Making a Connection

Last month, we sent Josh and Anna to the UK German Connection's UK-German Youth Partnership seminar in Berlin. One of his last outings with REACH before shipping off to Budapest, Josh checked in with us and gave his experience of the international seminar.

Myself and Anna were selected to represent REACH Across at a seminar in Berlin, Germany in September to seek potential partners for international projects as it been a long time since we had an international exchange programme.

For the last 20 years REACH Across has been involved in hosting and attending these projects. Hearing the experience from past members and leaders, great memories have been created during these projects but unfortunately these opportunities had stopped which was a nightmare for our young people to experience international exchange programmes.

The last time REACH Across went abroad for an international exchange was to Agros, Cyprus in 2018

The Terror Twins...

Fast forward to 2024 where an opportunity to restart REACH's international opportuntiies presented itself and we couldn't miss the chance and Anna and I were the ones for the job, well...I think so anways!

I know people reading this from REACH are probably thinking how is Anna gonna survive being stuck with me for a couple of days? Well the good news is she managed and we shared a few laughs from the car journey to the plane to hotel!

Reaching for internationals

The seminar was 3 days in a lovely 4 star hotel, how lucky were me and Anna living our best life. The seminar was designed for UK and German organisations to create partnerships for future exhange projects. We aimed for 1 or 2 as this could give us a better chance to get the ball rolling for exchange projects for next year.

The seminar was very insightful as we got to learn about all the organisations that were involved from the UK and Germany and exploring what was the purpose of each organisation which opened our eyes to finding a partner.

On the 2nd day of the seminar we connected with a partner, this felt amazing and exciting and we know Barney would be happy with some good news at the end of the seminar. The best part was....Drum roll please........Tada

They chose us, and me and Anna could say it was like a match made in heaven.

After we found a partner, Sandra - the woman who has given us hope for future international programmes - took us to one of the participating organisation's premises that was located in Berlin. We walked to the premises as it was lovely sunny day and we were joined by her dog. You couldn't ask for a better afternoon taking advantage of the weather.

The premises were outstanding thanks to the work put in by youth leaders and young people from 6 to 18 years old. This place had a wood room which had wood from old trees, people donating and in the room there was instructions on how to make benches, flower beds and so much more which the young people would make with the help with youth leaders.

This approach is to give young people the chance to be creative and gain life skills.

The place was just something I never seen before and that the young people had control, had their say and made this place their own which in reality that is what youth work is about.

After the seminar came to a close, we shared details with our future partner as we wanted to start the planning and by doing this we agreed on a meeting to start the process.

We are looking forward to future exchange programmes as this was something REACH Across has been missing. Coming up to the 30th anniversary, we want the year to be huge, so why not do it by giving new opportunities and experiences to our young people?!

How cool would an exchange to Berlin be?

• I'd be the first one on the plane!
• I'm too much of a home bird to go international