We wanted to deliver this project as the majority of young people we engage through Holywood Family Trust have significant barriers to meeting people outside of their own communities within a Northern Ireland context and further afield. An objective of this project was to help us address these barriers by providing more opportunities for young people. Having opportunities to meet other young people who do not come from the same community as they do, do not have the same experiences as them or who come from a different country to them; will have a life-long impact on these young people. We have witnessed this through previous international youth exchanges, and this was a key driving factor for this project. The key objectives and outcomes we wanted to achieve by implementing this project included: - Providing opportunities for a diverse range of young people to meet each other and build significant relationships while learning more about themselves, other people and Europe - Developing the skills and understanding to be active citizens within their local communities, who are willing and able to make positive contributions - Significantly enhancing young people's leadership capacity so that they have the confidence and ability to take responsibility for their personal contributions to society - Constructively exploring issues that are relevant to young people, through inter-cultural dialogue, to enable them to make their own informed opinions. - Skills development among the participants and youth leaders including inter-personal, confidence and self-esteem, leadership, group work facilitation, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, ability to review, planning, preparation etc. - Cooperation between youth organisation and youth workers across Europe that will include sharing of best practice, learning from each other, understanding of new methodologies. Beyond the project this will improve the standard of youth work in both regions. We wanted this project to create opportunities for new connections between young people and for them to engage in something positive. We wanted to provide an opportunity for both groups of young people to reflect on the situations in their home countries, outside of their everyday environment. An objective of this project was to create hope among young people at a time when it is seriously lacking in NI, particularly against the political stalemate that currently exists and the out-playing of BREXIT, which are cumulatively creating an atmosphere of tension, removing hope and has the potential to incite violence. The partnership with the organisation in Berlin, was another reason why we wanted to realise this project. As our partnership has built and progressed, we have got to know each other and discovered that we share similar values around how to work with young people and how they should be treated. This was essential in motivating us to take on this project. In Schreberjugend Berlin we have found a partner we can trust and has integrity, who will deliver high quality youth work which achieves learning outcomes. Without this we would not have taken on such a project as the learning from young people would be compromised. Our previous experience of working together throughout 2019 and the outcomes this achieved for the young people involved, was a further reason for wanting to deliver this project. The key issues we planned to address through the project are listed below. From talking to young people and previous youth exchanges we are aware these are areas young people have opinions on and a desire to learn more about, especially with their peers and international young people. - How young people can play an effective leadership role within society - Conflict and history within both areas and the personal and local impact - Role of young people within peace-building and leading change in society - BREXIT and the future of Europe; how we can remain connected and cooperate - Personal, national and international identity and culture - How to personally deal with difference and diversity in society in a more positive way - Inter cultural dialogue and learning on pertinent issues to young people - Awareness of environmental issues and what young people can do. Meeting the needs of young people was a key objective of this project. These needs are critical to meet for young people who are transitioning into adulthood. - Creating relationship that are secure, stable and positive - Providing new experiences that promote personal growth - Recognising the good in young people and the positive role they can play in society - Giving responsibility to young people for their own and others learning.