The Europe Discovery Trip to Vienna took place in September 2024 and was organised in cooperation with German and Austrian partners. The aim of the initiative, with the motto “What can Europe do for you?”, was to introduce six young participants from the Youth Welfare Programme at ifas GmbH Göttingen to the diversity, culture and historical development of Europe. The week-long trip included a combination of lectures, workshops, cultural events and guided tours in Vienna, designed to foster a deeper understanding of Europe and to stimulate interest in future cross-border experiences. The programme provided a rich balance of structured learning, leisure and cultural exploration.

Target Groups:
The main participants were disadvantaged young people with mental health problems from low socio-economic backgrounds in Göttingen, Germany. Some of them had never travelled outside Germany before, making this a significant opportunity for personal and educational growth. The exchange also included interaction with Austrian youth from OJAB, giving the German participants exposure to different cultures and environments.

Special support required:
Participants were supported by two youth workers who accompanied them on the trip, providing guidance and emotional support. Prior to the trip, participants attended preparation sessions to help them prepare for the experience, and during the programme, the youth workers facilitated group reflections each evening to allow participants to discuss and share their daily experiences. The structured nature of the programme provided a sense of direction and security throughout the week, while encouraging the participants to organise and enjoy their leisure activities independently.

Innovation:
One of the most innovative aspects of the programme was its focus on intercultural exchange. Participants were able to engage with people from non-German backgrounds and interact with young people in similar situations but in a different cultural context. This provided them with intercultural experiences which noticeably boosted their confidence and group cohesion. The independence shown by the participants in organising their leisure time and engaging with local cultural sites such as the Hundertwasserhaus, the Vienna Opera and the Schönbrunn Palace reflected their growing self-confidence and positive personal development.

The programme demonstrated the potential of synergy and transfer in promoting cross-border exchanges between disadvantaged young people and their peers in different cultural contexts. The success of this first trip highlights the possibility of extending the programme across Europe and offering similar learning mobilities to other disadvantaged groups. The model of combining structured EU-related content with cultural immersion and interaction with local youth groups (such as OJAB in Austria) can be replicated in other EU countries. The positive outcomes such as enhanced self-confidence, group dynamics and cultural awareness suggest that this type of mobility has the potential to have a lasting impact on the personal and professional development of participants.

This project was organised jointly by blinc eG and ifas GmbH

For more details on this project, you can visit:
https://provide-eu.org/explore-europe/