The activities are open to young people aged between 13 and 30, youth workers, and staff and members of youth organizations.
International Youth Exchange
International Youth Exchanges are open to young people aged 13 to 30, who have a common interest which they want to learn about and build the Exchange program around the topic. Young people plan the Exchange program with partner group/groups from partner county/countries, with the support of adults. The exchange can be 5-21 days long and is carried out in the home country of at least one of the groups. YE funding comes from the Erasmus + program and can be applied a couple of times per year. The funding covers e.g. accommodation, meals, program, and travel compensation up to a certain amount for participants during the Youth Exchange.
We have hosted 3 youth exchanges in Vasatokka:
- 2018 Team sports – skills for the Future, which gathered together young people from Finland and partner countries Armenia, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania.
- 2018 “Kukista Kaamos” -Tools for your well-being, which gathered together young people from Finland and partner countries from Poland, Russia, and Romania.
- 2021 Silence Around Us, which gathered together young people from Finland and partner countries Poland and Northern Macedonia.
- 2022 Unity is Strenght
- 2022 Green Steps, Finland. Youth North Macedonia, Albania, and the Czech Republic.
- 2022 Volley Goes Rural. Youth from Finland, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria-
Green Steps
Our aim is to learn about climate change and sustainable development and compare things between countries and how people on different sides of Europe act for preventing climate change. The aim is also to give youngsters the opportunity to meet and get to know same-age youngsters from totally different cultures. Youngsters learn and teach each other about their countries and cultures. Before arriving at the venue, each group prepares and carries out a small survey about climate change in their own region.
Suomalaisten nuorten terveiset:
Viikko oli tapahtumarikas, kiinnostava ja opettavainen. Kävimme muun muassa patikoimassa ja geokätköilemässä metsässä, teimme myös linnunruokintalautoja. Tutustuimme viikon aikana muihin kulttuureihin, uusin ihmisiin sekä ympäristöön. Opimme eri maitten kierrätyskulttuureista ja toimintatavoista. Havainnoimme roskien ja kierrätyksen vaikutusta sekä ympäristöön että ihmisiin.
Löysimme myös hyviä ja melkein vaivattomia tapoja pienentää hiilijalanjälkiämme esimerkiksi: suosimalla kasvisruokaa ja etenkin lähiruokaa, opimme myös, että pienillä teoilla kuten sulkemalla suihkun hanan shampoon laittamisen aikana voit vaikuttaa paljon hiilijalanjälkeesi.
Nautimme eniten yhdessä tekemisestä, kulttuuri-illoista sekä yhteisistä peleistä ja leikeistä.
Erasmus+ nuorisovaihto on ollut monipuolinen, opettavainen, mielenkiintoinen ja kokemusrikas viikko! Siksi suosittelemme Erasmus+ nuorisovaihtoa lämpimästi kaikille nuorille, jotka ovat kiinnostuneet eri kulttuureista kokemuksista sekä uusista ihmisistä ja kaverisuhteista.
-Suomitiimi
Green Steps Youth Exchange
Youth Worker Mobilities (2019-2022)
Mobility projects for Youth Workers can be participated by people who are active with young people, employees, or volunteers in e.g. organizations, congregations, or municipal youth work. There is no age limit for participation.
The project can take the form of e.g. international seminar, training, a study visit, a practical learning period in another organization, or a partner search event for an international project. The benefits of participation include updating one’s own skills and gaining new perspectives on the job, new networks, and maintaining language skills.
- Inclusion via Nature 2022
- Bridges for solidarity 2019
Strategic partnership KA2 projects (2020-2022)
Strategic partnership projects are for developing, transferring, and implementing innovative practices at organizational, local, regional, national, or European levels.
Vasatokka is involved as a partner in a strategic partnership project which is targeted at families with disabled children or adults. The Feeling Of Beauty project 2020-2022 is coordinated by Poland and the third partner in Spain.
Project homepage: http://www.feelingofbeautyproject.eu/
Erasmus + sport (ended 2021)
Vasatokka has been a partner in Erasmus+ Sport – Small Collaborative Partnership project, named SPORTin – Sport for social inclusion. The project was coordinated by Lithuania and the other partner countries are Turkey, Poland, Italy, Lithuania, and Finland. The project ended in 2021.