YOUCA cannot be stopped online
Committed young people do not let the virus grind them down. Koerian Verbesselt explains how YOUCA continued to connect young people from all corners of the world.
Committed young people do not let the virus grind them down. That is the least you can say about the group of enthusiasts at youth organisation YOUCA. Despite the measures and restrictions, they continued to ensure the operation of their organisation as best they could. Although projects must be elaborated differently this year, they succeeded in connecting young people from all corners of the world. YOUCA online could not be stopped!
More than just an exchange
YOUCA is short for Youth for Change and Action and goes much further in its operation than a classic cultural exchange. The organisation forges strong relationships between Belgian and foreign youngsters and thus lays the foundations for a solid social commitment. By means of activities and training courses, young people chart important challenges in the guest country, think of solutions and take action. The group intended to go to Brazil in 2020, but unfortunately, the corona pandemic foiled those plans. This also means the Brazilian youngsters cannot travel to Belgium either.
Digital action
However, the youngsters did not throw in the towel and set to work with their South-American peers online. Project committees, general meetings and follow-up, they did it all from a distance. "This has an impact on our operation, but also on the young people," says Koerian Verbesselt of YOUCA. "Many of them were looking forward to meeting each other in reality after all the efforts they made. Fortunately, we are a close-knit group and we can count on each other."
"Most of our activities this year went digital, but that doesn't mean it wasn't fun."
"Youth movement can also be taken literally. Our exchange projects were mainly digital, but with this workshop we brought some Brazil to Belgium."
From summer activities to Christmas celebrations
Tinder walks
