Case Study No 2

Callan Youth Action Group, Ireland, did an exchange with Ovenden Youth Centre, West Yorkshire, UK. The exchange took place in Ovenden in West Yorkshire.

The Grant Awarded was Euro1435.

Background: The UK partner visited Ossary diocese youth group and proposed making contact with young people in the area. The visit was proposed to the young people in the group who initially responded with some reservations and prejudice. The young people in the partner group had similar reservations and prejudice. The visit was facilitated by the leaders and was a very positive experience for all involved. Barriers were broken and the young people were eager to be involved in an exchange.

Development of the Exchange Idea: The idea for the exchange came out of the visit by the group from Ovenden. Initially leaders on both sides were alerted to the negative prejudices held by a lot of young people from each organisation prior to the onset of the visit last year. The results of the visit were that the young people developed a sense of understanding of each other and had their stereotypes broken down. This positive result added to the genuine interests of the young people in developing relationships between the groups and exploring further similarities and differences in their cultures led to the development an exchange.

Preparation: In order to participate in the exchange, each member going was asked to sign a contract agreeing to partake in the planning and organisation of the exchange. Each member had to agree to be part of planning committees for the trip. In agreeing to this, they also agreed to work to the best of their ability on these committees, for their benefit, for the benefit of others on the exchange and for the exchange as a whole. The young people learned allot, especially learning to work together, the leaders were very pleased at the way each committee gelled and produced results.

Programme of Activities: While provisional time tables were drafted and presented to the group from both sides, each member taking part had an input as to what they felt would be of benefit and interest to the exchange and to the partner group. This resulted in a varied and wide ranging programme that all members have had an input in.

The Exchange Itself: The aim of the exchange was for the 2 groups to compare and contrast "What it is like to be me, where I live?". The programme included facilitated workshops on different themes and social and cultural trips The themes of the workshops were: Tradition and Culture, Political and Natural History, Building Friendships, and allowing the young people to think and ask questions which would help the to learn more about their previously held Irish V English prejudice and understand how to get past it as young people.

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