we would like to explore the British, Spanish and Italian modern concept of urban and rural life. This will be done through the use of photography and painting/collage work . We would look at how the other country is portrayed in these mediums and address differences and stereotypes which will be enacted through role plays Finally, we would like that all groups experience multiculturalism and develop work skills. This will be done by getting involved in workshops and volunteering opportunities in the UK - in this way they will learn about various cultures, develop skills that are relevant to both personal and professional development and also help society - these will be hands on and practical. 2 youth workers from UK will go to Spain, and 2 to Italy to do a follow up activity and learning exchange with organisations there. This is to solidify the relationships and ensure learnings are being implemented there and here after. Work shadowing will take place The methodologies used in the project are participatory and formal methods: workshops, visits to museums/galleries, discussions, plays and games as well as informal methods like: sharing time and space together, interacting at meals and in group dynamics, dialogue, thinking and evaluation,volunteering and photography/painting/story telling. The project has been designed to contribute to the process of non-formal learning and to the promotion of social and personal development of YP involved in the project. Through the interplay of various learning techniques we hope not only to be more sensitive to the issues of society but also to become more reflective and responsible in our actions . At each stage of the project, from the conception, through the implementation and evaluation processes, we as YP are actively involved. Besides achieving definite citizenship skills we will also develop organizational skills (following a time table) budget skills, problem solving and negotiation skills as well as evaluation skills all of these very important and transferable for our future Impact 60 YP have improvements of other cultures, increased employment skills & experience of volunteering. These YP will be more aware of issues they and society face and feel empowered and confident to overcome/challenging these 60 YP come together and form a network of organisations and contributed to evaluating and reporting progresses 3 organisations have improved work practices based on best practice 10 youth workers will have increased work practices and capacites through networking and exchange