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Europe Believes in You(th)! September 12-19, 2010
Berlin [One Year Later]
1
What is IFS?
The International Federation
of Settlements and
Neighborhood Centers (IFS)
is an association of national,
regional and local
organizations working to
strengthen communities
around the world. Its mission
is to build an inclusive global
community by empowering,
inspiring and connecting
people who are working
locally for social justice.
IFS members include multi-
purpose, community-based
organizations all over the
globe, from North America
and Europe to South America
and Asia. The organization
has a long and active history
as a network and as a
promoter of the Settlement
House movement since it
was founded in Europe.
Background
The first gathering of the IFS Youth Program took place in Berlin the week of September
12th, 2010 and was an excellent and inspirational event. Hosted by the
Nachbarschaftszentrum Ufafabrik and the Federation of Social-Cultural Work, 90
participants from Canada, the USA, Germany, Latvia, Romania, Spain, the Netherlands
and Great Britain shared their knowledge, experience, visions and dreams in three
youth projects.
Delegates were both young staff and youth participants from settlement houses. They
worked together and improved their knowledge in different workshops, built an Herb
Spiral in the Intercultural Generations Garden, formed a band of musicians in the music
workshop and built a roof for the clay stove at the children’s animal farm in the
Ufafabrik. Other workshops taught the participants how to communicate in very large
group settings. Site visits included a trip to Nachbarschaftsheim Schöneberg, city-tours,
visits to the German Parliament and the Office of the European Union.
The youth, defined as ages 18 to 25, all learned how important it is to work together on
a common activity. Even with language barriers and cultural differences, there existed a
commonality and mutual understanding.
The financing for the European participants was obtained from the European Union
through the project "Youth in Action". The project "Youth Diversity in Today's World"
was financed by the German Federal Ministry for Families, Seniors, Women and Youth.
Participating organizations also contributed to the travel and other expenses of the
young people they sent.
The IFS Board and member organizations are committed to creating more opportunities for such youth exchanges in the
future. The next opportunity will be in Stockholm, Sweden, in May 2012!
Europe Believes in You(th)! September 12-19, 2010
Berlin [One Year Later]
2
The Exchange Schedule
The working groups at the conference were based
on the needs of the participants, had a specific
work topic, and consisted of professional team
coaches and motivated young people. They were
all a mixture of professionals, clients and
volunteers. Every group worked three days in the
morning, for a total of nine hours. Participants
could choose one workshop theme for the week.
Excursions and discussions were offered in the
evenings. They covered a variety of themes and
locations, offering theoretical and practical
applications on topics including culture, social
policy and history. A highlight of this section was
visiting the German Parliament and having the
opportunity to speak with delegates.
Workshop Highlights
Dialogue: A Method for Working with Big Groups
Participants in this workshop practiced skills such
as deep listening and the ability to speak openly,
with the main goal of giving participants ideas for
how to improve the “culture of appreciation” in a
group.
“The communication workshop was my favorite because it stressed, and emphasized the need for communication and depicted the different forms of communication which we can utilize.” – Amanda Johnson, University Settlement Staff, New York, NY, USA
Europe Believes in You(th)! September 12-19, 2010
Berlin [One Year Later]
3
“Since returning to Vancouver, we have implemented five garden boxes at Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House. Next summer, we plan to build an herb spiral with our youth programs.” - Tanya Findlater, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House Staff, Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
Herb Spiral
Participants in this workshop spent valuable time outside building
an herb spiral based off ideas from permaculture, which is a
sustainable land use design. It is an approach to designing human
settlements and agricultural systems that are modeled on the
relationships found in natural ecologies.
Personal Narratives:
As we are approaching the one-year anniversary of the Europe Believes in You(th)! Exchange, the IFS staff wanted to
collect "Where are they now?" updates and personal stories from the young people who participated in the exchange.
We were curious to find out what has happened for them in the past year, if they are still in touch and what the
exchange means to them now. We spoke with Angel Sacarello, Sasha Medero, Amanda Johnson, Tina Stumpf and
Christian Cabrera from University Settlement and The Door in New York as well as Tanya Findlater from Frog Hollow
Neighbourhood House in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to get their thoughts on the exchange. We welcome
more updates from youth participants. Email [email protected] to tell us your thoughts and we’ll
share them with the entire IFS network.
1.) Did you participate in all the workshops? Which one was your favorite and why?
SM: I participated in mostly all of the workshops; my favorite
workshop was doing the herb spiral that Henry Chief oversaw. It
was my favorite workshop because it was very interactive and dealt
with the outdoors. Most importantly, it was really the epitome of
how we can all come together no matter how different people are
or geographically where people are located.
TF: I was responsible for facilitating the
communication/teambuilding workshop. I applied a group
development theory by Tuckman to the overall dynamics of
working in groups and our experiences in the youth exchange
program.
Europe Believes in You(th)! September 12-19, 2010
Berlin [One Year Later]
4
TS: I participated in the improv theater workshop. It was a great
experience to create something original with people who aren’t
from my country. They provided us with exercises that allowed
us to bond with each other, and build a comfort level with each
other that allowed us to execute whatever was thrown at us
while we were performing. The instructors I had were so
helpful, patient, and fun. I learned a lot about my ability on
stage which has helped me with my current theater
experiences.
2.) What was the biggest lesson/new idea that you took away
from the exchange?
AS: I think one of the biggest lessons I learned was to slow down. Being in Berlin was a total culture shock. I think
because I was born and raised in New York, I have a somewhat uncontrollable need to keep moving and get as much
done as fast as I can. If I’m not working, then I feel like I’m doing something wrong. Just seeing people in the streets
taking their time, and the workshops and meal times we had in the program, showed me that you get more done when
you take a minute to slow down and even stop.
SM: The biggest lesson I took from the exchange besides
being environmentally conscientious was most importantly,
how to slow down and enjoy life, especially around people
that I could learn so much from. Being a New Yorker we are
always so fast paced. When I got to Berlin and was finally
able to slow down I realized I was missing so much of the
beauty in the world as well as myself.
TS: While at the conference I felt like life was really
happening to me instead of it happening around me. I was
able to really digest every experience, and every person
around me.
CC: That we’re all the same, especially in dealing with resources and problems, I learned different solutions to these
common problems.
3.) How have you implemented what you learned in Berlin into your daily life?
AS: I think I take more time and try to examine things from all sides before I rush into them. The quality of things I
accomplish has gone up.
Europe Believes in You(th)! September 12-19, 2010
Berlin [One Year Later]
5
CC: Programmatically I do think more about the participant
experience, as opposed to just the funders’ expectations.
TF: When I returned from Berlin, I biked more to work. The social
planning there with the bike paths already built into the sidewalks
inspired me! Since our trip, Vancouver has developed more bike
paths, especially in the downtown corridor.
TS: I try my hardest to maintain that mind frame I had while in
Berlin. I took a lot of my experiences and exercises I learned there
back to New York, and back to my program. I know that in Europe they definitely appreciate time more. New York is so
fast-paced it is a day-to-day struggle sometimes to maintain that concept. But I try my hardest.
SM: Berlin was like a glue to help me patch something together that I felt was missing. After Berlin, I decided to take
more interest in myself.
4.) Are there any specific projects that you have started since returning from Berlin?
AJ: Since returning from Berlin, I have started the Word a Day project in some of my classrooms. Children learn a word a
day from seven different languages. Once they learn these words, they get to pick their favorite non-English language
and make up sentences from this language. I have also started doing Pen Pal Projects within the classrooms to help
children strengthen writing skills and written communication skills.
SM: I have started my cooking program and my Girls Group which is similar to a rite of passage for female middle school
students into womanhood. I am also trying to put something together where the students are doing outside community
service activities such as fixing up gardens or being involved in the beautification in their neighborhood.
Europe Believes in You(th)! September 12-19, 2010
Berlin [One Year Later]
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TS: I started school where I am studying art and theater
education. The most important, and life changing project I am
currently involved with is Play Tank through University
Settlement. I had the amazing experience of working with
eight other youth workers, and within eight weeks and a lot
of exercises and confronting fears, we came up with an
amazing original show, and we are going to be working
towards another show later this year. I am very proud of this
project, and I believe we could even take Play Tank to
something like IFS and it would be a success.
AS: I also participated in The Play Tank. We use the arts to express ourselves and learn new ways of helping kids express
themselves. We also help teach staff who work with youth to do the same. I have also started a video editing program
at my particular site. It’s the first one we have ever had, and now our summer camp theme is based around it. It makes
me very proud and excited that I get to teach youth and adults new skills.
5.) Has the exchange changed the way you view your future goals and the impact that you can have on others?
AS: The experience didn’t change my goals but I feel like it strengthened my decision. I love working with kids, and
having a chance to interact with so many people from around the world that have the same feelings made me feel
empowered. We learned so many things from each other, and not just about working with youth. I got to experience a
little bit of everyone’s culture and they got to experience mine.
SM: The exchange didn’t change the way I viewed
my future goals or the impact I can have on
others, however it did motivate me to want to
achieve my goals with more vigor than before. This
exchange was a much needed reflection of the
direction I want my life to go and if I am cut out for
this type of work. This exchange validated that I
can be successful.
AJ: Well, now I think about the way that my goals
can possibly help or affect my community in a
broader sense.
CC: It helped me see that the way we engage with young people is so critical. We have to approach it as a systemic issue
not just a singular event.
Europe Believes in You(th)! September 12-19, 2010
Berlin [One Year Later]
7
TF: The exchange made me realize that work can be created in
partnership with just about anyone you meet! I am excited to
work closely on more projects with other staff under the
umbrella of ANH (Association of Neighbourhood Houses of
British Columbia).
TS: It has definitely made me a more aware and imaginative
individual.
6.) Do you keep in contact with the friends you made through
the exchange?
AS: I keep in contact with 21 of the participants, through
Facebook, email and phone. Some of the participants have visited me in New York, and I have plans of going to see them
in the next few months.
TS: It’s great to know you have people all over the world who can relate to the experience you had, and it excites me to
continue friendships with them, and hopefully see them in the future.
TF: I have exchanged emails and photos with Christian Cabrera from The Door. I have also created new contacts with
other staff from other neighborhood houses in Vancouver.
7.) If given the opportunity, would you participate in another exchange program?
AJ: If an opportunity arose for me to participate in another
exchange program, I would. It was a good learning experience
for me.
AS: I would love to participate in the program again. I took so
much away from the opportunity. I learned new skills and made
great friends and contacts around the world. There is definitely
no other experience like it.
TF: The experience was amazing; it would be wonderful to
connect with the same people five to ten years from now by
hosting a conference in another city.
TS: If I was ever blessed enough again to have the opportunity to participate in another exchange program, I would drop
everything and go. It was such an amazing experience, and I would love to take the things I have learned since then to
another conference, and just be able to see other parts of the world.
Europe Believes in You(th)! September 12-19, 2010
Berlin [One Year Later]
8
Evaluations from Participants
After the exchange, staff from Nachbarschaftszentrum Ufafabrik conducted a brief survey of all the participants.
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Worst
Bad
Neutral
Good
Excellent
How did you find the workshops?
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Not at allRare
NeutralGood
Amazing
How intensive was the contact with other
participants?
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44
No
Yes
Did you learn more about other cultures during the
project?
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44
No
Yes
Did you learn something for your life and future work?
Europe Believes in You(th)! September 12-19, 2010
Berlin [One Year Later]
9
Participant Breakdown
Recent Developments
With the success of last year’s exchange in mind, the participating organizations are continually looking for new ways to
connect their youth and staff with additional exchanges on the horizon. This month the Nachbarschaftszentrum
Ufafabrik will host 30 youth workers and social workers from Sweden where they will have the chance to see the Youth
Center Spirale where the Berlin Exchange was held last year. We’re excited to announce that youth participants from
Latvia were inspired to organize the next Youth Meeting titled “Stand Up for Your Values” which is also taking place this
month, and youth from Nachbarschaftszentrum Ufafabrik will be in attendance. Currently the Nachbarschaftszentrum
Ufafabrik is housing musicians from the band “City of Glass” from Vancouver, who were recommended by Canadian
participants in last year’s exchange. Finally, this past summer, The Door hosted Christel Schultz from Mäster Olofsgården
and Ewa Melin Larsson from Fritidsforum for extended exchanges while they learned about The Door’s various programs
for young people.
In conjunction with the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers’ upcoming conference
hosted by Fritidsforum in May 2012, the Swedish settlement will have their annual youth festival of democracy titled
“Life is a Party” with approximately 600 participants. Combined with the youth in attendance for the IFS Conference,
“Democracy, Inclusion, Youth (DIY!)”, both events will draw a sizable crowd of enthusiastic young people ready to create
new friendships and international connections.
How Do You Identify Yourself?
British
Spanish
Latvian
Romanian
Dutch
American
Latin American
Asian American
Canadian
Puerto Rican
Filipino
Other