Programme & action: ERASMUS+, Key Action 1: youth exchange
Youth exchange venue: Laulasmaa, Estonia
APV (advance planning visit) dates: 19 – 20 June 2016
APV venue: Tallinn, Estonia
Youth exchange dates: 18 – 28 July 2016
Participants: Adéla Kalusová, Lýdia Rosová, Petr Holeček, Sebastián Čarek, Tereza Márová
Group leader: Jiří Guth Jarkovský
Please read the info-pack
Participating countries: Estonia, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Italy, Turkey
Hosting organisation: MTÜ SHIA
Project report:
In the middle of the Estonian forest, close to seaside, 30 young and motivated people gather to look deeply into the problematic of refugees. Thanks to diverse activities during the project we had a chance to explore different aspects of migration and current refugee crisis, learn how to debate and also to make new friendships.
The program started with a simulation game. We acted as refugees in the middle of the war – we had to flee our homes, when bombarding started and go through other situations which refugees face. Then we also had a unique chance to meet and talk to refugees who ended up in Estonia – in Vao refugee center. These people talked about escaping their countries and desire for peace.
During all the workshops we dealt with other topics of migration – internally displaced people or stateless people. The Czech team was having a lecture on the situation in Syria and Eritrea, very interesting was also workshop on media and its depiction of refugees. Thanks to participants from different countries, we were able to compare our situations and diverse attitudes to the issue. About Estonian refugee policy we have discovered more during the visit of Ministry of Social Affairs in Tallinn. As a follow-up, every national team was writing a letter to a politician to express concern on the topic.
Another part of the project focused on practical skills. First, we learnt what debating is and how to come up with own correct arguments. Then, we were supposed to prepare our own workshop targeted on young audience to help them improve their critical thinking.
What also contributed to the great atmosphere during the project was a beautiful and hot weather – so untypical for Estonia. We spent the whole days outside, in breaks we run to the beach or played football or volleyball. The most popular activities were national evenings, when each country showed a piece from its culture and cuisine. Especially these free time activities contributed to multicultural exchange. We got to know each other, talked about our lives in our countries, our experience, achievements and objectives. Every person was very inspirational. As so, Laulasmaa in Estonia became our new home sweet home.
Lýdia Rosová
