The youth exchange “Rural Youth for Gender Equality” aims at raising awareness of gender issues in the youth work in rural communities by providing participants with an opportunity to share gender realities in their countries and jointly develop tools for planning, implementation and evaluation of non-formal learning activities that respect gender equality. As gender issues can be a sensitive topic in some countries, a special attention during the exchange will be devoted to creating innovative approaches to achieve gender equality during projects and everyday youth work. For maximum effect, highly interactive and motivating non-formal educational methods have been chosen – traditional methods (presentations, group discussions, reflections, case studies and role-plays) will be accompanied by more creative activities (research based on methodology of participants’ choice and a group activity in the host community using the tools they jointly develop for promoting gender awareness).All activities will be promoted through local TV stations, printed and e-media. The project foresees a dissemination phase with 1 event to be realized at home and the results shared on the Internet platform created for the project.The youth exchange is intended to be held in Brody, Ukraine and last for 7 days (excluding travel days). The group of 30 participants (including 6 group leaders) will be hosted in a hotel with a room for workshops. The project is promoted by Youth NGO Iskra as an applicant and hosting organization together with 3 sending organizations from Programme countries – Vicolocorto (Italy), ATPDSC (Romania), TAŞEV (Turkey); and 2 organizations from EECA – ICPI (Georgia), and BF (Azerbaijan). As this is the first youth exchange hosted by Youth NGO Iskra in Ukraine, an APV of 2 days is planned (Aug.30-31,2013), for 1 group leader from each participating country and 1 participant from Ukraine who would also act as an administrative support person during the youth exchange.