EFDN Youth Exchange and joining AFCCT changes life of Caitlyn for the better
Football for development programmes are providing people from different backgrounds with valuable tools to actively make a difference in their lives. To facilitate a platform for young people to aquire important life skills, EFDN organises Youth exchanges that are funded by Erasmus+ Sport.
In 2016, EFDN organised a Youth Exchanges in Nijmegen the Netherlands, which was attended by Aberdeen FC, Nijmegen FC, Everton FC and Tottenham Hotspur.
Also 16 year old Caitlyn from Aberdeen FC joined the Youth exchange. Before joining the exchange and becoming a volunteer at Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) Caitlyn never thought she would be as confident as she is now. Since joining AFCCT & attending a trip to Nijmegen in 2016, Caitlyn’s story of how her life has been changed for the better.
Caitlyn, began her involvement with AFCCT as a participant of a youth programme that involves football drills with an evening meal at the stadium. When she was too old to attend the programme, Caitlyn proactively knocked on the Players Entrance at Pittodrie to ask if she could help and from there, she started volunteering at AFCCT. Impressed by her dedication to helping others, AFCCT put Caitlyn through the Protection of Vulnerable Groups scheme and supported her passion to work with people in her area by offering in-service training and on-the-spot coaching and feedback. Having developed into a great role model and being the first female volunteer at the community programme, the number of young women attending the programme has grown.
Caitlyn joins EFDN Youth Exchange to the Netherlands
In autumn 2016, EFDN organised an Erasmus+ funded Youth Exchange in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The exchange brought young people together that participate in social projects from Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Aberdeen and N.E.C. Caitlyn was one of the participants.
“This was a great opportunity to meet people from different cultures where we played football and cooked our own dinner. We had a Scottish night, London night, Liverpool night and a Nijmegen night.” – Caitlyn said.
“After we did teambuilding exercises it was less scary and we all started to make friends. I made many friendships and value the chance to meet new people because if you don’t, you won’t know how to understand people from different backgrounds. My experience was phenomenal and I would definitely go back and do it again.”
Before Nijmegen, Caitlyn’s openness and ability to communicate was almost non-existent and the skills she has gained through volunteering and taking the opportunity to go abroad has had a long-lasting effect on her development.
Caitlyn added: “A year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to speak to someone I didn’t know or take a phone call. I would have been too shy but everyone at AFCCT has helped me to become a more confident individual.”
Senior community projects officer at AFCCT, David Smith, said: “Everyone at AFCCT is so proud of Caitlyn and her willingness to put herself out of her comfort zone to help others is inspirational. She has completed more than 200 hours of volunteering and is now a Youth Ambassador for AFCCT.”
Ally Prockter, AFCCT Chief Executive added, “Caitlyn is a shining example of what happens at AFCCT. Having been given the chance to take part in our community programmes, the team has then supported her to work hard to become an outstanding volunteer and excellent ‘local’ role model. Caitlyn’s progress is a credit to her commitment and positive attitude, and I’m delighted to have her as part of the award-winning AFCCT team.”
Caitlyn has now completed nearly 400 Hours of volunteering and continues to develop, grow, and inspire other young people to be involved in sport, physical activity, and their own community.
EFDN Youth exchanges
EFDN youth exchanges provide clubs and foundations with the opportunity to bring a group of young people together from different countries to meet, live together and work on shared projects within an overarching theme such as social inclusion, education, or life skills through football. On an EFDN exchange programme, participants can expect activities such as workshops, exercises, debates, role-plays, outdoor activities and more, all with the goal of collaborative and intercultural experiences and shared learning. The exchanges are in partnership with the National Erasmus Agencies and Participants’ learning experiences are recognised through a Youth Pass qualification.
Upcoming EFDN exchanges
The next upcoming exchange is a Youth Exchange ‘Breaking Barriers Through Football” which will take place in Rotterdam in May, and will be attended by young people from the Netherlands, England, Portugal and Scotland. The focus of the exchange is to promote the involvement of young people in their communities, to discuss the potential invisible barriers that exist in the society, and to explore strategies on how to overcome these barriers. Through non-formal learning activities, workshops, exercises and role plays, the exchange will support young people to discover new cultures, habits and life-styles through peer-learning; and increase their awareness about social inclusion and diversity within both the host city and beyond through Europe by taking part in all aspects of society.
