Youth workers from various regions of the UK and Germany gathered for the seminar. All of them are working on different levels of the youth work system and deal with target groups that are not always that similar. But they have one goal that unites them: More UK-German exchange!
With this goal in mind, the youth workers approached the event and its various elements with great motivation, and were given the opportunity to an in-depth exchange, both on a professional and personal level. Christina Gerlach and Ute Paetzig opened the event on behalf of UK-German Connection, followed by practical exercises to overcome language barriers. Under a blue, sunny sky the seminar participants got familiar with each other in a playful way, and learned a few words in English, German and Welsh, using various techniques of language animation.
The event offered specific contents to prepare participants for upcoming programme points. Apart from general topics like targets, outcomes and barriers to international youth exchanges, it also included UK-German specific traits of youth and youth worker exchanges. Key notes by experts, such as Dan Moxon, Director of People Dialogue and Change, as well as workshop units on “managing international partnerships”, “safeguarding and risk management”, and “engaging diverse target groups of young people” increased the participants’ awareness towards specific needs within UK-German exchange activities.
