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Free to Move … ?

The right to freedom of movement is guaranteed for all EU citizens …

 

The right to freedom of movement is guaranteed for all EU citizens, legally (Article 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).

In reality, enjoying this freedom is far away for many young people in many places in Europe. Facing hurdles and hindrances, often blocked by angst and fears, they feel rather ‘stuck’ than free. They experience exclusion in many ways, lack of access to education and opportunities, lack of money, means and papers. And those, who were forced to move as refugees, often carry heavy backpacks full of what they have gone through, sufferings with borders and barriers.

However, there are committed citizens, who create conditions and confidence for some light in such deprived and neglected neighbourhoods. Working and playing with young people, they care for their rights in small social community centres, offering awareness and alternatives.

The e.p.a. network has grown over the past 40 years with such initiatives.

Together with our partners, who were prepared to be hosts, e.p.a. could invite youth groups to celebrate International Youth Exchanges: During 2 weeks, 60 young people live and learn together, experience social justice and discover how it feels to be – physically, mentally and socially – ‘free to move’. For many it is the first time they travel voluntarily.

The EU Youth programme Erasmus+ provides funding for such European encounters with a special emphasis on supporting ‘social inclusion’.

To give insights in the concepts of these unique projects and to encourage youth workers to create such precious opportunities with and for young people, we created a video with interviews, with youth workers and participants.

To illustrate those important experiences, we created Photo documentations of 2 International Youth Exchanges in 2023, hosted by partners in Portugal and Germany …

Book-Free-to-move_IYEx-DE-2023_collated_compressed
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Book-Free-to-move_IYEx-PT-2023_collated_compressed
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… and added comments and conclusions of Participants.

Partic_comments_IYex-Portugal-23
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related to

Don’t look away – Let’s take a first step …!

Youth Exchange 2023 in Tettenborn, Hamburg

Let’s open windows para novas esperanças

Youth Exchange 2023 in Serra de Estrela, Lisboa

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