The Fire of Life - youth exchange from 15 th to 21 st of July 2018 - - PDF document

“The Fire of Life” - youth exchange

from 15th to 21st of July 2018 in Romania (Măguri Răcătău), near Cluj-Napoca with young people from Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus

PROJECT CT PRESENTATION FOR INSPIRATION

GENERAL INFORMATION The Fire of Life was an international youth exchange that aimed at increasing the capacity of 26 young people to realize their potential in order to become active citizens and strong professionals. The project had the following objectives:

• 1. To expand the levels of awareness and understanding of their own values, passions

and talents for 26 young people.

• 2. To increase the levels of employability skills (life skills) for 26 young people.
• 3. To develop the employability attitudes, resilience and grit, of 26 young people.
• 4. To develop the personal, professional and social sense of initiative and

entrepreneurial spirit among 26 young people. COORDINATING ORGANIZATION Dreams for Life, Romania Dreams for Life is a youth organization from Romania, which

• perates in Cluj-Napoca. Our organization unites young adults

and youth that are passionate about personal and community development. Our mission is to support youth for following their true meaning in life, being in strong connection with nature and living in sustainable communities. (www.dreamsforlife.ro)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION The project will bring together 33 persons:

• From Romania: 10 youth and 3 leaders
• From Bulgaria: 8 youth and 2 leaders
• From Cyprus: 8 youth and 2 leaders

WHO PARTICIPATED

• \
• Young people from Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
• Each participant was between 18 and 25 years old (with some exceptions).
• Speaking English was not a condition for participation, but it was helpful to have at

least a basic level of communication in English.

• Each person who wanted to participate in the project had to fill in an application.

Criteria for selection:

• Personal motivation to participate (the persons should have been very

motivated to participate).

• The international experience until now (the youth who have less

international experience had priority in the selection). APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE The youth who wanted to participate in this youth exchange had to fill in the application form available at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOnkig1w9WeIIkF63XFm3aLBjZORo_XjzjPFTjYv tBhFjJfg/viewform?c=0&w=1 THE LEARNING AND PREPARATION PROCESS We wanted to create a learning process which will lead to a bigger impact in the development of the participants. Thus, we created a three phase process which is described below:

• 1. PREPARATION PHASE

In the preparation phase the participants attended several meetings with the leaders, in order to get task related instructions, inter-cultural and linguistic preparation.

• 2. THE YOUTH EXCHANGE

During the mobility the participants got involved in non-formal activities and interactive methods such as: team-building games, group games, nature

• bservations, hikes, research, reflection groups, energizers, peer to peer work,

workshops, debates, presentations, brainstorming, self-discovery workshops (passions, talents, multiple intelligence), practice activities etc.

• 3. FOLLOW-UP PHASE

In the follow-up phase the participants worked in the national groups to continue the learning process that was developed during the exchange. METHODOLOGY This youth exchange was organized within the context of Non-Formal Education (NFE) and experiential learning. This means that we had an active, participatory, non-academic

• approach. What you give is what you get!

We expected that participants share their knowledge and their own expertise and actively contribute in the program, exchange experiences, build together experiences and share feelings and opinions. Important part of the program is the connection with nature and experiencing outdoors. INTERCULTURAL EVENING Each group will had the chance to present its national culture. Each national group chose the way of presenting its own culture. We recommended something interactive and participative such as sharing dances, music, stories, a quiz, sharing food and drinks (non- alcoholic), games etc.

WHEN AND WHERE? Dates: 15-21 July 2018

• 15th of July, in the morning - arrival day
• from 16th until 20th July – activities (5

full days)

• 21stof July, in the evening – departure

day Location: La Ionel guest house, in the village Măguri Răcătău (45 km from Cluj-Napoca).

• The youth exchange took place in a natural area, in the Carpathian Mountains, with few houses
• around. The place was located 2-3 km from the village center.
• The location offered simple living conditions and working together as a community (cooking,

cleaning, making fire etc.) was necessity as well as a pleasure.

THE PROGRAM OF THE YOUTH EXCHANGE

15.07 Day 1-16.07 Day 2 – 17.07 Day 3-18.07 Day 4-19.07 Day 5-20.07 21.07 Introduction Life Skills for Initiative and Subject/ Arrival Life Skills for Self- employability

Departur

e &

entrepreneuria

l

Timetable

Day

employability

discovery

and initiative

day

Teambuildin

g spirit day 08.30 Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast /09.30 Circle of Circle of Circle of Circle of Circle of 09.30-

connection/

connection/ connection/ connection/ connection/ 10.00

community

community community community community service service service service service Official Cooperation My values Initiative and Exploring

• pening

and team work

and social enterprise. Erasmus+ Aims/

Group games authenticity Identifying the

Programme 10.00 Program and outdoor needs

Expectations

activities Run for Creating the /11.30 values personal project 11.30/12.00 Break Break Break Break Break Learning Expanding Europe got Initiative and My needs

creativity and

talent

• enterprise. development

Learning plan communication Together we and Youthpass 12.00/13.30 Youthpass

Improvisation

are stronger and key

and storytelling

competences 13.30/15.30 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Get to know My passions Developing Developing Action plan and each other emotional the personal My talents skills and personal/group commitment 15.30/17.00

Building the

My gifts emotional initiatives/ group

intelligence

The community of

change makers

17.00/17.30 Break Break Break Break Break What is Multiple Developing My future Closing and The Fire of intelligences leadership career evaluation Life My ideal job 17.30/19.00 Exploring What is my nature and Element

learning from

it 19.00/19.30 Mindfulness Mindfulness Mindfulness Mindfulness Mindfulness

REFLECTION

REFLECTION

REFLECTION REFLECTION

REFLECTION 19.30/21.00 Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Welcome Games Intercultural Intercultural Intercultural Good bye 21.00

evening

evening – evening evening evening ceremony having fun Romania Bulgaria Cyprus

THE ACTIVITIES AND METHODS THAT WE DID DURING THE YOUTH EXCHANGE Presentations of concepts and theoretical input, such as: emotional intelligence, multiple intelligence etc. Rock balancing and stone bridges Journaling and self-reflections questions

Teambuilding and group work activities. Cooperation games Individual presentations and public speaking

Embodiment and creative expression through the body Intercultural evenings: presentations, dances, music, games, sharing food and drinks, quizzes etc. Sports, movement, competitions and active games

Nature explorations, hike, nature observation, discovering the natural area Fire making for developing practical skills, cooperation, perseverance, nature connection Group work, discussions and self-evaluation

Material developed by www.dreamsforlife.ro The material was developed with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.