Within the framework of YMCA Europe “Roots for Peace” Project, YMCA Netherlands will bring together around 40 young people from across the European Continent and beyond to celebrate 75 years of freedom and to express their own opinion about related topics. They will discuss their personal and national memories, rethink the present analyzing the past events and learn how to maintain peace and avoid conflicts.

Why

We believe that multicultural dialogue is undoubtedly important, especially now when dozens of conflicts are raging in many parts of the world. By letting young people with totally different background to hear and to be heard, we want to encourage youth cooperation and shared learning upon how to apply the past and the present for building a better common future.

Who

The young people (18-25 years old) from Netherlands, Belarus, Germany, Russia, Canada, Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Scotland, France and Ireland

When

The exchange will take place from April 30th to May 7th, 2022.

Where

YMCA Camp Leusden, the Netherlands

How

Via joint commemorative events and special workshops youngsters will gain unique experience by meeting the witnesses and sharing their families’ stories. Being a part of international group will enable them to learn about other cultures and foster tolerance towards each other.

They will have the opportunity to express their own opinions about such acute topics as war and peace, national and collective memory and learn how to tackle sensitive issues and avoid conflicts. And of course, international exchange is a great opportunity to show their hidden talents and boost creativity and open-mindedness.

During this week-long youth exchange, participants will do a wide array of activities. Central in these is the theme of commemoration and ways of dealing with the past. This includes active participation in various activities that cohere the commemoration of World War Two and its painful legacy.

Starting point for this is the comparison of different cultures of remembrance at the Former Soviet Cemetery in Leusden, the Netherlands.

This exchange will include a tour at the Former-Soviet Cemetery of Leusden (date to be decided) and a commemorative meeting at the same place (May 3rd), the ceremony of Remembrance of the Fallen in the Netherlands (May 4th) and the Liberation Day activities (May 5th).

There will be space to discuss difficult topics like remembrance, narratives of war and peace and peacebuilding. The exchange aims to bring the participants closer together by having them experience and discuss the importance of peace and reconciliation.

There will also be time for reflection, for games and intercultural activities. It is important that participants from all countries get the opportunity the show their own habits and customs, while learning about the customs of other countries.

Following to the postponement of this project a small international project group has worked to give shape to the project in anticipation of the youth exchange. This spin- off project is named World by Word and will explorer the power of stories.

The Consortium is formed by YMCA’s from the Netherlands, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Armenia, France, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, LEB Germany and YMCA Europe’s Roots for Peace.

The full infoletter is available here

Do you want to know more? Contact Jonathan van Varik at Jonathan@ymca.nl

“Then, Now and Later: Together Towards a Composite Memory” Youth exchange is co financed by the Erasmus+ Programme.