Euro-Med youth program
Action 1 : Euro-Med Youth
Exchanges
‘Stories of Diversity and Coexistence’
Youth Exchange program
-JORDAN ( Participants Info Pack )
Ahlan wa Sahlan 
Dear participants
We would like to congratulate you first of all of getting selected to attend this YOUTH
EXCHANGE PROGRAM in the " Euro-Med frame work " :
‘Stories of Diversity and Coexistence’
And would like to welcome you in Jordan and host you in Amman the capital of Jordan .
Introduction:
as you knew you have been selected by your organization to be represent your country in
this program , so I hope to spend some time to read carefully all the bellow information
you need for stay,
looking forward to meet you . Ahlan wa sahlan  ‫اهال وسهال‬
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The project called: ‘Stories of Diversity and Coexistence’
Empowering Euro-Med Youth workers and improve personal skills.
Why this Youth exchange program :
The main object is to empower youth workers to get more efficient in work, develop
quality health-enhancing activities with youngsters and support better youth
empowerments.
Objectives of the action : Overall Objective - Facilitate intercultural learning experiences
and increase cross-cultural understanding between participants from diverse cultural
backgrounds SO1 - To stimulate and encourage mutual understanding between young
people within the Euro-Mediterranean region and to fight against stereotypes and
prejudices. SO2 - Raise awareness and exchange knowledge between participants on the
topic of diversity, xenophobia, racism in different countries in the Euro-Mediterranean
Youth Programme countries, and specifically in the exchange host country Jordan. SO3 –
Activate participants and build skills to promote and disseminate positive narratives of
social cohesion, coexistence, tolerance and diversity through visual storytelling.
Specific Objective: To facilitate intercultural learning experiences and increase crosscultural understanding between participants from diverse communities and cultural
backgrounds.
Target Group: Youth between 18- 25 living in societies dealing with modern day challenge
like social exclusion; integration issues ; xenophobia ; discrimination and racism.
Final Beneficiaries: Any community that the participants are part of in their home
country (through family, education, shared interests, civil society actions etc.): Through
multiplier effect the participants are supposed to have a long term effect on these
communities and through them to their societies at large. The subjects of the participants
produced Storytelling Project in the action country. Actors, organizations and initiatives
participating in the field visit activities in the Action country.
Main Activities :
A1.1 - ‘World Café’ : Intercultural dialogue/exchange A1.2 - ‘Cultural Game Night’ A1.3 –
Tour of Amman.
A2.1 – Thematic Presentations: Diversity and Coexistence 'at home community A2.2 – Field
visits: Best Practices in Jordan A 2. 3 - Workshop: Mapping Civil Society in Jordan A2.4
Workshop: Accepting Diversity and Integration.
A3.1 - Workshop on visual storytelling 101 A3.2 – Storytelling Project developed by
participants A 3.3 – Presentations and Exposition of final Visual Storytelling Project:
‘Stories of diversity in Amman’. A3.4- Workshop: Social Entrepreneurship and Creative
Tools.
Estimated Results :
R1- Understanding of existing stereotypes and prejudices between the participating EuroMediterranean countries leading to increased interpersonal relationships and social skills ;
First hand experience of life in Amman
R2. - Increase of knowledge about efforts to address xenophobia and racism on different
levels in the participating countries through a non-formal learning process ; Building skills
relating to presenting complex information in an engaging way by non-formal learning
practices; Activation and inspiration on grassroots initiatives related to the Action themes ;
Increase of knowledge and skills on visual storytelling through practice and learning-bydoing (non-formal learning process).
R3 - Exhibition of the participants story telling projects ; Magazine made out of the stories
created by the participants.
Project Description :
The proposed project ‘Stories of Diversity and Coexistence’ is connected to the
following Specific Objectives of the EUROMED IV:
1. To promote active citizenship among young people and enhance their sense of solidarity
2. To stimulate and encourage mutual understanding between young people within the
Euro-Mediterranean region and to fight against stereotypes and prejudices
Regional/national priorities related to this project:
1. Fight against racism and xenophobia
2. Combating extremist ideologies
3. Participation of young people in development of civil society
Needs and constraints of the target group and final beneficiaries: The target groups that
will be directed positively impacted on the action purpose level are youth between 18-25,
to be more precise; the 19 participation youth from Jordan, Poland, Palestine and Greece.
The common features between the participants are that they come from a society faced
with modern day challenges like social exclusion; integration issues; xenophobia;
discrimination and racism. There is a need to change the negative narratives and discourse
based on above challenges into more positive stories of diversity and coexistence. Stories
that promote social cohesion, acceptance of ‘the other’, tolerance, and respect for diversity.
For example by the field visits to initiatives that can share ‘good practices and success
stories in combination with the ‘reporting’ on stories of coexistence themselves through
their Storytelling Project, this proposal foresees to address these issues.
These youth themselves need to tackle existing stereotypical perceptions that they hold
themselves and that are held by others. They are the perfect actors to address, explain and
bring nuance to views that persist about each other’s countries, communities and/or
cultures. This proposal is relevant to these needs by designing activities that focus on
intercultural understanding, exchange and dialogue. For example the activity ‘World Café’
and the thematic presentations are aiming at this.
This particular age group needs to be engaged through modern and creative methods
which ensure their active participation and stimulate feelings of responsibility and
ownership. This will be done by the central use of visual storytelling techniques and
focusing on leadership and ownership during the activities.
The final beneficiaries in the action country have the need to broaden their scope and
reach, to share good practices and counter stereotypical views. Overall they have the need
to spread awareness. The needs of the final beneficiaries are met through the opportunity
for interaction and engagement with the participating youths.
Ensuring participation of target groups and final beneficiaries: Through the envisioned
approach of non-formal learning and learning-by-doing the participation of the target
group is ensured. The use of mentors, reflection rounds, evaluation moments will ensure
that concerns of problems that rise during the action come to the surface quickly and can
be handled adequately by the team of organizers and facilitator/mentors.
Participation of the final beneficiaries in the action country is done by networking and
extensive communication efforts in the preparation phase of the project. Identified
initiatives and organizations that will take part in the field visits, will have freedom in
preparing their presentations according to their likes. It will be conveyed how great of an
opportunity it is for them to expand their knowledge and experiences to target group to
ensure their involvement.
Methodology:
The overall proposed methodology for this project is based on ‘non--formal education’ .
Within this approach the participants are ‘learning by doing’. The project is designed to let
the participants take ownership of the experience. All the activities therefore are
participative, interactive and non-formal and incorporate peer-to-peer-learning. With this
approach we aim at encouraging the participants to continuously take an active role
throughout the project. For example with activity A2.2 where participants themselves have
to prepare a presentation about their home countries with a focus on diversity and
coexistence. . Participants are encouraged to share at least an in depth about efforts to
address xenophobia and racism on 1) policy level and 2) civil society level 3) grassroots
level.
The envisioned working methods are:
1-Visual storytelling 2- group building activities 3- Intercultural learning/ dialogue
activities 4 - Reflections 5 - Field visits 6 - Presentations 7- Group Work: project
development 8- Evaluation tools 9- peer-to-peer education 10 – workshops.
Visual storytelling refers to the use of images, photo’s, video’s or other visual materials to
convey a story to a public. As a method, visual storytelling builds capacity for selfunderstanding, reflection, expression and communication. Learning to use visual
storytelling techniques and gaining first-hand experiencing in creating their own project
will not only result in obtaining valuable skills but also in empowering and activating the
participants to use such creative tools to impact people in their further life
Also the opportunity to create their own Visual Storytelling Project in groups of 4 will
ensure the full participation and ownership of the participants as well as build valuable
skills and empower them to present ideas to a public. The groups will be working
independently to conceptualize, plan and implement their ideas, but will have guidance and
support of a mentor/facilitator.
Here you can find the partners organizations:
Name of The Organization
Country
The United Religions initiative
(URI MENA )
Jordan
“Sławek and Friends” informal
group
Poland
Volunteering for Peace
ANTIGONE - INFORMATION AND
DOCUMENTATION CENTER ON
RACISM, ECOLPGY , PEACE AND
NON VIOLENCE.
Palestine
Greece
PROJECT IDENTITY CARD:
 Dates/ Place: 31st of March -9th of April 2016 / Amman. ( Total of : 9 nights and
10 days ) .
 Number of Participants: The total is 23 participants. 4 participants from each
country ( 2 male and 2 Female ) age between 18 – 25 + one group leader ( Age limit
is open ).
- The Advance Planning Visit : ( one person / each organization of the 4 ) : it will take a place just
before the youth exchange program in 2/3 days : starting from 29th March - Arrival , 30th March
one Full working and meeting day, 31st Arrival for the participants. Age is open.
Participants Profile:
The person who is interested in the topic ‘Stories of Diversity and Coexistence’, works
as a volunteer of the organization. The participant should have no language barrier. This
youth exchange aims to be valorized by the participants after the implementation.
We expect the participants to prepare an informative seminar, small presentation of this
project during their own valorization activities when they will go back to their countries
PREPARATION
We expect the participants group to search about the exchange project issues and topics
also collect information about their organizations, some traditional materials from their
countries and sports clothes before coming to the exchange program.
We highly recommend you to bring with you some of the traditional music, flag for your
country, food, drinks, customs and some sovineers, to present for the other participants
during the intercultural night about your country , traditions and traditional costumes !
Every country will have a short time for presenting their culture. We hope that your culture
means for you something much more than national food and drinks to present !
Visa
The visa can be purchased upon your arrival for Jordan airport at the cost of 40 JOD
(around 60 Euro ), there are an exchange desk in arrival zone ,just before the visa disk ,but
you can arrange to have the Jordanian money prior to arrival that would facilitate your
process , this information exclude colleagues who already got their VISA prior to their
arrival . Visa cost will be covered by 100 %.
Transportations
Once you arrive to queen Alia international airport , take the airport bus ( yellow Bus) its
stop just in front of arrival gates exit, stay in the bus and leave the bus at last station called
(north bus station , it will take you around 45 minutes) . We will pick you up from there.
In case you want to go directly to the Youth Exchange program venue from the last stop
station, you can a take a taxi and ask him to take you for: schneller school (our resident
place).
Accommodation & venue ( Still not confirmed ) :
The exchange program will take place at guest house /Schneller school Amman , where all
of us will be accommodated and stay during the training course , all meals will be provided
HEALTH INSURANCE
The health insurance is not provided and will not be reimbursed by the organizers.
(All participants are strongly advised to purchase private travel insurance).
TRAVEL BUDGET LIMIT FOR THE PARTICIPANTS
The United Religions initiative will reimburse you with a 70% of the participants travel
costs “ but not to exceed each country limit “.
Reimbursement of travel costs will only be done upon presenting of all: original tickets,
receipt/invoices and boarding passes . Also you need to send us back your return
documents and boarding passes.
Important note : You must use public transport! (Bus, metro, tram).
Please keep the boarding tags from your airport check in as well. Reimbursement will be
done in EURO, regardless of the currency indicated on your ticket and receipt/invoices.
WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW
If you have any requires regarding the food (vegetarians, diabetics, diets).
If you have an allergy please inform us before the course!
Materials you need for the workshops.
A contact person in your home country (for in case) (e.g. family member); full name and
telephone number.
CERTIFICATE
Every participant is individually entitled to receive a Certificate which confirms
participation and validates the non-formal learning (NFL) experience of exchange program.
Validating the learning experience of participants is important in itself and the document
can be of benefit in terms of the educational or employment future of the participant.
Useful info & links

Euros, pounds and dollar can easily be exchanged across Jordan.

We have fixed exchange rate for dollar (1$=.701 JOD), but euro and pounds are not.

Emergency number in Jordan is 911.
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Jordan tourism board : http://www.visitjordan.com/
Weather in Jordan during the Training course :
http://met.jometeo.gov.jo/jometeo/e_main
http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/jordan/amman/ext
Important Contacts
For any question or any urgent contact at any time, please contact us at the following:
The project coordinator :
Samer Al-kasih
Mobile number :
00962796156240
Email : [email protected]
The logistic :
Raed Gharib
Mobile number is :
00962795444339
Email : [email protected]
DICTIONARY (SOME WORDS THAT YOU CAN NEED IN JORDAN
Hello :Merhaba
Excuse me
:lau samaht
Goodbye:ma alsalama
What is your name : sho esmak?
My name is , ana esmi …
Yes : naam
No: laa
How much is :badish hadi …
Please :Lutfan
Help! :Saadni !
Thank you: shokran
You‘re welcome:ahlan wa sahlan
Right : yamen
left :shmal
Stright : doghri
stop here (for taxi driver ) :andak lau samaht
Looking forward to meet you very soon in Jordan  ,,,,,,,, The Team.