This will mean, that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and communities will no longer have access to European youth exchanges.
We are sad and angry, because the international youth exchanges have always been a chance for young people from most different backgrounds to meet and learn from each other, and grow and build friendships beyond all kinds of borders.
We must specially mention young people with only basic education, special needs, from some of the poorest communities in the UK, and who participated in Erasmus+, and benefited in extraordinary ways for many of them the Programme was a stepping stone to return to formal education and even go to university, learn a foreign language or obtain employment.
The picture above is taken at the Youth Exchange 2019 under the theme “YOUth find the power” in Liverpool. Funded by #Erasmus+, via the Erasmus+ UK National Agency in Birmingham. e.p.a. Liverpool was the host to 50 young people from the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Portugal, Bulgaria and Germany.
We are sad and angry, that once more for financial and political gains, children and young people must suffer from bad decisions.
Here, we also want to thank many of our friends, who have shared with us kind words of empathy, friendship and solidarity with our partner youth groups from Liverpool. We wish to continue and find ways on how to share and creating opportunities for and with young people from disadvantaged communities.
Youth Exchanges since 1977
Since 1977 e.p.a. has been organising Youth Exchanges with groups from the UK: in England, Scotland, North of Ireland and Wales; from 1986 co-funded by EU Youth Programmes.
Youth exchanges have create a safe places to share values of respecting, protecting and understanding each other. They were opportunities to widen their horizon and contribute as European citizens and learn to confront common challenges: nationalism, exclusion, climate change and racism.
Some generations of young people have kept these events as an impressive life experience for more than 40 years. The reciprocity between hosts and guests made e.p.a. youth exchanges especially valuable.Taking the support for these opportunities away from young people NOW, is a big insult to the aims of our network and a stark challenge for international youth work beyond.
About 2021
Despite the discomfort and senselessness that Brexit has caused, we still live in hope: We want to confirm for all groups and partners involved, especially our dear friends from Liverpool, that – when Corona permitting – you will be able to participate in the International youth exchanges in Slovenia and Germany, as the contracts with the EU had been agreed in 2020. The planned Training Seminar, hosted in Liverpool, will not be affected by the UK government’s nasty decision either, as it is supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg!
Town hall reception during an International Youth Exchange in Liverpool 1988
Town hall reception during an International Youth Exchange in Liverpool 1988
Artwork @ Youth Exchange 1999 in Liverpool
arrival of participants in Liverpool 2008
Happy Liverpool memories – Youth Exchange 2004 in Liverpool
Hosting City Liverpool in 2008
Visiting the Merseyside Maritime Museum with participants from Europe, South America, the Carribean and Africa
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