WHO CARES EXCHANGE PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION

The Who Cares? exchange program is a bilateral youth initiative jointly organized by Tanzania Youth Coalition (TYC) and MitOst Hamburg, running from September 2023 to September 2024. It brings together young people from Tanzania and Germany to explore community work, cultural exchange, and global challenges such as inequality, youth empowerment, climate change, and human rights.

The exchange consists of two three-week phases: the first in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, Lushoto, and Zanzibar) in 2023, and the second in Germany (Hamburg and Berlin) in 2024. Through discussions, shared living experiences, and interactive activities, participants learn about different ways of living, history, and sustainable solutions for a better future.

By the end of the exchange, participants develop critical skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and cultural awareness. More than just a learning experience, Who Cares? fosters empathy, collaboration, and a shared commitment to shaping a better world.

  1. Youth Livelihood and Employment,
  2. Youth Leadership and Building Local Democracy,
  3. Youth Health and Gender
  4. Youth Livelihood and Environment
  5. International Partnerships and Exchange Programs for Sustainable Development.

1.Objectives Of the Exchange program (in the short and, if applicable, medium to long term) with the measure?

  1. Addressing the topic of ‘living together’ through dialogue with actors concerned with the environment and society.
  2. Raising awareness of different (socio-political, individual, historical, cultural, economic) perspectives on coexistence and their connections and effects at different levels in the two participating countries, also taking into account formal and informal agreements on co-existence.
  3. Linking the topic with current discussions on globalisation as well as with historical issues in order to deal with global interdependencies and mutual dependencies.
  4. Familiarisation with the different ways of life and communities in Germany, including their various social and cultural facets.
  5. Experience living together and its difficulties in a very practical way in a binational group over two weeks.
  6. Explore the things that young people Cares about in Global percepertive.

1.1 Involvement of young people in the preparation, implementation, and evaluation.

Since the exchange program was a continuation, participants were already familiar with each other, which made it easier for them to engage in the preparations. The participants from the 2023 program played an active role in designing the project details, giving them a sense of ownership over the program. They realized their ideas and suggestions for the program, including places to visit and researching and organizing the details around it, which added value to both the program and their personal experiences. On the hosting side, responsibilities for logistics were taken over by two participants. Preparation meetings were held in both countries as entry points to the project. Newcomers were introduced to the project and were able to quickly understand its structure, thanks to the guidance of last year’s participants. There were three newcomers from Tanzania this year. The total of participants where 19 this include 8 male and 11 female.

The regular reflection sessions throughout the program allowed participants to provide feedback on the program. Additionally, a final anonymous evaluation form invited to individually rate the project and suggest improvements for future programs.

The following are the important highlights that show the involvement of the participants:

  1. The goal of the exchange was to allow every participant to contribute their skills and express their wishes and needs for the exchange. This was actively communicated during the preparation meetings.
  2. Participants were invited to contribute regarding their experiences and individual abilities. They were divided into groups during the preparation phase, each responsible for different aspects of the exchange: program, logistics, finances, and program preparation.
  3. Active involvement in the program planning by both nations, with participants proposing, developing, and organizing program points. This was done in small groups during regular meetings, guided by two team leaders.
  4. During the exchange, participants formed teams responsible for different aspects of the program, including logistics and financial tasks as well as for various daily practicalities. This allowed them to take ownership and responsibility for program points with help from the team. 
  5. Participants documented the project through various methods: personal journals,picture, postcards and videos. 
  6. The midterm reflection allowed participants to openly share constructive criticism, which led to mid-evaluations and adjustments that enhanced the exchange experience. For instance, one critique focused on the separation into national participant groups. This issue was addressed by introducing a “mingle-mingle” game, encouraging participants to mix and interact. Additionally, placing name cards on dinner tables was spontaneously initiated by two participants to foster connections among each other throughout the program.
  7. At the end of the project, there was a final reflection with both quantitative and qualitative feedback, which was discussed in the whole group and find out the solution for living together.