PROPOSED PARTNERSDonegal Youth Service & Nordland Youth Council (Norway)PROJECT BACKGROUNDThe main motivation behind this project is to bring young people, youth workers, youth councillors, senior education professionals together from 22 eligible partner countries (Republic of Ireland and Norway) for an initial one week long exchange project in April 2016 in Ireland before a further exchange in Norway during late June. The project will engage participants in a learning and development journey incorporating a range of personal, social and educational experiences and activities with a view to engaging in structured dialogue on common themes identified by young people in the lead up to the exchange. Young people will participate in workshops and political training masterclasses by identified leading professionals in the area of activism and lobbying tools, with a focus on how they can make their voice heard in a coherent and clear manner on how youth policies should be shaped and implemented both in their home country and in Europe. The project will facilitate opportunities for discussion and shared learning between young people who are already engaged in youth participation in their home countries.Another aspect of the project will provide for a review of existing youth participation structures in their home countries and will be explored in the form of a seminar with presentations from each group on their experiences, achievements and difficulties in their pursuit to be heard and taken seriously.There will be a range of levels of learning about each other and our similar and differing experiences in the 2 countries: . Youth activists at local, regional and national levels will be able to share their journey and experience . Youth Workers, education professionals and other identified professionals can reflect, share their practice experiences and reflect on their work with young people in the community. . There will also be a workshop with Elected Members from Donegal County Council and Nordland County Council where they can share and discuss their experiences of engaging with young people through emerging youth participation structures in this region. . There will also be opportunities to explore activism and e-participation skills with a particular focus on youth structures and opportunities for Structured Dialogue. . Everyone will develop a greater cultural and political awareness of roles, responsibilities, achievements and difficulties within these areas.An added element to the project will lead to the potential for sharing ideas and best practice and see individuals and groups return to their own communities with plans of action to improve and make a positive impact in their community. An opportunity for goal setting and action planning will be available for the youth participants. The projects overall aim is to support participants to return to their communities with some key goals and enable them to be more confident and effective and successful in learning and contributing as responsible citizens.The young people will also have an opportunity to develop future working partnerships on identified issues and to explore other funding strands through the Erasmus + Programme.