Funding of International Youth Exchanges

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Funding of International Youth Exchanges What can be funded? Who can be funded? The most important funding instrument of the German government for national and international youth policy ist he children and youth plan of the federation. Central Offices of youth assistance receive global funding for international exchange programs. They autonomously decide about the awarding of these funds regarding the guidelines of the children and youth plan of the federation. Aims International youth policy supports and funds programs of meeting and collaboration of youths and skilled persons of youth assistance. It allows getting to know other countries and cultures. The aim is the development of mutual understanding, the reduction of prejudices and critical reflections of ones own point of view. The most important funding instrument of the German government for national and international youth policy ist he children and youth plan of the federation. Central task of international youth work within the children and youth plan of the federation is funding and supporting of extracurricular meeting and exchange programs for youths and young adults in Germany and abroad (age 12 to 26, age restriction not valid for guides and skilled persons programs). Contacts between youths from different countries shall contribute to raise mutual understanding, intercultural learning, to excercise tolerance and openess, to support the growing together of Europe and to comprehend the own responsibility for the creation of a peaceful and fair world. Guidelines of the children and youth plan The guidelines of the children and youth plan of the federation from December 19, 2000 advance proven, and furthermore create new, main topics. New funding goals like strenghtening of competence in media or development and chances of young people in troubled neighborhoods are implemented into the children and youth plan. Tasks of special relevance like equal rights, gender mainstreaming, concerns of handicapped persons, promotion of a democratic value awareness and the strenghtening of intercultural thinking will have to be considered as cross-section-tasks in all programs of the children and youth plan in the future. The designated possibilities of easements of the application procedure and the implementation of so called real fixed ammounts will reduce the administration effort considerably. Specialities of youth exchanges with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) For journeys into the CIS one needs a visa. Furthermore the passport of the travelling persons has to have a validity period of at least six months beyond the time of the jurney. Please ensure to apply for visas timely. While applying for the visa make sure to point out that the meeting with the other group is part of a bilateral youth exchange. Different consulates handle the conferring of visas differently. For journeys to the Russian Federation as well as from there to Germany there will not be taken fees for the conferring of visas from participants of youth exchanges. But there can be administrative charges. German-Russian youth exchange For journeys to Russia the passport has to be valid at least six months beyond the time of travel. The closing of a health ensurance for abroad with a German company licensed in Russia is essential. A list of licensed companies is available in Russian consulates. The Russian partner has to initiate the formal procedure of invitation with Russian authorities timely. A written invitation for the German partner is not sufficiently. German-Ukrainian youth exchange An application of remission for visas with remark of the German-Ukrainian youth exchange in the official invitation of the partner group is to be made respectively. One has once again to apply for the remission when applying for the visa.
What can be funded? – Program criteria
International youth work is taking place on all parts of youth assistance – political, cultural, social und sportive youth education. The programs have to fulfill certain educational and youth political requirements. Each action (content of program, schedule etc.) has to be discussed with the foreign partner und include common activities with foreighn youths. The program has to inform especially about target group, educational goals, working methods and topics. The exchange program have to be build up according to the principles of mutuality. That means an exchange relationship with a foreign partner organization that is designed to create programs in Germany and abroad shall exist or ist to be aspired. Actions overseas have to be justified seperately. Preparation and postprocessing are the precondition for being funded. The emerged costs have to be specified seperately. This may assure that participants will adequately prepare for the action and will deal with the hosting country, its people, culture and language or prepare for hosting foreign people respectively. The youths should be involved in planning the action. Youths have to work on their experiences made before and during the action. Every participants shall reflect on the personal use coming from the action.
No funding from the children and youth plan of the federation
The following actions cannot be funded Round trips, even if groups are folk groups, choires or youth orchestras Trips with mainly a touristic character Music festivals Town or regional twinning
What will be funded? Participating preconditions
Funding from the children and youth plan of the federation are designed for non-commercial central organisations of youth welfare service and its suborganisations. Within the GWBY that includes all its province federations and their associated clubs. The club applies for funding at the GWBY (being the central organisation) via its province federation. The youth exchange may happen in Germany or abroad. It is always a bilateral meeting. The quantity of youths of both partners shall be even. International youth exchanges shall last at least 5 not exceding 30 days (arrival and departure day not included) . Participants of international youth exchanges should be at least 12 years old and not older than 26 years. If participants are younger than 12 years the group cannot be funded. The number of participating guides or leaders should be appropriate to the number of participants all in all. It is especially recommended that youths with migration background take part.
How much is the funding? Funding guidelines
Funding for international youth exchanges will strictly be given as partial funding in fixed ammounts. For journey abroad a subsidy for the transportation costs can awarded. Costs for room or board in the foreign country cannot be awarded. For programms with foreign youths in Germany daily rates can be given.
How to apply? Application procedure
Youth organisations apply for funding at the central youth organisation (GWBY for all member orchestras and music clubs). If the youth group is not associated with a central youth organisation they have to contact the local authorities (youth welfare office of town or region). Local authorities can transfer the applications to the supreme province youth authority.