The Global Exchange Partnership is between the British Council, VSO and Life Vanguard. It originated as a result of a successful workshop in Leicester, UK in 2004.

It is an exchange programme that brings young people from the UK and from other countries to live alongside each other and work together as volunteers so they can share their learning with their host communities. As a fully reciprocal programme, it reflects contemporary values, building mutual respect and understanding between young people from the UK and other countries. As our world becomes ever more interdependent, it is essential that communities develop a global perspective and interact positively in a diverse world.  This is what the programme seeks to support.

Objectives

The purpose of the programme is to build greater mutual understanding and learning across boundaries by sharing skills, knowledge and experience.  We aim to create active global citizens who bring about positive change in their communities, reflecting an equal partnership between the UK and overseas.

Activities

As part of the activities for the first Global Xchange programme, the 3 partners – BC, VSO and LIVA conducted interviews for the post of a Project Supervisor and recruited 9 Nigerian volunteers in an intensive recruitment exercise. These successful candidates were screened and given background checks including clearance from the Nigeria Police Force.

This first Global Exchange is tagged GX1 and the Nigerian Phase is between Ibadan and Glasgow. In Nigeria, 9 host families and work placements have been identified in Ibadan. After a successful training in Oshogbo, 9 Nigerian youth aged between 18 and 25 left for Glasgow – Scotland on 25 February for 3 months and will be living with host families and working as volunteers at various youth centres in Glasgow. On their return on 21 May 2005, they shall be accompanied by their 9 UK counterparts and will be welcomed in Abuja before their onward journey to Ibadan where they will be living with host families. While in the UK, they are expected to perform work of value in their communities and share their special skills and knowledge. The British Council will be hosting the In-country Orientation in 21- 23 May 2005.The Nigerian volunteers are made up of 5 males and 4 females from the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria. 2 of the volunteers -Nentawe Gomiyar and Ayodele Fanidar were part of the Youth Leadership Forum in Kaduna in January 2004.

As we await the arrival of the counterpart pairs from the UK, the 3 partners comprising BC, VSO and LIVA are putting in place mechanisms for the next GX 2 to take off in September 2005. Adverts for the post of Project Supervisor have gone out and so has a call for 9 volunteers to take part in the next exchange project. There is also a press conference tentatively put at 20 May 2005 to coincide with the arrival of the first set of volunteers and to create the necessary publicity needed for such an event. With the first GX1, a lot of enthusiasm has been recorded for the project thus far.

For more information write to info.kano@ng.britishcouncil.org