Factual report for the project: DGJW
German-Greek Youth Office International Youth Exchange
Berichtszeitraum: 04.02.-10.02.2024
Project organiser: Tanz der Kulturen Berlin e.V.
Tempelhofer Damm 140, 12099 Berlin
Partner organisation: AnazititesTheatrou 26 is Oktovriou 15
Performance report youth exchange programme Thessaloniki
Preparation phase
Ensuring the character of the encounter
Methods used in the project
Positive experiences and obstacles
Evaluation of the youth exchange programme
- description of the programme and the target group
Our youth exchange programme offered young people aged 12-17 a unique opportunity to gain intercultural experience, make friends and promote their personal development.
It should be noted in particular that the young people who took part in this programme were supported by Tanz der Kulturen Berlin e.V. in accordance with Section 30 of the German Social Code VIII. The exchange programme took place in Thessaloniki (Greece). Through our partnership with the German-Greek Youth Office (DGJW), we had developed a programme that provided the young people with education, support and fun. The trip was organised with 5 supervisors and 10 young people.
The programme included intercultural encounters, a visit to a local school in Thessaloniki, city tours, cultural activities and joint projects. Thanks to the flexibility of the programme, we were able to respond to the needs and interests of the local participants.
Our objective went beyond an organised trip. We aimed to create an eventful encounter that would have a lasting impact on the participants. The programme was comprehensively evaluated through one-on-one interviews, after-exchange meetings and feedback sessions to reinforce positive aspects and identify areas for improvement.
- 2. preparation phase:
The leadership team carried out extensive preparation in advance of the international exchange in Thessaloniki to ensure that all aspects of the young people were adequately addressed. All carers were actively involved in a detailed team meeting, as the young people taking part came from individual cases. During this meeting, the young people’s individual cases were discussed in detail to understand what was currently on their minds and what challenges they were facing. A comprehensive list of relevant details and comments was drawn up to ensure effective support.
For comprehensive support and in the interests of safety, parental consent forms were obtained. These included not only details of emergency contacts, but also information on health insurance, medication, eating habits, allergies, bathing authorisation and important childcare regulations. In addition, a separate declaration of consent was obtained for the use of photos and videos during the exchange.
A crucial step in the preparation was the meeting with the young people and their parents, where they cooked together. This gave the parents the opportunity to get to know the carers personally and receive important information about the trip. In addition to details about the destination, the accommodation and the planned programme, the participants were given clear expectations. It was also emphasised what the young people should definitely bring with them. In addition, letters were prepared for parents containing information about the meeting point for the journey and the pick-up time on departure. As part of an information exchange, a presentation was held in which common rules for the trip were established. Particular attention was paid to actively including the opinions of the young people. This participatory approach helped to create an open atmosphere that formed the basis for a positive experience for all participants. The trip was not just seen as an organised venture, but as a unique opportunity for the young people to contribute their own experiences. This approach promoted a positive and enriching experience for all.
- ensuring the character of the encounter Visit to a school:
The participants had the opportunity to visit a local school in Thessaloniki. This was a school with an OSZ character that offered various training methods, including training as a nurse, pilot, ship transfer and viticulture. The young people used exchange sessions to ask direct questions, such as the number of children in a class, the assessment system and the interests of the young people from Thessaloniki.
City exploration:
City tour:
City tours were organised for the young people to get to know Thessaloniki better. This included visits to cultural sights, historical sites and local attractions, including museum visits.
Interactive workshops and discussions:
Interactive workshops and discussion sessions were organised where the young people and their hosts could work together on various topics, such as music, dance and a workshop on sexism. This encouraged the exchange of opinions, ideas and experiences, which intensified the encounter character.
Joint leisure activities:
In addition to the structured programme items, joint leisure activities were also included, including cooking together. This enabled the young people to meet informally and share their hobbies, interests and personal stories, which deepened interpersonal relationships and strengthened the exchange’s meeting character.
Through these diverse activities, the encounter character of the exchange was experienced intensively, giving the participants direct insights into the everyday life and culture of the host community. The exchange thus became not just an organised trip, but an eventful encounter between the young people and the local community in Thessaloniki.
4 Methods used in the project
Various methods were used in the project to achieve the objectives set. Some of these methods have proven successful, while others may have encountered certain challenges. Here are some of the methods used:
Proven methods:
Pre-participant surveys:
Interviewing participants prior to the project proved to be an effective method to understand their expectations. This helped to take into account the needs of the young people and adapt the programme accordingly.
Joint leisure activities:
Organising leisure activities together, such as making crêpes together and helping with the washing up, not only promoted social integration but also created an informal atmosphere for interpersonal relationships.
Interactive workshops and discussions:
Running interactive workshops and discussion sessions allowed the young people to actively participate in various topics and share their opinions. This encouraged the exchange of ideas and experiences.
Dance workshop:
The dance workshop not only helped to promote cultural exchange, but also boosted the young people’s self-confidence. The opportunity to perform what they had learnt encouraged individual development.
Challenging methods:
One-to-one meetings:
One-to-one conversations proved to be an important method for addressing participants’ individual needs and concerns. These personal discussions created a protected space for the young people in which they could open up. One-to-one conversations helped to identify individual challenges and offer targeted support.
All methods proved to be a diverse and varied programme.
5 Positive experiences and hurdles
During the implementation of the project, we were particularly proud of several aspects:
Positive experience for the children:
The opportunity to provide a positive experience for children and young people proved to be particularly significant. Travelling enabled the participants to break out of their everyday lives and discover new horizons. Through direct encounters with another culture, they not only broadened their perspectives, but also developed a deeper understanding of diversity and intercultural cooperation. For example, one young person reported after his return how visiting a historical site in Thessaloniki had awakened his interest in history and broadened his knowledge.
Good group dynamics and the young people’s own initiative:
The positive development of the group dynamic and the active involvement of the young people were outstanding successes. The participants decided on their own to prepare breakfast for the group, making crêpes together. This experience of cooking together and then washing up afterwards not only encouraged teamwork, but also created a family atmosphere in which the young people supported each other. One example of this is Luca, who showed off his musical talents during the washing up and spontaneously initiated a small jam session, which was enthusiastically received by the group.
Strengthening social skills:
Another key objective of the exchange programme was to strengthen the young people’s social skills in a targeted manner. These skills are not only important for intercultural interaction during the exchange programme, but also serve as an objective in the young people’s individual support plans. Working together in groups, joint projects and the promotion of social activities intensified the participants’ social skills.
The young people had the opportunity to share their opinions, ideas and experiences, which not only deepened interpersonal relationships but also strengthened their social skills.
This targeted promotion of social skills not only had an impact on the exchange programme, but will also be integrated into the young people’s everyday lives after their return. The strengthened social skills therefore contributed to the sustainable development of the participants.
Dance workshop and strengthening of social behaviour:
Emotions, physical development and an understanding of closeness, distance and respectful dance were central aspects of our dance workshop and the strengthening of social behaviour. In this workshop, the young people had the opportunity not only to develop their dancing skills, but also to express their emotions and advance their personal development.
The dance workshop offered an open and protected environment in which the young people could not only present the dances they had learnt, but also express their feelings through dance. This contributed to their physical development and emotional fulfilment as they expanded their expressive possibilities and found themselves in a supportive community.
A particular success of this workshop was that one participant took the initiative to organise a dance workshop at his school in Berlin after returning to Germany. This demonstrates not only individual development, but also the young people’s ability to transfer their experiences and newly acquired skills to their home context. The fact that the positive effects of the dance workshop extended beyond the international exchange underlines the lasting impact on the social behaviour and social skills of the participants.
Strengthening individual self-confidence:
The case of one young person who learnt during the exchange to clearly say ‘no’ and confidently stand up for her needs was particularly outstanding. This development was not only noticeable during the project, but was also evident after returning to everyday life. For example, she successfully stood up for her opinion at school and respected her personal boundaries, which had previously been a challenge. This example underlines the lasting impact of the exchange programme on an individual level
6 Evaluation of the youth exchange programme:
The encounter was comprehensively and carefully evaluated to both recognise the positive aspects and identify potential areas for improvement. Various tools and methods were used to do this:
Feedback round in Thessaloniki from the host:
After the meeting, a feedback round was held with the hosts. This gave the hosts the opportunity to share their perspective and reflect on their experiences as local host families. This not only provided insights into the hosts‘ perspective, but also offered the opportunity to understand any challenges or positive experiences from the host families’ point of view. The feedback from the hosts was used as an important tool to evaluate the quality of the programme and make adjustments where necessary.
After-exchange meeting with the young people:
Another means of evaluation will be a special after-exchange meeting with the young people. This meeting is already being planned. Here, the young people will have the opportunity to share their impressions, experiences and feedback directly with the leadership team. This meeting will be organised in an open and supportive environment to ensure that the young people can express their thoughts freely.
One-to-one meetings with the families after the trip:
A key part of the evaluation was one-to-one meetings with the families of the participating young people after their return. Here, the families were able to discuss their impressions, observations and possible concerns regarding the exchange. The one-to-one meetings provided space for individual reflection and promoted comprehensive support for the young people. Any challenges or positive developments could be specifically identified and addressed in this way.
Overall, these diverse evaluation methods ensured that different perspectives and experiences were incorporated into the overall assessment. This not only enabled a differentiated view of the encounter, but also promoted a continuous improvement process for future exchange programmes.
Berlin, 12.02.2024 , Tanz der Kulturen Berlin e.V.