The project XCHANGE 2.0 finished after two and a half years – new practice in International Voluntary Service movement established: exchange of international leaders of workcamps

14/6/2020

The project XCHANGE 2.0 finished on 14/6/2020 after 18 months. It was supported within the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission, KA2 Capacity building in the field of youth. It gathered 13 organisations. 11 partners are members of Alliance of European Voluntary Service organisations and one (Croma, Italy) brought an added value to the project with its specific profile of members – documentary film makers / youth workers. The involvement of the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations as a strategic partner assured a wider impact on the network’s policy level and wider dissemination of results, but also assured certified trainers in non-formal education with expertise in trainings of youth leaders in IVS projects.
The project XCHANGE is inter-related and co-financed with the project “National youth volunteering programme YOUTH RULES 2019” supported by the Ministry for youth and sport of the Republic of Serbia.

During 2019, 35 youth leaders came through the XCHANGE project to practice their skills of leading international groups of volunteers in volunteer workcamps in small communities across 8 involved countries. Their story has been told with a new form of documentary, web doc: www.youthleaders.online whose videos are subtitled in English, Serbian, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, German, French, Slovakian and Czech.

As a promotional tool, this web documentary has become a common tool to all 50 Alliance members.

Workcamp is a 100 years old tool of youth participation to intercultural dialogue and peace and a unique and life-changing experience. This project piloted a new practice in IVS movement – exchange of international leaders, which will support workcamps to stay relevant and recognized among young activists for its immense impact to all actors involved in its realization across 1500+ local communities worldwide.