Aberdeen-youngsters enjoy EFDN Youth Exchange in Nijmegen

Aberdeen-youngsters enjoy EFDN Youth Exchange in Nijmegen

In the last week of October, 6 young Aberdeen FC Community Trust volunteers visited Nijmegen in the Netherlands to participate in the Community Champions League Youth Exchange, young people from NEC Nijmegen, Everton and Spurs also took part. The aim of the Community Champions League Youth Exchange was to bring young people from 4 different cities together to promote the involvement of young people in their communities, to promote European awareness, build new friendships and discuss the challenges they face in their own communities.

Every organisation was responsible for the delivery of a part of the programme and all groups of participants had the responsibility to present their own challenges and showcase their cultural background to the other participants. The young volunteers kicked off the trip by getting to know one another with some group games lead by the AFCCT volunteers and a quiz before watching the NEC Nijmegen v Vitesse match at Goffert Stadium.
Over the week the youngsters also participated in a range of activities lead by each organisation varying from team building games, learning about one another’s cities, how everyone would like their city to look as well as sharing ideas and how these can be implemented in the community.
A game of blind football gave participants the opportunity to build relationships based on trust and communication as well the chance to experience what it is like to participate in football activity whilst living with visual impairment.

The volunteers also paid a visit to World War II Airbourne Museum and cemetery, participated in walking football, met football players from NEC Nijmegen and received an alcohol and drugs awareness session.

The AFCCT volunteers also treated the rest of the participants to a Scottish themed dinner and ceilidh afterwards! Throughout the week the young people participated in informal learning sessions, and worked towards 2 qualifications. Each youngster received a Fair Play award for participating in a football tournament where the focus was fair play and not winning. The youngsters also received an ERASMUS YouthPass award for taking part in a working week based on boosting skills, employability and to promote young people to be actively involved in society, feel socially included whatever their background and influence change at local level for youth work provision and youth policy.

Community Co-ordinator Claire Garrett said, “The Community Champions League Youth Exchange provided the young volunteers and AFCCT staff the opportunity to experience the challenges, community issues and lifestyle of others across Europe. All the young volunteers involved were a credit to themselves, Aberdeen FC Community Trust, Aberdeen FC, their schools and families. There was a noticeable difference with all the youngster involved after the 6 days in their confidence, knowledge and enthusiasm which they are now keen to build on by working in their local community. Everyone at AFCCT are proud of all their achievement throughout the Youth Exchange in Nijmegen.”

One participant said “It’s been amazing! I have met so many new people and that is always something I struggled with. I feel much more confident in talking to people and working with new people, I’ve learned so much from the other people here. I struggle to make friends and now I have 30 new friends from all over Europe.”

A huge thank you to everyone involved in the Youth Exchange, AFCCT is delighted these young volunteers had the opportunity experience this unforgettable trip.