Guidelines - Responsible Exchange and Volunteering 2018

Seminars It is advisable to organize a minimum of 3 seminars which contribute to a successful exchange/ volunteerism experience and these should move towards being mandatory for all exchange programs as they are a necessary platform to manage expectations, to develop a critical perspective towards intercultural learning and understanding of global development issues, to address any concerns and expectations, to understand what role one has as an agent of social change and lastly to simply provide a platform for participants to raise their grievances.

The recommendable seminars that are necessary for ensuring a successful learning experience are:

1. Preparation seminar

2. Mid- year seminar

3. After Return seminar

Preparation Seminar: The preparation (pre-departure) seminar has the purpose of managing expectations prior to the time spent abroad and to help trigger an understanding of global and intercultural learning. There is flexibility in how this seminar should be designed but ultimately the aim is that:

• Participants should get to know each other in a safe and trusting environment • Participants should get an idea of their exchange program as a learning program • Participants need to understand their exchange program in the context of Global Learning and as part of their individual Global learning process • Reflect on their own role in the process and to understand the dynamics of working in an international team • Prepare for cross-cultural and global learning situation • Exchange about expectations and doubts regarding exchange and stay in a foreign country • Raising awareness and understanding of relevant and current global development issues (development theory and frameworks) • Raising awareness of local contexts, history and social justice issues • A chance for participants to address any concerns or questions they have in preparation • To learn a beginner’s language course in order to understand the basics

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