Latin American exchange for Youth with Epilepsy LAYE

Start (including preparation): 01 / 02 / 2002

Ends (including follow-up): 30 / 11 / 2002

Exchange activities start: 07 / 08 / 2002

Exchange activities end: 18 / 08 / 2002

Total duration of the exchange activities, including travels: 14 days

The project will have the following main aspects:

• Material Collection. collect material concerning lifestyle choices. The material will be news items, articles, photos, posters, interview transcripts etc..
• Internet library. The participants will receive instruction and assistance in putting the collected material (or links to the material) onto the project's web page.
• Bi-weekly chat room sessions. Every two weeks chat room sessions (English, Spanish, Swedish and German) will be organised to cover one of the issues raised by the collection.
• Consensus building sessions. Every six weeks a joint chat room session will be arranged where one person from each session debates the issues. Other participants are encouraged to observe the session.
• Project workbook. The most relevant material in each language will be chosen by the participants to be included in the project workbook. All material in the project workbook will be translated into the three working languages.

• Discussion Workshop - different themes, based on the workbook and the chat room discussions, will be discussed in small groups equally represented by the partners.
• Production Workshops The participants will use the results from the discussion workshop to create:

1. a web site.
2. posters, videos and print articles.

• Cultural experience. Each day one nationality will present an aspect of their culture, this will include music, sport and food.
• Political and historical experience. Participants will meet politicians at the German parliament in Berlin (the Reichstag). Using the information and skills they have developed as part of the project they will present the project to politicians at the parliament.
• Follow-up discussions will be maintained in the chat room; the workbook will be updated with the results from the discussion workshop; and the internet pages maintained.

The young people participating in the Exchange will be encouraged to maintain contact with each other through email and an internet chat room. Regular news-bulletins on activities in Europe and South America will be circulated to this group and other interested young people.

We will encourage greater co-operation within South America and more contact between young people with epilepsy and their representative organisations.

A follow-up exchange in South America will be proposed where Argentina or Chile will be the hosts.

A report on the Youth Exchange and the discussion workbook will be distributed globally to all epilepsy organisations. Opportunities to present the experiences of the exchange to other IBE members will be undertaken. The experience gained from the project will be utilised to develop further youth exchanges both within Europe and between Europe and other world regions.

• Youth meetings will be arranged in all partner countries where the purpose and timetable for the project will be explained.
• The final selection of the participants will be made. Identification of strengths and possible leaders for discussion groups, production workshop and sports activities. The aim is that everyone should have a role to play in the team.
• Collection of lifestyle choice material will begin and an internet library for the material specified.
• The requirements for the project web site will be established.

• Internet training sessions will be arranged in each partner country.
• Web site and internet library / database set up.
• The first chat room sessions will be organised.

• Confirm the arrangements for the visit with the team and the host organisations.
• Lifestyle material will continue to be added to the project web site.
• Interview procedures circulated to the group.
• Set up and conduct interviews with young people on the main issues. This material will be added to the internet library / database.
• Chat room sessions on different themes will take place every two weeks.
• The first consensus chat room session will take place.

• The second and third consensus chat room sessions will take place.
• Separate language chat rooms will continue.
• Participants will choose the material to be included in the discussion workbook.
• Youth meeting in Spain for European participants.
• A presentation of the project will be made to the European epilepsy meeting being held on 15 to 19^th May 2001 in Spain.

• Advance Planning Visit
• Medical staff will be briefed on what to expect and the facilities available in Germany.
• The workbook material will be translated into Spanish, English, Swedish and German and the workbook sent for printing.
• Distribution of discussion workbook.
• The fourth and fifth consensus chat room sessions will take place.
• Separate language chat rooms will continue.
• Preparation of press releases.

Youth Exchange event at Hotel Lindenhof. The aim of the exchange is to develop self-confidence and understanding of the social and health issues facing young people with epilepsy in our society. It will also promote tolerance and understanding between cultures and people through learning more about ourselves and our common goals.

The event will be divided into three different types of days.

• A. Discussion and Production Workshop days.
• B. Leisure / sports days.
• C. Political and historical awareness days.

Special day will have an evening theme drawn from different partner counties.

The main emphasis will be on completing the discussions started in the preparation phase of the project. The focus will be on achieving results in terms of enlightened discussions concerning the main themes within lifestyle choices. These results will be made more concrete by putting the transcripts of the discussions onto the internet and preparing them for publication so that other people can participate and as a permanent record.

The timetable for the discussion days will be a morning discussion in the sub-groups followed by a joint session. In the afternoons the production workshops will put the transcripts of the discussions onto the internet and construct other media as appropriate.

• The group will be divided into four sub-groups of 10 people who will discuss the same theme each morning. Each sub-group will be composed of members from the five partners. At the start of each theme day the sub-groups will review material about epilepsy and discuss the main themes developed in the chat rooms and in the workbook.
• Production workshops will be available for the participants in the afternoons. The main workshop will be the internet. Other production workshops will be possible depending on the wishes of the group. These will include film and poster making.
• At the end of the Activity a presentation to the public will be made. This will consist of the products made during the previous two weeks. This will be followed by a meeting with the press and a press release.

B. Leisure and sports days

Four leisure activities will be available - canoeing, cycling, climbing and swimming. Again sub-groups will be composed of participants from each of the partner countries. Individuals from the participants will be encouraged to lead the groups where possible.

C. Political and historical awareness days

We have planned an exceptional activity to take place in Berlin. We plan to visit the Reichstag and speak with the politicians concerning the issues raised in the discussion workshops. This will encourage self-esteem and an understanding of how government works. It will also offer the opportunity to influence policy makers. This will be a major objective for the group and help to increase motivation, clarity of argument and co-operation between the different language groups.

• Follow-up with all partners to ensure that press releases are made in each partner country.
• Establish follow-up workshops in each country.
• Web-site update with evaluation of activity and press releases.
• Publication and distribution of up-dated discussion workbook.
• Report writing.

• Promote discussion and evaluation on the Youth Exchange at IBE and members' meetings.