International collaborations are our path to innovation, civic participation and dialogue. We seek out partnerships and programs that increase the capacity of organizations to meet their local needs and allow individuals to grow through understanding the perspectives of others. Youth exchanges, international trainings and internships, volunteer programs, and academic working groups are all enriched though intercultural dialgoue.
While we provide logistical support for individuals to access these opportunities, we also support other organizations to participate through partnerships. The project examples listed below supported young people, associations and academics, from our local area, all over Europe, and as far away as Vietnam, Colombia, and Palestine. Follow our news site to keep up with current projects.
YICF – Youth Impact Through Community Festivals
YICF trained youth workers on the impact of sustainable and inclusive festivals. Trainings were held in Romania and Norway, as well as online. A Youth Exchange in Italy empowered participants from four countries to plan their own local festivals. A toolkit of best practices in building civic capacity though festivals was prepared for the European Commision Erasmus+ programme, who funded the project.
Mobility For Partnership – Challenge – A Conflict Transformation Organization
Strait Up partnered with “Challenge“, a conflict transformation organization based in Jerusalem, to identify, structure and implement solutions that will improve the lives of individuals living within the Palestine conflict. In Spain we hosted Israeli and Palestinean peace activists in a safe space for dialgoue, and then worked in the holy land to learn intensively about the numerous identity groups and their needs. This collaboration continues to support many specific projects on conflict transformation, youth participation, and women’s livelihoods in Palestine and Israel.
REMEDY – Communication, Negotation and Mediation
REMEDY studied intercultural differences in communication, negotiation and mediation. Through trainings in Spain, Colombia and Vietnam academics accumulated data on intercultural aspects of youth attitudes and abilities in creating agreements. Youth workers built knowledge that could be implemented in ther home communities. Examples of conflict resolution in places as distinct as gang territories in Medallin, Colombia, or elder run rural villages in Vietnam, fascinated and informed all participants.
RIDE – Rollsports For Inclusive Design and Empowerment
RIDE brought together athletes from extreme sports to learn design concepts for inclusive public spaces. Participants also worked on project management, communication with authorities, team building and gained hands-on experience in building skateparks and bike facilities, everything from driving heavy equipment to shaping cement.