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ELEMENTS in TIME
Start date: Jan 1, 2016, End date: Jun 30, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The most obvious common denominators of human society have always been and are still today ‘The Four Elements: Water, Air, Fire and Earth’. So why not use them as a communication tool and source of expression in the intercultural society of today? Let’s see what happens if we go back to nature. That's the common idea of "ELEMENTS in TIME". Both groups feel the need to experience ART in the natural part of society: nature. They want to discover a place where human influences are limited.The four elements haven’t only been important sources for survival, but are also used as tools for communication. In this exchange project also want to use the four elements as inspiration for this intercultural exchange program as a way of expressing ourselves and build real international relationships. Exploring these innovative and non-formal educational techniques can lead to important improvements in daily practices of youth work in general. The first step is to CREATE a bridge. We leave all that is familiar to encounter the other in a new way. Both the Belgian and Icelandic youngsters come across the four elements in their lives, be it in a very different way. We intend to see how we can work together as a group and at the same time work together with the 4 elements themselves. The power of the elements can’t be more present than in the mystic landscape of Iceland which triggers people’s imagination, creativity and purity. Through this journey, the participating youngsters will become creators of art that stands in direct contact with the nature around them. By this the youngsters will become more aware of their own creating capacity and competences which is strengthened through a conscious European citizenship. Being informed by each other’s stories and experiences, we can raise a more general voice in European policy making. After creating the bridge, it is important to fully LIVE on it, to open ourselves to let these connections happen and to really get to know the other in all his ‘otherness’. This makes it possible to establish a real and long lasting relationship. During the journey of the exchange project the environment will also be experienced as a transformable ‘living’ source. The youngsters will pay attention towards the different substances and transformation of living conditions by making several ‘TIME LAPSE MOVIES’. This can be seen as a metaphorical expression for the inner transformations of the youngsters.A further deepening, reflection and communication on the 'Four Elements’ and intercultural experience will be done through activities focusing on group cohesion, artistic and intercultural workshops and the merging and editing of the land art photography and "time laps" during the exchange. There, the ‘creation and transformation capacity of the four elements’ will take a concrete substance in a final exposition for and with the local people of Iceland.ELEMENTS IN TIME counts a group of 10 Icelandic and 10 Belgian youngsters. All youngsters are very involved in the organization of the exchange program itself (coming up with the project, writing it's contents, preparing and organizing the activities,...). The Icelandic group is a mixed group of youngsters from Reykjavik and surroundings. Some of them already took part in another project “PLastic SOUP” in Dalvik last year and had a very good connection with the Belgian group. The Belgian participants are youngsters that have been involved in exchanges and artistic workshops for several years by mu-zee-um. It is expected that the project will have a lot of impact on different aspects:Participants will be able to think critical, get a better perspective on the world, and will be able to compare their own culture with other culture with other cultures. They will have more self knowledge, be more self-assured as they will be constantly challenged to give the best of their selves. They will learn to be conscious about the environment, by being in nature so often. Ofcourse there is also the intercultural learning, by respecting everyone. Strengthening youngsters will automatically strengthen the participating organizations as well. Future projects will surely benefit from the experience the organization, and youngsters, had. After the exchange the creations will be presented in both cities of the groups of participants - Oostende and Reykjavik - to share this and therefore involve other persons in the project. In Oostende, the location of mu-zee-um will be used for this dissemination. In Reykjavik Worldwide Friends will organize a "moving" exhibition of the project creations in Reykjavik, Eskifjordur and Akureyri.

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