Action in Eco Direction

Project Number: 2018-1-LV02-KA105-002048

Location: Cottage - park "Slavna", Okhtyrka, Sumy region, Ukraine

Who: youth 18 - 25 y.o. from Latvia, Italy, Czech Republic, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine

Group: 6 young people + 1 group leader (no age limits) representing each partner organization.

International project “Action in ECO Direction” is aimed to promote eco-responsible behavior, active citizenship and sense of initiative of young people.The international youth exchange in Ukraine is the second part of the bigger project “Action in ECO direction”, where youth workers and youth from different cultural backgrounds will meet and experience non-formal and informal learning in intercultural environment.

There are 2 interconnected youth exchanges within the project: first in Latvia 16-25 June, 2018, and the second in Ukraine – 03-12 September, 2018.

Young people from 6 countries will get together and learn about the most important environmental problems and risks exist in their countries and the whole Europe. Participants will discover the place of an individual in the pollution and how an individual can influence to make the situation better.

• to provide to young people with deeper knowledge about environmental protection;
• to analyze environmental challenges in the participating countries and in the wider context, and to look for solutions on different levels;
• to promote responsible and eco-friendly behavior among young people;
• to promote active citizenship of young people, esp. in the field of environmental protection;
• to promote inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities through providing them opportunities to participate on the equal level in the international youth project;
• to promote diversity, intercultural dialogue and tolerance between young people from different countries through sharing, learning and working together in the international team;
• to promote sense of initiative of young people through working on the solutions to the global issues and organizing own community actions;
• to promote international cooperation between youth organisations in the sphere of non-formal education of young people through working together on the international project.
  

• young people of 18 - 25 years old with fewer opportunities;
  
• 6 young people + 1 group leader representing each partner organization;
  
• coming from Armenia, Italy, Moldova, Latvia, Czech Republic and Ukraine;
  
• interested in the ecological issues and environmental protection;
  
• motivated to participate actively in the project;
  
• motivated to share the experience reached during the project in their communities and use the achieved knowledge on practice.

• Kulturas biedriba “Alternativa Realitate” (Latvia);
  
• Center for Euroinitiatives (Ukraine);
  
• International Center for Agribuisness Research and Education (Armenia);
• Evropske Centrum Mladeze Breclav Z. S.Sindesmos Sistima Kai Genia (Czeck Republic);
  
• Associazione Attiva-Mentet (Italy);
• EU Misc Moldova (Moldova)

You can download the draft of the programme. It is flexible and everyone can contribute in it. The programme of the youth exchange will be facilitated by all the project team, group leaders and participants. We expect active participation of every participant to make this youth exchange a great and useful experience!

If you need any additional information about the programme, schedule or activities, contact Iryna Novak iryna.novak.cei@gmail.com

For the better implementation of the project, there are some tasks to do at home, so as soon as your group will be collected, you can start the preparation.

The non-formal learning approach intends equal involvement of all participants with the contribution to the learning process. The second part of the project will be dedicated to the creative upcycling - reusing discarded objects or material in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.

Therefore, some preparation before the project is required.

1. The product of the project will be upcycling exhibition, each group is asked to propose the idea for the workshop to conduct with the participants. Describe your idea in such a way:

· Title;

· Materials needed for 1 product;

· Number of participants for the workshop (minimum 12);

· Short description;

· Picture.

Group leaders, post your idea to the FB group till August 10th. The materials for the workshops should be easy collected and the idea should be easily implemented.

2. Each group is proposed to make the research how the waste management is organized in your country. For that you need:

- to have some data;

- know main mechanisms of dealing with waste;

- to search for the best practices of reusing, reducing, recycling and upcycling.

You do not need to make PPT or any other presentation, just collect the information. On one of the sessions the format of the presentation will be proposed to the groups, each group will prepare the presentation and we will discuss them.

3. Some preparation is needed for the intercultural nights. We plan to two intercultural nights:

Intercultural Karaoke Night:

- You are welcomed to prepare TWO songs for intercultural karaoke. The text of the songs should be in transliteration, as all the participants will sing them.

Food and Drinks Night

- We propose each country to present traditional food and drinks. There will be a unique format of presentation. Bring traditional in your countries food, smacks, cookies, sweets and drinks.

4. Each group is proposed to make a short video about the project. For that find one person form your group who will be responsible for this part of the programme. At the end of the project your video should be posted in the FB group.

5. During the project the will be the opportunity to add the information to the blog of the project. Think about the approach of your group to blog writing.

6. Souvenirs: Each participant needs to bring 1 souvenir from your country 7 in total from each group. There will be a special activity in the project where you will have the chance to exchange the souvenirs.

All the participants will have the opportunity to get the updates about the project, contact with other participants, find the news and photos of the youth exchange and read announcements in the Facebook group "Action in Eco Direction. Part II".

You can also check the FB group from the previous part in Latvia for the best memories and more information

Venue: Cottage - park "Slavna" Okhtyrka, Sumy region, Ukraine

Accommodation: All the participants will be lodged in mixed groups 3 people in a room.

Food: All the participants will be provided by three meals and two coffee-breaks per day. You are kindly asked to inform organizers about food restrictions, allergies, food habits and needs (vegetarian, vegan etc) till August 15th.

Working language: English.

Internet Access: Free WIFI is available at the venue.

Plugs: The type of the plugs in Ukraine is European. Make sure that you have adapters for your electrical devises.

Must-bring things

• an alarm clock;
• any dictionaries you might require;
• comfortable and warm clothes;
• personal first aid kit;
• swimming suite;
• raincoat or umbrella

Money: The official national currency of Ukraine is hryvnya (UAH). Euros and US dollars can easily be exchanged all over Ukraine. There is no Exchange Desk in Cottage-park "Slavna".

Departure day from Ukraine: 12 September 2018

You can take extra 2 days before and after the project to explore Ukraine. All the expenses (accommodation, food, local transportation) in non-project dated are not reimbursed and covered by the participants themselves. Group leaders are responsible for the health and life of underage participants both during the project and in the non-project dates in the case of their extra stay out of the country of their origin.

How to get to Cottage-park "Slavna":

1. The closest airports to the venue are:

In Kyiv:

• Boryspil International Airport;
• International airport "Kyiv" (Zhulyany);

In Kharkiv:

• Airport "Kharkiv"

2. There will be the instruction letter with the transfer information to the place of venue.

Group leaders: If you have any questions about tickets for your groups or other practicalities contact Larysa Kondratenko (larisa.kondratenko.cei@gmail.com).

Before to purchase the tickets, confirm your travel plan to her. She will also help you to arrange your trip to the venue.

When you buy the tickets, provide her information about your group travel plans (means, place of arrival, timing, prices).

Pay attention: The final information list about the transfer to the place of venue will be sent to each group leaders as soon as all groups inform us about the travel plan and buy the tickets no later than two days befor the project start.

Passports and Visas:

Participants from all participating countries do not need visa to Ukraine. Please, do not forget your international passports. You might be asked to show the invitation from the hosting organization.

Non-governmental organization "Center for Euroinitiatives"

Address: 22 Naberezhna r. Strilky, 40009 Sumy, Ukraine

Phone: +38 (0542) 79-86-68

Fax: +38 (0542) 79-32-86

E-mail: info@eu.sumy.ua

Health Insurance:

The health insurance is not provided and will not be reimbursed by the organizers. All participants are strongly advised to purchase private travel insurance. European insurance does not work in Ukraine.

Maximum amounts to be reimbursed (EUR):

Armenia - 275

Latvia - 275

Italy - 360

Czech Republic - 275

Moldova - 275

Reimbursement of the travel costs will be done by Latvian applicant organization Kulturas biedriba "Alternativa Realitate" only after submitting all original tickets, receipts, invoices, boarding passes and later sending of the return documents and boarding passes. Save the boarding passes from your airport check in as well. Please, be aware that in case you lose any invoices or tickets we will not be able to reimburse the cost.

Reimbursement will be done by transferring to bank account regardless of the currency indicated on your ticket and receipt/invoice according to the official currency exchange rate of European Commission.

! Note: in case of higher travel cost, you will need to cover excess yourself.

Group leaders: you are welcome to consult with us before purchasing the tickets for your group. Please make the copies (better scan or photo) of all the tickets and invoices before your arrival to the youth exchange. Email those to Larysa Kondratenko (larisa.kondratenko.cei@gmail.com).

Weather:

In September in Sumy region is usually quite changeable wather - from hot and sunny to wet and rainy. Average temperature on the dates of the youth exchange will be around +12 / +18 degree Celsius.

Please check the weather forecast before coming and make sure that you have an appropriate clothes and raincoats / umbrellas.

Sauna:

There is a sauna in the place of venue. We will have one booked visit there so be sure that you have a swimming suit for that.

Sumy ans Okhtyrka:

During the project visits to the nearest cities Sumy and Okhtyrka are planned. As you will have walking tours and a City game, wear comfortable shoes.

You are welcomed to practice some UKRAINAN words and phrases.

• Привіт /pryv’it/ = Hi

• Дякую /d’akuju/ = Thank you

• Будь ласка /bud’ laska/ = You’re welcome or Please

• Як справи? /Jak spravy/ = How are you?

• Дуже добре /Duzhe dobre/ = Very good

• Вибачте /vybachte/ = Excuse me

• До побачення /do pobachen’:a/ = Good bye!

• Ні /ni/ =No

• Так /tak/ =Yes

HERE you will find some more useful Ukrainian phrases.

Irina Kurpniece – coordinator of the project from applicant organization Alternatīvā Realitāte, altreality@inbox.lv

Anna Kovbasyuk – coordinator of the project from hosting organization Center for Euroinitiatives, info@eu.sumy.ua

Larisa Kondratenko – logistic support of the project from hosting organization Center for Euroinitiatives, larisa.kondratenko.cei@gmail.com

Iryna Novak - facilitating support of the project from hosting organization Center for Euroinitiatives, iryna.novak.cei@gmail.com

The project "Action in ECO Direction" was financed with the support of European Commission’s “Erasmus+: Youth in Action” administered in Latvia by the Agency for International Programs for Youth. This publication reflects only the author’s views, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained there in.