After selection: about preparation

We emphasize that the projects we organize are not like vacations or excursions, but educational programs. If you are selected, you have to participate in the official program and follow the instructions of the hosting organization. If you would not participate in the activities during the project or would have inappropriate behavior, it may result in termination of cooperation and non-participation in any other projects in the future. In addition, the hosting organization has the right to refuse to reimburse your travel costs. Of course, if you have an important work to do or a skype interview during the project, explain the situation to the organizers and they will certainly not have a problem with your absence for a while, but you cannot disappear from the program whenever you want.

Okrem toho, mládežnícka výmena sa od vyučovania v škole líši tým, že aj samotní účastníci sú zapojení do procesu vzdelávania. Pred niektorými výmenami sú preto účastníci požiadaní aby pripravili nejaký workshop, prezentáciu či teambuildingovú aktivitu. Nie je sa však čoho obávať, je to taktiež proces vďaka ktorému sa mnoho naučíte a nikdy nejde o úlohu pre jednotlivca ale celú skupinu. Taktiež v každej skupine je skúsenejší líder ktorý sa už v minulosti zúčastnil na podobnej výmene, vie ako to funguje a vie tak účastníkom vysvetliť a pomôcť ako takúto úlohu dobre splniť. Samozrejme aj my vždy v takýchto prípadoch ak je to nutné pomáhame.

The preparation process is partly different for each project and we always inform the participants about it. However, before each project, participants should prepare a presentation about Slovakia, that is organized during the intercultural evenings. It should not be a formal presentation and its form depends on the agreement between the participants. Before leaving Slovakia, you should think about what you will need for a presentation and what you would like to tell participants from other countries about Slovakia, how best to present us and maybe convince them to come and visit you 🙂 Usually participants bring different sweets , drinks or in case of a not too long journey, also food - cheese, sausages, bryndza, etc. In addition, sometimes the participants also bring costumes and dance some of our folk dance or teach the participants to dance it as well; sometimes they show a traditional Slovak Easter traditions :), sometimes they prepare a quiz with various interesting facts about Slovakia, they show some nice video. The options are various and depends only on the agreement of the participants how to present Slovakia in the best possible way.

In addition, youth exchange differs from education in school also in the way that the participants themselves are involved in the learning process. Therefore, before some projects, participants are asked to prepare some workshop, presentation or teambuilding activity. However, there is nothing to worry about, it is also a process through which you learn a lot and it is never a task for the individual, but for the whole group. Also, in each group, there is a more experienced leader who has participated in a similar project in the past, knows how it works, can explain it to others and help them to fulfill such a task well. Of course, we always help in such cases, if necessary too.

- clothing - Participants often ask if they should wear elegant clothes during the project. It is usually not necessary. You can pack standard clothes you wear to school or work (jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, sandals etc.). During the projects, various games, simulations, group assignments take place, all led by non-formal education - in interactive and fun way. If you would like to see some photos from the projects and how the others are dressed, here: https: //www.adelslovakia. org / projects / gallery or even more pictures on our social media. Of course, what clothes to bring also depends on the country you travel to, check also the weather forecast. Also in the infopack that you get for a specific project is written what is good to bring - for example - a towel, slippers for showers, swimsuit, sport clothes.

- of course the things you normally use and need - cosmetics, medicines, etc. .

- the above mentioned things for an intercultural evening

- ID card is enough when you travel to countries within the EU, a passport is required for most of the non-EU countries except Balkans

- money - many times, especially parents of younger participants ask how much money they need. There is no clear answer to this question and it depends on the way you travel and your financial situation. It also depends on the specific project and where you travel. Usually bus / train tickets are bought in advance, but some can only be bought on the spot - for example from the airport to the hotel and back. The infopack always states how much such a trip will cost. Sometimes participants travel from Slovakia by rented minibus, then there are no travel costs, because the driver will take the participants directly to the hotel. There is always accommodation, food, drinks, some refreshments during the day provided so you will not be hungry or thirsty. However, the same is cooked / ordered in advance for everyone (only for vegetarians or those who have some allergies or other intolerances are different meals). Its similar to camps, school trips, etc. so nothing unusual. However, this way of eating does not always suit the participants or the food might not be enough for somebody, so of course it is good to have some cash to buy more food, sweets or souvenirs.

Before traveling, participants must apply for a European Health Insurance Card if they do not have it already. Card is free of charge and can be arranged online on the website of your health insurance company. You will also need the card for other trips abroad. In addition, we recommend that you arrange also commercial travel insurance, as the European Health Insurance Card does not guarantee reimbursement of all costs if you would need to get a medical care. Travel insurance is not reimbursed from the grant, but we recommend that you arrange it before the trip, because no one ever knows what may happen. It can also be arranged online and purchased even the day before leaving for the project. Many insurance companies also provide discounts for ISIC card holders, so a week of insurance usually costs around 7 euros. If you travel more often, it is good to arrange a travel insurance for a whole year, that costs around 20-30 euros, depending on the insurance company.

Of course, we always ask whether the selected participants need it, but if you need it earlier, write to us and it will be sent to you. In addition, at the end of the project, each participant will receive an official certificate - Youthpass, which you can also show at school as proof of your participation. However, there is no obligation for the teachers or director to release you, although in most cases is all right, as the teachers know that this is an interesting opportunity to learn outside of school. We know from experience that the participants were not given permission, especially if they already had many missed days or the graduation or other important exam was approaching. Also, you can't expect to get permission to participate several times a year, it's just an occasional absence.

Yes, you can find the presentation here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_8C997w3Ew7o5hatnngtfmKnhSYHo4XT?usp=sharing

If you have any questions, send us an email and we will explain you anything

- check carefully your ticket and departure times ... if you miss the flight it's not like a missed bus or train, there is always not next one or is full and of course the biggest problem is buying new ticket

- online check-in - it is necessary to do it especially during the flights with low-cost companies with which participants travel quite often. In case you do not have an online check-in in a printed or electronic boarding pass, you would have to pay extra money at the airport. More information here: http://www.vzlietni.sk/online-check-in/

- baggage size - depends on the specific ticket. Sometimes participants travel only with the hand luggage - https://www.letenky.sk/aktuality/prirucna-batozina-co -do-it-pack sometimes with a big suitcase. It's important to be careful, because if you come to the airport with more luggage than you bought, you'll have to pay some money again.

- arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure

Unfortunately, this happens occasionally; flights are postponed; the participant missed the bus, etc. In that case, call us so we can advise you what to do and start solving the problem immediately.

We don't want to scare you, most of the projects run smoothly and participants return home with a lot of new knowledge, experience and memories, but there are a few exceptions, so we want to prepare participants for such an occassion.

The basis for solving any problem is communication, and every single problem can be solved this way. At least until now it has worked like that in case participants did not remain silent. First of all, during almost all projects are organized "reflection groups", which usually take place every night, where participants in smaller groups discuss how they liked the day, what they learned, but also what they would like to change or add etc. Always say your opinion, since those projects also differ from most of the schools, as we pay attention to feedback, satisfaction and benefits for participants. If the required change does not happen, contact your leader and if that does not help, contact us directly. We can solve many issues remotely as a partner organization of the project. We also regularly communicate with the participants during the project to make sure that everything is going well, so please provide us with regular feedback.

As for logistics, please note that you can't expect a 5-star hotel. The type of accommodation depends on the place and country where the project takes place. For example, if the project takes place in the capital or in another popular touristic place, where prices are higher, then the quality of accommodation is lower and is usually provided in hostels where the room is shared by 4-8 participants of the same sex. In the case of projects implemented in smaller cities or in the countryside, accommodation is, for example, in 2-4 bed rooms, although this is not the rule and depends on the possibilities and finances. Information about accommodation is often shared in the call or then in the info pack.

<p style = "text-align: justify;"> It depends on whether it is a youth exchange or training. After the training, each participant fills in a report, which is generated and sent directly by the European Commission. At the end of the exchange, this message is filled in only by the group leader. In addition, in order to be able to best assess the benefits and satisfaction of participants in our projects and know in the future with which organizations it is appropriate to continue cooperation and with which not, each participant is therefore required to fill out a questionnaire sent to you after the project. </ P><p style = "text-align: justify;"> In addition, since our goal is to inform as many young people as possible about these projects, we regularly publish photos from the project and participants should write a short article about how was it. We publish them afterwards here : http://www.adelslovakia.org/clanky/pribehy-ucastnikov </p><p style = "text-align: justify;"> However, other activities are also welcome, such as making video or organizing a short workshop / discussion in front of your classmates, the school, in the city. We will be very happy and we will certainly take such activity into account when selecting for other projects and, if necessary, we will send you a presentation or other promotional materials. </ P>