Topic: Civic involvement - identification of local problems from all partner countries, interviews with local NGOs, authorities.

Profile of participants: 20 students and 8 accompanying teachers.

Students were members of the target group (15-18 years old), boys and girls, any specialisation, who have been selected for the exchange. One student per country was from a disadvantaged group (financial, economic, cultural obtacles etc.) Before the exchange, they worked together on the topic by collecting data about local problems, from reliable sources, NGOs, local authorities, own research, applying surveys on members of the local community, identifying and putting forward case studies, interviewing local authorities about the measures taken with regard to the issues.

Each team of students has been accompanied by 2 teachers from their school, an English teachers and another teacher of humanities who have been selected for this purpose from the project team.

20 students from the host school have also attended the activities, like their peers.

The exchange has included several types of activities:

1. Ice-breaking activities - communication games, tour of the school, welcoming artistic programme, presentations of countries, schools, regions, towns.
2. Topic-related activities

- students made presentations of the current situation in their countries related to social problems. Statistical data is presented, fact and figures, case studies, measures taken by local authorities, the opinions of members of local communities. Students are organised in multicultural teams and they compare and contrast the data, drawing informed conclusions and suggesting solutions.
- students were presented with the methodology to apply if they were to start an association or NGO - legal issues, practical aspects etc.
- the host team trained the students on the rules of debate and the students were organised into debate teams. They have given a debate topic and the access to the internet to prepare their cases. After 30 minutes of discussions and organising arguments, the teams met and started the debate, which was recorded.
- students received real case studies in relation to the topic and were involved in activities which developed their communication, interpersonal skills and critical thinking skills (e.g. body sculpting - using theatre to explore ideas, cafe conversations, think-pair-share etc.)

3. Meetings with local authorities and NGO representatives to discuss their views on the issues presented during the exchange, what the situation was at local level, what local initiatives were implemented in these areas. 

4. The creation of products by students - students worked in multicultural teams and create posters of the exchange (also used as a tool for evaluating the impact) 

5. Cultural activities and events - international evening, traditional evening, guided tour of the town.

6. Evaluation activities