​The youth exchange “Climate change? No, change yourself!” was held between Sunday 4 September 2022 and Monday 12 September 2022 in the village of Arrouquelas, Rio Maior, Portugal. The purpose of this exchange was to connect 60 different youths from 10 different European countries with the aim to share environmental-friendly best practices and sustainable environmental solutions. Apart from 6 Maltese participants McAlister Azzopardi, Phoebe Pisani Debono, Kelly Azzopard, Kylie Ciantar, Jessica Grech and Jonathan Scicluna, the training course also included other youths from Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia and Latvia. The youth exchange was hosted by H2O - Associação de Jovens de Arrouquelas in Arrouquelas.

​Upon arrival, the participants had an ice-breaking session to get to know each other. The participants were each handed a paper which consisted in several questions such as ‘likes to travel’, ‘likes sweets’, ‘has a pet’, ‘attended more than 1 Erasmus training course’, ‘has orange hair’, ‘has blue eyes’, etc. The participants then had to put a name of another participant next to each question. The first participant to fill all the boxes would win the game. On that same day, the participants also went to a forest close to the village to see the different work that the organisation had carried out over the years with the help of the different volunteers. The leader also showed the participants a watch-out tower that was usually guarded by one of the volunteers. The purpose of this tower is to serve as a watch-out  post so that the volunteer on duty that day can quickly call the local firefighters in case they spot a forest fire. After that walk, the participants also had a treasure hunt around the village to get to know the area better and get accustomed to their surroundings.
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​During this student exchange the youths participated in a number of activities such as environmental workshops between themselves and with local NGOs, were accommodated in camps, went canoeing in a river close by to see first-hand the devastating effects of climate change and planted trees in order to promote afforestation. The leader also gave the participants an opportunity to organise different workshops as long as the activity organised was interactive, inclusive and fun. Due to this, the participants came up with the idea to organise a shadow play. On one of the nights, the participants held a number of shadow plays such as snow white and the 7 dwarfs including others.

Besides these different activities held during this student exchange, the leader always showed the interest that the group organises a flashmob. Due to this, some of the participants created the choreograph and just before dinner the participants would practice the moves as a group. The intention behind this was for the entire group to perform this dance on the beach in Nazaré on the last day of this student exchange.

​Another activity that the leader planned for this student exchange was grape harvesting. At the time of the youth exchange, the grapes were at their right acidity and ripeness for harvesting. The leader teamed up with a local winery and offered the participants the opportunity to harvest grapes and later in the day press the same grapes by feet. As part of this activity, the owner of the local winery also prepared a barbeque for the participants to show his appreciation. During this activity the participants were also shadowed by the more experienced employees of the winery to ensure that the grapes were being harvested as intended. Although this activity was tiring, as a result of long hours under the scorching Portuguese sun, the participants all seemed satisfied of what they have achieved during those 4 hours. 

The Maltese night was held on the day before the last of this student exchange. The Maltese participants opted not for the usual Twistees and the classic beer can but wanted to prepare the food fresh. It did come to a surprise for everyone on what the Maltese team managed to achieve in a relatively short time. Kelly with the help of the Maltese participants prepared typical ‘hobz biz-zejt’, two dishes of mouth-watering baked pasta and typical Maltese sweets known as Imqaret (date filled pastry). The Maltese night was not only a huge success for Kelly who with a lot of patience ensured that the food she was preparing tasted authentic but was also probably one of the highlights of the traditional nights.

During the last day of the training course the participants spent their last day in Nazaré. Nazaré is a Portuguese town and municipality located in the Oeste region, in the historical province of Estremadura, and in the Leiria District. The municipality has a population of around 10,000 inhabitants and is mostly famous as a surfing destination because of the very high breaking waves that form due to the presence of the underwater Nazaré Canyon. Just before they left, the participants performed the flashmob that wowed all the passers-by. Given that this was the last day of the student exchange the participants all had to face reality and felt very heartbroken knowing that in a few hours all of them would be on their way back home. 

Name: Update to transnational
Dates: 1-8 March 2019
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1 – Youth Mobility) Training Course
Participants needed: 1 participant
Age: 18+
Location: El Padul, Granada

Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of €275 . Food and accommodation 100% free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation fee Malta - €10.
Host Organisation: Somos la Otra
Countries Participating: Spain, Germany, Macedonia, Austria, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Greece, Italy, Latvia
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association

Project Description:
Transnational youth initiatives allow youth themselves to implement actions of their interest and that address specific topics. Youth initiatives are unique opportunities, however further training is required in this area. This training course aims at empowering people to explore the possibilities of establishing an international association and preparing projects for transnational youth initiatives.
This activity is open for youth leaders, project managers and voluntary and professional youth workers.
Interested applicants are to fill the participation form here by the 17th February 2019

Name: “Wings of Youth Work”
Dates: (Training ) 3.3.19 to 9.3.19 (Seminar) 20.5.19 to 24.5.19
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1 – Youth Mobility) 
Participants needed: 2 participants 
Age: 18+
Location: Trbovlje, Slovenia

Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of €275 (per activity). Food and accommodation 100% free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation fee Malta - €10.
​Host Organisation: Mladinski center Trbovlje
Countries Participating: Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Malta, Greece, Denmark, Norway 
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association

Project Description:
The project is meant for youth workers and/or youth leaders and volunteers who are in daily contact with youth and which would like to develop their knowledge, experience and competences. The project focuses on two elements: (1) training for future youth workers and (2) monitoring, evaluating and recognizing learning effects. Through this training, youth workers will be more competent to work with present and future generations. The main aim of this project is to research, develop, test and upgrade systems of monitoring learning effects and to develop a system to train future youth workers and leaders.
Interested applicants are to fill the participation form here by the 7th February

​Name: Update to transnational
Dates: 21-28 February 2019 and 1-8 March 2019
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1 – Youth Mobility) Training Course
Participants needed: 2 + 2 participants
Age: 18+
Location: El Padul, Granada
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Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of €275 (per activity). Food and accommodation 100%
free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation fee Malta - €10.
Host Organisation: Somos la Otra
Countries Participating: Spain, Germany, Macedonia, Austria, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Greece, Italy, Latvia
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association

Project Description:
Transnational youth initiatives allow youth themselves to implement actions of their interest and that
address specific topics. Youth initiatives are unique opportunities, however further training is
required in this area. This training course aims at empowering people to explore the possibilities of
establishing an international association and preparing projects for transnational youth initiatives.
This activity is open for youth leaders, project managers and voluntary and professional youth
workers.
Applicants can choose to participate either in the February OR the March session.
Interested applicants are to fill the participation form here by the 13th January 2019

 Name: “Humanity on the Road”
Dates:
Preparation Meeting – 25.01.2019 – 28.01.2019 (incl. 2 travel days)
Youth Exchange 1 – 24.05.2019 – 31.05.2019 (incl. 2 travel days)
Youth Exchange 2 – 21.09.2019 – 28.09.2019 (incl. 2 travel days)
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1 – Youth Mobility) Youth Exchange


​Participant needed:
The participant we are currently urgently looking for must be able to attend the preparation meeting and the two youth exchanges.
Age: 18 – 24
Location: Kraków, Poland


Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of €275 (per exchange). Food and accommodation 100% free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation Fee: 10 EUR.
Host Organisation: Stowarzyszenie Europe4Youth
Countries Participating: Poland, Germany, Malta, Italy and Portugal
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association (MUYA)

Project Description:
People were migrating since the beginning of humanity. Looking for better conditions for life, escaping climate change, or invasions. With the establishment of the state system, migrations are a part of states` interests or national interests. Scepticism and fear of persons with different origins can be a self-defence mechanism, but also can be evoked and manipulated. In both ways what is needed is understanding fostered by a life-like experience, which will be provided using LARP (life action role play) methodology. This Project aims to analyse the European history in terms of types of migration, stepping into the role of a migrant in order to create a personal connection and rise empathy and developing the innovative learning agenda for the topic of migration, based on outdoor activities and simulation games.


Interested applicants are to fill the participation form here by Friday, 4th January, 2019. 

Name: “Humanity on the Road”
Dates:
Preparation Meeting – 25.01.2019 – 28.01.2019 (incl. 2 travel days)
Youth Exchange 1 – 24.05.2019 – 31.05.2019 (incl. 2 travel days)
Youth Exchange 2 – 21.09.2019 – 28.09.2019 (incl. 2 travel days)
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1 – Youth Mobility) Youth Exchange
Participants needed:
Preparation Meeting – 1 leader + 1 participant 
Youth Exchange 1 – 1 leader + 5 participants 
Youth Exchange 2 – 1 leader + 5 participants
One leader plus one participant must attend the preparation meeting and the two youth exchanges. Remaining 4 participants need to attend both youth exchanges.
Age: 18 – 24 (for participants), leader may be older
Location: Kraków, Poland
Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of €275 (per exchange). Food and accommodation 100% free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation Fee: 10 EUR.
Host Organisation: Stowarzyszenie Europe4Youth
Countries Participating: Poland, Germany, Malta, Italy and Portugal
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association (MUYA)
Project Description:
People were migrating since the beginning of humanity. Looking for better conditions for life, escaping climate change, or invasions. With the establishment of the state system, migrations are a part of states` interests or national interests. Skepticism and fear of persons with different origins can be a self-defense mechanism, but also can be evoked and manipulated. In both ways what is needed is understanding fostered by a life-like experience, which will be provided using LARP (life action role play) methodology. This Project aims to analyse the European history in terms of types of migration, stepping into the role of a migrant in order to create a personal connection and rise empathy and developing the innovative learning agenda for the topic of migration, based on outdoor activities and simulation games.
Interested applicants are to fill the participation form here by the 15th December 2018.

Name: “Youth Exchange Leadership Skills”
Dates: 20-25 January 2019
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1 – Youth Mobility) Training Course 
Participants needed: 1 participant
Age: 18+
Location: Pragelato, Italy 
Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of €275 (per activity). Food and accommodation 100% free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation fee Malta - €10.
Host Organisation: Madiba SCS
Countries Participating: Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Romania, Sweden, UK and Italy
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association
Project Description:
‘Youth Exchange Leadership Skills’ seeks to explore the factors that define quality in group leadership within Youth Exchanges before, during and after stages of a youth exchange project and develop participants’ competencies in realising such projects and leading groups to Youth Exchanges. The aim of the project is to create a long term, substantial educational experience for youth exchange group leaders towards the maximization of learning and minimization of risk for the young people they will be leading in the future, and through these, to increase the recognition of their role as learning facilitators/educators.
Interested applicants are to fill the participation form here by the 10th December 2018

​Name: “Youth Work’s Role in the Prevention of Youth Radicalisation”
Dates: 14-23 November 2018
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1 – Youth Mobility) Training Course 
Participants needed: 1 participant
Age: 18+
Location: Gahrlstedt, Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany
Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of €275 (per activity). Food and accommodation 100% free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation fee Malta - €10.
Host Organisation: Mostar Friedensprojekt e.V.ar
Countries Participating: Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, UK, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, FYROM, Poland, Portugal, Kosovo, Serbia, Spain, Turkey
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association

Project Description:
The radicalization of young people is (again) on the rise throughout the spectrum - left, right or religious. Youth work plays an important role, as the radicalization of many young people could be successfully prevented, if youth worker could better differentiate motivations and mechanisms in the process of extremism. With this project we also want to give a valuable input on the current problems in many European countries when it comes to the successful integration of refugees as well as the further integration of second or third generation migrants. The project will directly bring the issues of migrants on the agenda, as these are the issues we will face when talking about right wing extremism and Islamism in a European perspective. We will equip the participants with competences that will help in the social dialogue that they need to get involved in when doing youth work. This project will support the cooperation between the partners on the chosen topics. This should help the participants, which will be youth workers, group leaders and other people working with youth to get a set of competences to prevent the radicalization of young people in their closest environment. As this is a training course the participants will acquire different new knowledge, skills and attitudes. The participants will broaden their knowledge about terrorism, roots and foundations for extremism, get to know different prevention attempts by youth work in Germany and also work on their own skill set to become a preventer in youth work.
 
Interested applicants are to fill the participation form here by the 4th November 2018

​Name: “Wings of Youth Work”
Dates: (Training 1) 11.11.18 to 17.11.18 (Training 2) 3.3.19 to 9.3.19 (Seminar) 20.5.19 to 24.5.19
Participants are not required to attend the 3 sessions as each training is a unit of its own but connected to the main topic "youth work".
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1 – Youth Mobility) 
Participants needed: 2 participants 
Age: 18+
Location: Trbovlje, Slovenia

Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of €275 (per activity). Food and accommodation 100% free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation fee Malta - €10. Host Organisation: Mladinski center Trbovlje
Countries Participating: Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Malta, Greece, Denmark, Norway 
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association

Project Description:
The project is meant for youth workers and/or youth leaders and volunteers who are in daily contact with youth and which would like to develop their knowledge, experience and competences. The project focuses on two elements: (1) training for future youth workers and (2) monitoring, evaluating and recognizing learning effects. Through this training, youth workers will be more competent to work with present and future generations. The main aim of this project is to research, develop, test and upgrade systems of monitoring learning effects and to develop a system to train future youth workers and leaders.


Interested applicants are to fill the participation form here by the 30th October 2018

​Name: “Really Including Inclusion”
Dates: 18 to 25 November 2018
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1 – Youth Mobility) 
Participants needed: 2 participants 
Age: 18+
Location: Worcester, UK
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Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of €360. Food and accommodation 100% free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation fee Malta - €10. Participation fee host organisation - € 30
Host Organisation: Consilium Development and Training 
Countries Participating: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, UK 
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association

Project Description:
The training course is aimed at youth workers (anyone who works with young people aged 13-30, in a paid, voluntary, full or part-time position) to equip them with the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills to be able to ensure the inclusion of young people who are underrepresented and from backgrounds of fewer opportunities into their projects and activities. The training course is strongly based on experiential learning (learning by doing) and non- formal education. The prospective participants should:
- Be youth workers, leader’s coordinators, facilitators and trainers from active NGOs or public bodies that have mission and objectives that are related to young people.
- Have an idea about what prevents some young people from getting involved in projects and have a desire to open their projects further
- Understand the importance of equality, inclusion and anti-discrimination
- Be open to meeting new people from different countries and spending an intense period of time together, motivated and dedicated to learn and contribute to the training course
- Be willing and ready to share the outcomes of the training course with their young people, their local region and further if possible, by undertaking certain dissemination activities

Interested applicants are to fill the participation form here by the 21st September 2018.

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Project Name: Race for Tolerance
Dates: 18th - 28th November 2018 
Type: Erasmus+ Youth Exchange (KA1 – Youth Mobility) 
Participants needed: 4 participants and 1 youth leader 
Age: 18+
Location: Newcaslte, UK
Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of €360. Food and accommodation 100% free.
Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. 
Host Organisation: Mostar Friedensprojekt e.V.
Countries Participating: Germany, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Romania, Malta, UK
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association

Project Description: The project “Race for Tolerance” revolves around tolerance as being an intrinsic ideology. This YE will focus on proving that tolerance is one of the most important pillars for long-lasting peace and key at improving tomorrow’s society. For anyone who wants to know more, we could say ―google it! … but through this YE, participants will say … ―Explain it to others! I, ―YOU, bring tolerance to the people. This is what this project is about. During this project, 40 participants from all across Europe will learn to develop and teach each other methods on how to create tolerance in the immediate community. The scope of the project will culminate through a Tolerance Race that will be organized out on the road for the people of the village.

Interested applicants are to fill the participation form: https://www.cognitoforms.com/MUYA1/participationform
Deadlines for applications is 28th October 2018.

Name: Game Zone
Dates: 27th September to 4th October
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1)
Participants needed: 1
Age: 18-30
Location: Dingli, Malta
Costs: No travel cost refund.
Food and accomodation 100% free.
Membership fee of 5EUR for non-members.
Participation Fee: 15EUR.
Host Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association
Countries Participating: Malta, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Kosovo and Slovenia.
Project Description:
Game Zone: Developing an inclusive society through games" will be organized by the Malta UNESCO Youth Association at the Dingli Youth Activity Centre, Malta from the 27th September – 4th October. This project will include 30 youth workers and youth leaders from 9 countries including Malta. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow and network!

Contact Person: Bernard Bonello
Treasurer Malta UNESCO Youth Association
e-mail: [email protected]
​mobile: +356 79925725 

​Project Description:
The topic of the exchange is gender equality and the importance of providing men and women the same opportunities and access to education, healthcare, work distribution, participation, decision-making and security. This will benefit society as a whole. The exchange will take place in Alqueva, a small village near the dam with the same name and 32 participants will take part in the project from 5 different countries.

Interested applicants are to fill the participation form here.

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 15/JULY/2018

Dates: 2 to 8 September
Type: Erasmus+ (KA1 – Youth Mobility) 
Participants needed: 5 participants and 1 youth leader 
Age: 18 – 21.
Location: Alqueva, Portugal

Costs:
Travel costs covered up to a limit of €275. Food and accommodation 100% free.
Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members.
Participation fee Malta - €10. 

Host Organisation: Alentejo
Countries Participating: Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Portugal
Sending Organisation: Malta UNESCO Youth Association
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for project description, see original post

Training course for youth workers to discover their element, passions, dreams and learning how to support and empower young people to find their passions, dreams and professional path. For that we shall focus especially on developing understanding and practical tools related to two major areas: 1) Personal competences: self awareness (learning style, personal development), self-regulation (self-control, adaptability, innovation), self-motivation (achievement drive, commitment) 2) Social competences: empathy (understanding others) and social skills (communication, conflict management, leadership, collaboration and cooperation, team capabilities).


Email Ms. Maxine for participation forms that need to be submitted by Friday 23rd February 2018.

Storytelling is a great way to learn a lot about ourselves, to understand better the nature of “identity” and to get in touch with our surroundings. We will focus on the topic of social exclusion and social inclusion and we will explore it with non-formal methods involving lots of creativity, simulation, debates, team work, acting, crafting and music.If you’d like to learn about the Hungarian countryside, meet old villagers, inspiring people from abroad lots of farm animals, if you are searching for your story or you want to share it: Your place is here!


Email Ms. Maxine for participation forms that need to be submitted by Friday 23rd February 2018.

Name: Lead the Ship 
Dates: 6th to 13th February  
Type: Mobility of Youth KA1 Erasmus+ 
Participants needed: 3 participants (minimum 18 years old) 
Location: Olomouc, Czech Republic
Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of 275€. Food and accommodation 100% free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation fee Malta - €10
Host Organisation: Vivid 
Countries Participating: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Spain

Project Description: Do you believe that success and sustainability of NGO’s are strongly connected to efficient leadership? Would you like to learn more about a concept of the leader? And would you like to discuss and share your ideas with people from across Europe?

We are looking for youth workers and youth leaders, who want to share their
passion, motivation and knowledge with others and want to learn in the same way. Participants should be involved in youth sector or some active citizenship projects and they should have a motivation to accomplish their goals. Experience in leading the group(s) of people is very welcome.

With this project, we aim to walk the way towards professionalism in order to sustain and deliver - we can cooperate together, strengthen our partnerships, learn through each other, share practices, disseminate results and build in bigger picture. Focus is put to exercise leadership methods and improve techniques in order to successfully lead the group of workers, volunteers and participants on the field of active participation within their local communities, where motivation clearly is not driven by money or other corporate sphere success measures, but more likely by values, passion and believes.

Email [email protected] for more information and application forms which must be submitted by the 2nd January 2018.

Name: “Film me: Inclusion” 
Dates: 10 December – 17 December (8 Days)
Type: Mobility of Youth KA1 Erasmus+ 
Participants needed: 4 participants (18 -25 years old) and 1 group leader (no age limit) 
Location: Sopron, Hungary 
Costs: Travel costs covered up to a limit of 275€. Food and accommodation 100% free. Membership fee of 5 EUR for non-members. Participation fee Malta - €10
Host Organisation: Mozgóképmás Egyesület
Countries Participating: Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Portugal, Turkey, Serbia and Spain 

Project Description: Reducing the barriers to inclusion requires integrated effort across government and non-government agencies at all levels, horizontally and vertically, influencing policy and practice through direct links to individual experience. Organizations from all sectors could build the bridges, required to support community participation, active citizenship and build social capital. The working methods include practical workshops on the basics of creating short movies, writing a script, filming on location, acting, editing materials etc. Also, the working methods include many non-formal learning activities for more in-depth grasping of the problem of social inclusion. The project design first would prepare the participants with their own attitudes and opinions, and afterwards would film what they have attained. Participants would also be welcomed to use their own footage material if that contributes to their creativity idea and contributes to their creativity processes for making short movies on the theme of social exclusion.

Email [email protected] for participation forms that need to be submitted by Friday 15 September ’17.

Project Description: The idea came about due to the fact that obesity rates are by far a concern in these countries, as stated by Eurostat news release 203/2016, including a 26% obesity rate in Malta, the largest of the European Union. Furthermore, non EU-members such as Turkey and Georgia, show even higher rates of obesity. The participating network of organizations has aims to develop skills and knowledge of participants, raise awareness and give them a chance to discuss issues that really affect them throughout their current lifestyles, and therefore might create illusionary walls in achieving the scope of this project.  Therefore, we intend to find ways to overcome these walls​.
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Email Maxine for participation forms that need to be submitted by Tuesday 11th July 2017.

Project Description: The Youth Exchange "Beyond Borders" aims at coexistence and interaction of people with or without disabilities, by actively participating in an organized educational, recreational and cultural program. The aim of the project is for young people with or without disabilities to meet, exchange ideas, explore diversity. Participants will actively participate in an educational programme which will incorporate the principles of non-formal and informal learning. The participants of "Beyond Borders" will have the unique opportunity to coexist and participate in joint activities with people with disabilities, gaining experience and developing skills not only related to empathy, awareness of disability issues, but also social, communicative and artistic skills.
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Email Maxine for participation forms that need to be submitted by Tuesday 25th July 2017.