What Happened?
Cardiff Youth Council and Cardiff Youth Service took part in a cultural exchange programme bringing together twin cities from France, Germany and Wales. The week exchange, which was funded through the Taith programme with support from International Links (Global) Ltd., was filled with fun activities, excursions into the City of Nantes, tours and visits to historical sites such as the museum of the machines. The group were also able to attend a football match, between Spain and Japan, as part of the Paris Olympic Games 2024. Each evening included some form of cultural exchange where countries could share music, pop culture and sport from their respective nations.
Why?
Exchanges affirm the young people’s rights to freedom of movement and foster mutual respect by immersing themselves in the cultural life of another country. The project gives young people from Cardiff an opportunity to take part in intercultural celebrations with other young people from Nantes and other countries that are part of this multilateral twinning arrangement. The focus being on outdoor education activities, active citizenship and health and wellbeing. This is also part of wider milestones for the city this year in celebrating 60 years of twinning between Nantes and Cardiff.
So What?
Through the exchange young people have had the opportunities to broaden their horizons, experience new ways of life, bring back lessons to share with people at home, but also to bond as a group of young people from their own nation learning things about themselves and their own abilities. They have built strong friendships and as part of their responsibilities they were to document their trip which they are currently editing to share with the Youth of Cardiff. This is part of ensuring we have feedback loops engrained in the work that we do as a Child Friendly City and that the process is led by young people, developed by young people and for young people.