International Exchange
"Look at The Same……. And See Different" August 2023
From 19th to 28th of August, we, participants from Tarptautinis bendradarbiavimo centras, VŠĮ, had the opportunity to take part in the Youth Exchange "Look at the same... And see different", in Arrouquelas, Rio Maior, Portugal. The hosting organization, "H2O" Associação de Jovens de Arrouquelas, with 26 years of history, hosted us in a camp and
organized a program of activities that were connected with the topic, gender equality, financed and supported by Erasmus +.
The main objective was to bring together 60 young people from 11
different European countries: Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Hungary,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain, with
diverse cultural backgrounds but with common interests to share
knowledge and learn about the topic of gender equality, discrimination
and social inclusion.
Also, this exchange has defined other objectives that are generally
intertwined with the objectives of the Erasmus + program itself, namely:
to explore gender equity and inequality in youth work realities; to
explore sectoral policies that reflect and address the special needs of
young people living in rural areas; to share non-formal learning
activities and creative exercises for the roles of socially designated
patterns of behavior; to promote the Erasmus + Program as a tool for
gender equity and equality; to promote dialogue between participants
from different countries in order to promote mutual understanding and
tolerance; to increase young people's knowledge about gender equality in
different dimensions; to learn to respect each opinion and deconstruct
stereotypes by conducting assessment and discussion with young people
from other countries.
The Organization "H2O" also cooperates with the Non-Formal Education
Center, located in the village of Marmeleira, which provided a game with
the same topic as a project.
Together, a group of 60 young people from various European program countries, each with their unique cultural backgrounds but united by a common interest in sharing knowledge and addressing the topics of gender equality, discrimination, and social inclusion, achieved their goals and completed their tasks. The challenge of gender equality persists in European countries, with discrimination against women often concealed by cultural norms, making it a relevant but overlooked issue in many places.
Gender discrimination takes on numerous forms and varies in its severity. Through this youth exchange program, our aim was to engage in a meaningful dialogue with young people about gender equality and gender roles within their social environments. We sought to challenge their diverse perceptions of the roles of men and women in the modern world and throughout history. We firmly believed that non-formal education provided a valuable tool for discussing these topics in an intercultural context, helping young participants recognize that, despite differing values, we could build bridges between various social groups, fostering mutual understanding.
This local project inspired us to expand our efforts and give this important theme an international dimension. We were eager to involve national partners in this initiative. To enhance gender equality between women and men, we recognized the importance of combating stereotypes that limit the full potential of both genders, whether in the workplace or in the distribution of caregiving responsibilities within households. In many families, there still exists a significant division of labor based on gender.
What made this project unique was the use of camping and cantonment as the backdrop for these discussions. This approach had garnered positive feedback from our partners in previous projects. The key indices identified in this theme included work, money, knowledge, time, power, and health, with an additional satellite domain focusing on violence against women.
In conclusion, the collaborative effort of these 60 young individuals from diverse backgrounds demonstrated that when we come together to address issues related to gender equality, we can create a brighter future with improved mutual understanding and more inclusive societies. We are excited to continue our work on this critical topic and expand our reach with the involvement of national partners.
organized a program of activities that were connected with the topic, gender equality, financed and supported by Erasmus +.
The main objective was to bring together 60 young people from 11
different European countries: Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Hungary,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain, with
diverse cultural backgrounds but with common interests to share
knowledge and learn about the topic of gender equality, discrimination
and social inclusion.
Also, this exchange has defined other objectives that are generally
intertwined with the objectives of the Erasmus + program itself, namely:
to explore gender equity and inequality in youth work realities; to
explore sectoral policies that reflect and address the special needs of
young people living in rural areas; to share non-formal learning
activities and creative exercises for the roles of socially designated
patterns of behavior; to promote the Erasmus + Program as a tool for
gender equity and equality; to promote dialogue between participants
from different countries in order to promote mutual understanding and
tolerance; to increase young people's knowledge about gender equality in
different dimensions; to learn to respect each opinion and deconstruct
stereotypes by conducting assessment and discussion with young people
from other countries.
The Organization "H2O" also cooperates with the Non-Formal Education
Center, located in the village of Marmeleira, which provided a game with
the same topic as a project.
Together, a group of 60 young people from various European program countries, each with their unique cultural backgrounds but united by a common interest in sharing knowledge and addressing the topics of gender equality, discrimination, and social inclusion, achieved their goals and completed their tasks. The challenge of gender equality persists in European countries, with discrimination against women often concealed by cultural norms, making it a relevant but overlooked issue in many places.
Gender discrimination takes on numerous forms and varies in its severity. Through this youth exchange program, our aim was to engage in a meaningful dialogue with young people about gender equality and gender roles within their social environments. We sought to challenge their diverse perceptions of the roles of men and women in the modern world and throughout history. We firmly believed that non-formal education provided a valuable tool for discussing these topics in an intercultural context, helping young participants recognize that, despite differing values, we could build bridges between various social groups, fostering mutual understanding.
This local project inspired us to expand our efforts and give this important theme an international dimension. We were eager to involve national partners in this initiative. To enhance gender equality between women and men, we recognized the importance of combating stereotypes that limit the full potential of both genders, whether in the workplace or in the distribution of caregiving responsibilities within households. In many families, there still exists a significant division of labor based on gender.
What made this project unique was the use of camping and cantonment as the backdrop for these discussions. This approach had garnered positive feedback from our partners in previous projects. The key indices identified in this theme included work, money, knowledge, time, power, and health, with an additional satellite domain focusing on violence against women.
In conclusion, the collaborative effort of these 60 young individuals from diverse backgrounds demonstrated that when we come together to address issues related to gender equality, we can create a brighter future with improved mutual understanding and more inclusive societies. We are excited to continue our work on this critical topic and expand our reach with the involvement of national partners.