Barriers and enablers for young people when taking part in UK-German youth exchanges
Encouraging UK-German Youth Exchanges
Variation in enablers with financial circumstances and gender
internet as their primary tool for finding information, rather than education or youth activity providers.
Young survey participants were able to leave comments identifying the other aspects that would enable them to take part in a youth exchange, as well as other comments at the end of the survey. The comments emphasised the importance of financial support as well as the sorts of information needed. Comments suggest that there are young people who are actively interested in and searching for opportunities for youth exchanges that they might ‘register’ for. These young people see the
“I would definitely be interested, especially if the youth exchange was subsidised. However, this is difficult within an apprenticeship, as the holiday days are few and also fixed. It might be feasible within the apprenticeship.” Young survey participant Within Germany, young men were significantly 15 less likely than young women to identify that access to more information would encourage them to take part in UK-German youth exchanges. Within Germany young men were significantly 16 less likely than young women to identify that more youth exchanges being offered by my school or university , would encourage them to take part in UK-German youth exchanges.
Within Germany, young people in the weaker financial circumstances group were significantly 14 more likely to be encouraged by access to financial support, when compared to young people in stronger financial circumstances. A statistically significant difference was not identifiable in the UK, though the small number of UK survey participants means statistically significant differences will not be identified unless differences between ratings are very large. Therefore, future research with larger UK sample sizes may still identify statistically significant differences in the UK between young people in weaker financial circumstances and those in stronger financial circumstances . Interviews with youth workers revealed the sorts of financial support that might be offered. It was common for youth workers on the UK side to describe removing all possible costs to young people, including paying for passports or luggage. German youth workers tended to see the situation more modestly, describing the desire to ensure participant fees were low, or removable for young people in marginalised circumstances. These differences in attitude relate to the greater emphasis placed by UK youth workers on working with marginalised groups (see Chapter 3). There may also be a need to consider how youth exchanges can minimise loss of income from work or apprenticeships for some young people.
The desire to fit exchanges within educational programmes or work was also emphasised as well as the importance of having exchanges tailored for people in different educational or employment circumstances (e.g., secondary school, university, or employment).
“More information about scholarships or more support in financing in general.”
“I often lack the concrete idea of how everything is structured and organised. I would like everything to be a little more transparent.”
“It would help me a lot if organisational tasks (find accommodation, clarification of the entry conditions ...) would be taken away or I would be explained exactly what I had to do when. Then I knew: “I can just register.” And would not be afraid of mistakes when I register or similar. This fear would otherwise prevent me from registering!”
“Advertising that makes the encounter attractive and public, so that you learn about it and that [it] is affordable.”
“The big problem is that a youth exchange seems almost unapproachable because there is a lack of information or accessibility to points of contact outside of the internet.”
“Clear and confidentially designed websites to get information quickly.”
“Easily accessible information on the internet, including information about financial aid, would be the first step towards youth exchange for me.”
“I would be encouraged by precise information about the exchange, such as the number of participants, pictures of the accommodation, plan of activities.”
“A clear and simple overview that enables me to view the details in a transparent way.”
“I think it would encourage me and perhaps many others if it were less complicated and easier to register and carry out an exchange.”
14 t(647)=4.081, p=0.000 15 t(181.899)=3.113, p=0.002 equal variances not assumed 16 t(638)=3.786, p=0.000
Comments from young survey participants
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