Breaking Barriers through football Youth Exchange in Rotterdam

From 13th until 19th of May 2018, a football-based Youth Exchange focused on “Breaking Barriers” will take place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

During that period, Feyenoord Rotterdam the host of the exchange will welcome 24 young people and 8 staff members from 4 different countries.

Coming from very divers cultural and religious backgrounds, the young people of the EFDN Youth Exchange will be united by the common interest in football making the exchange a fantastic opportunity to foster the understanding of cultural and religious diversity.

Football as a key tool for breaking cultural barriers

The youth exchange provides the 17 to 23 year olds from Feyenoord Rotterdam, Aberdeen FC, SL Benfica and Everton FC with the unique opportunity to share experiences with each other through engaging in diverse activities. This contributes to fostering the understanding of cultural and religious diversity. During the entire exchange, football will be used as a key tool for breaking cultural barriers. The participants will be taking part in non-formal learning activities such as Walking Football, Lifestyle Football, Blind Football, playing beach volleyball and seminars. Overall, they jointly will work on invisible barriers in society and develop strategies on how to overcome them.

Additionally, the exchange follows the aim of bringing the participants together to promote the involvement of young people in local communities. The non-formal group activities will focus on increasing the level of tolerance between the participants and the reduction of existing stereotypes.

Building bridges through formal and non-formal activities

The young people will work and reflect on the topics of borders between cultures and discuss possibilities to

build bridges between the differed groups.

To emphasise cultural awareness and understanding, each evening will be dedicated to a certain country and culture. Participants will be encouraged to prepare for the entire group a typical native dish followed by a creative presentation of their country and culture.

Additionally, a healthy lifestyle through sport will be promoted and the young adults will learn to deal with the feeling of achievement and frustration. At the end of the exchange, every participant received the Youth Pass Certificate.

The exchange is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Sport Programme.

We are looking forward to an exchange which promises to be a unique experience to create new friendships and which will have the power to highlight how football can be used as tool to promote understanding by bringing people together across boundaries, cultures and religious.