Intercultural learning in youth exchanges

Abstract

As a result of mobility young people nowadays are coming in continuous and extensive contact with people from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Accepting plurality of lifestyles, values, interests and behavioural patterns is no longer a matter of belief or choice but a need. By understanding other cultures around the world young people are able to interact more effectively with each other and make this world a more hospitable place to live in. According to a study compiled by Abela (2001 ), people tend to dislike being with others who hold different opinions from themselves, and the importance of the need for intercultural education is being stressed. Effective learning can take place in many and varied contexts and it is possible for adolescents to engage in positive learning activities and relationships informally in youth exchanges. These offer intercultural education where young people can explore diversity through concrete experience within a guided environment. Their youth worker is the guide who helps them to reflect on such experiences. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of such exchange projects and how this fits with intercultural education. This is inferred through what type of programme Maltese young people follow from the programmes of the European Union and what is being implemented by young people guided by the youth workers. This study is carried out using a triangulation through a qualitative and quantitative method on young people and youth workers who actually participated in a youth exchange. The study is linked to the role, the youth worker can play to encourage young people to participate in exchanges as findings indicate that the key source of success of the exchange depends on him. Through these exchanges the youth worker assists in maintaining young people's personal and collective activity across society while complimenting the work of the Youth Programme Unit, thus aiming for the recognition and appreciation of international youth work as an important resource to develop society' human capital.